Govt prepares for Songkran traffic chaos

[buksida]

The Transport Ministry predicts more than four million people will head out to the provinces from Bangkok during the Songkran festival this year as it makes preparations for the exodus.

Caretaker Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt said state agencies would try to mitigate transport problems during the four-day Songkran long weekend, which starts on April 12. The aim is to provide optimum travel convenience to motorists while reducing road accidents.

He said authorities must ensure there are enough taxis to serve people going to and from airports or bus terminals during the festive period. The Mor Chit bus terminal and Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports are usually packed with Songkran travellers.

Mr Chadchart said he is keen that double-decker buses are run safely, following a fatal accident in Tak early last week. Twenty-nine passengers were killed when a double-decker bus careered off a hillside road. The bus driver said the brakes failed, heightening concerns the vehicles might be unstable when negotiating sharp curves or bends.

The Land Transport Department (LTD) is looking to impose strict controls on about 6,500 double-decker buses using the roads nationwide. The buses are used on both scheduled and non-scheduled services.

Full story: Bangkok Post

[Gregjam]

They ought to publish a daily update of the fatalities on the roads around Songkran in the same way the papers in Trinidad do for murders in the buildup to carnival. Not that it would make any difference.

[buksida]

They do, I'm sure there will be a thread on it when the carnage commences.

[oakdale160]

Yes every day in the post and the nation they publish the previous day's death count, the total foor the holiday and the provinces with the biggest numbers. This is of course only deaths, not serous injuries.
We are lucky in HH, only one day of madness, pattaya has 8.

[PeteC]

Good guess that the 7 Deadly Days are as listed below, or perhaps April 10-16. News articles will begin to clarify soon.

"Between 11-17 April, 11 million cars are expected to be on the highways...."


For drivers, tolls will be waived on the following highways:

Burapha Withi Expressway: Midnight April 10 to midnight April 16.

Bangkok-Chonburi, Bang Phli-Bang Pa-In motorways: 4pm April 10 to midnight April 16,

[hhfarang]

"Tourists invited to join non-alcohol Songkran Festival in Hua Hin"

...fat chance!

http://thainews.prd.go.th/centerweb/new ... 4040010007

[buksida]

I see the two English language papers in Bangkok have shied away from reporting the road carnage this year so over to the WSJ:

Traffic Accidents Up As Songkran Winds Down in Thailand

Thailand’s famed Songkran New Year festival has been in full swing for days, but this year water is not the only thing flying.

The four-day festival perhaps best known for its raucous water battles, has also been marked by a rise in traffic accidents, with tens of thousands of people driving back to their hometowns, sometimes at high speeds and sometimes after a few drinks.

As of Tuesday morning, more than 2,000 road accidents have been recorded since April 11, when people started traveling. That’s a 6.8% rise over the same period a year earlier. According to authorities, some 43% of those accidents were caused by drunk driving.

For years the government has spearheaded an awareness campaign to inform people about the dangers of drinking and driving around major holidays, such as Songkran and the Western New Year, when traffic accidents also increase.

http://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2014/0 ... -thailand/

[Big Boy]

Do we know the number of dead and injured for this year? I saw the numbers a couple of days ago, and they weren't looking too clever.

[PeteC]

Do we know the number of dead and injured for this year? I saw the numbers a couple of days ago, and they weren't looking too clever.

Here's the latest I think. About the same as last year, and IMO about the same average as any other normal period of time.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/4 ... 43-injured

[Nereus]

From where I am around Sukhumvit 48 / 50 there is no sign of the returning hordes. I can see both Sukhumvit and the first stage expressway, and both are deserted. Dread to think just how it will be when the traffic starts to hit the city area.

[Big Boy]

Here's the latest I think. About the same as last year, and IMO about the same average as any other normal period of time.

Thanks

[Gérard]

Thai PBS / Fourth day’s death rises 44 to 248

April 16, 2014
Forty-four more people died Tuesday in road mishaps, raising total death toll in four days of the Songkran festival to 248 from 204 a day before.

[PeteC]

By all reports the rush for home started last night. Nereus should be seeing the activity by now. Pete

[Nereus]

By all reports the rush for home started last night. Nereus should be seeing the activity by now. Pete

I don`t know, Pete. I think a lot of them may have stretched the break another couple of days, telling their boss they could not get back through the traffic jams!

Sukhumvit was only busy for about an hour this morning. I ventured out down Rama 4 to BigC and the traffic was very light. Just now, Sukhumvit and the expressway, are about what you would see on a weekend.

[Big Boy]

IMO the traffic around Hua Hin indicates we still have quite a few visitors here at the moment.