BANGKOK, April, 17- The countrywide death toll during the first six of Songkran’s seven dangerous days is 285, higher than the same period last year, while the number of casualties has reached almost 2,800 persons.
Thailand’s Road Safety Centre reported that there were 291 road accidents on the sixth day with 30 persons dead and 344 injured.
The accumulated number of road accidents from April 11-16 reached 2,581 with 285 people dead. Main reasons given for the accidents were drunk driving and driving without helmets.
The northern province of Chiang Mai has the highest number of road accidents and the most casualties, while Prachuab Khiri Khan southwest of Bangkok has the highest number of deaths at 12.
Seven provinces that have not reported deaths are Chaiyaphum, Trat, Pattani, Phuket, Yala, Ranong, and Amnat Charoen.
Over 600,000 drivers violating traffic laws were charged, about 100,000 more arrests than last year.
