Although Songkran may give the impression of being a huge water festival full of smiling participants, there are serious statistics associated with it as well.
In the first few days after the traditional water fighting occurs, there are fatalities and hundreds of injuries associated with the festival. For example, for the three day period from April 10-12, there were 581 accidents across the country, resulting in 95 fatalities and 486 injuries. When you think about all of the posts made about this time being a festival highlight on Instagram, the reality is that there is much more going on beneath the surface.
From April 13-15 is Songkran, where Thailand becomes one giant playground with thousands of people enjoying many different activities. The festivities include water battles, parades, dance parties, and other types of events, and the crowds of tourists coming in from around the world can attest to this fact. The noise level and chaos can be overwhelming, but this does not detract from the raucous and unique experience of Songkran as a whole.
The festival itself is an extremely busy time, and some areas of Thailand actually get an early start by officially beginning the festivities three days ahead of the actual start date.
During the three-day period of 2012 (April 10 – 12), there were 581 recorded road traffic accidents throughout Thailand resulting in 95 fatalities and 486 injuries. That’s a huge number of accidents to have over the course of just three days. In addition, for the single day of 12 April, there were nearly 200 other recorded traffic accidents on Thai roads.
For those who are not familiar with the “Seven Dangerous Days” in Thailand, these are defined as the seven-day period around the traditional Thai new year, which has become an annual safety campaign by the government to raise awareness regarding the increased number of traffic accidents occurring during the time of Songkran. The primary contributor to the large number of accidents during this time is due to people driving while under the influence of alcohol.
According to authorities, 92% of traffic offences on these holidays were committed by drunk drivers. Now that is some serious information! Thousands of offenders have been charged and we’ve seen Chiang Mai take the lead when it comes to driving under the influence.
Anytime you’re splashing water around like this, there’s a whole other reality going on around you… and the two could not be more opposite of each other.
Fortunately, the Thai government is not just watching it happen.
The government is working with tourism officials, police departments, & other agencies to keep an eye on safety, especially in tourist areas. Their objective is simple: to provide a pleasurable celebration without being responsible for these disasters!
There have been a few foreign tourists involved in traffic accidents. Seven foreign tourists suffered injuries as a result of an accident, but there have been no deaths among them.
Songkran is not only about playing in the water; there is also going to be an increase in population throughout the country as people travel from city to city and visit family, and this massive movement will lead to increased incidents of partying and drinking alcohol… and will also create a higher increased risk of road incidents.
Regardless of any challenges, the festival continues on as it should do. Fundamentally, Songkran is all about rejuvenation and joy and there are hundreds of cultural customs and practices associated with this traditional festival. The challenge we face is ensuring that our celebratory spirit is not overshadowed by avoidable disasters during the Songkran period.
Celebrate the festival by throwing water at one another, laughing, taking lots of photos, etc., but remember one thing: do not allow your celebration to compromise your safety.
If you’re planning to drive, drive safely. Be alert. If you plan on drinking, make sure to have those drinks AFTER you leave the road.
