Songkran road death toll rise to 173

BANGKOK, April 14 (TNA) - Despite attempts by the government to reduce road accidents and casualties during Songkran festival, Thailand’s traditional New Year which officially began Saturday and ends this Tuesday, the number of revellers killed in accidents nationwide has risen. Interior Ministry’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department announced Sunday that road accidents nationwide during the past three days of Songkran’s ‘seven dangerous days’, starting Thursday, totaled 1,447, down 107 from the corresponding period of 2012. But the number of people killed rose to 173, up 29, while 1,526 persons were injured during the three-day period, the Department said. The main causes of the accidents were attributed to drink-driving and speeding, it said. Somchai Siriwatanachoke, director-general of Land Transport Department, said a total of 333 persons sent complaints concerning poor services given by bus and taxi drivers. Of the total complaints, 92 involved with buses whose drivers acted impolitely and did not pickup passengers at bus stops while the rest involved taxi drivers acting impolitely against the passengers and failed to drop them at destinations agreed upon earlier, Somchai added. (TNA)