snoop1130 Posted April 11, 2018 Share Posted April 11, 2018 Water hazard - Thailand rolls out 'Seven Deadly Days' road safety campaign Elephants and people play with water during the celebration of Songkran Water Festival, to commemorate Thailand's New Year in Ayutthaya, Thailand April 11, 2018. REUTERS/Jorge Silva BANGKOK (Reuters) - The video opens with revellers throwing water by the side of a road as they celebrate Songkran, the festival that ushers in the traditional Thai new year. Then the camera pans to a horrific road accident and the group are seen trying to douse flames engulfing the vehicles. This is one of several public service announcements being aired ahead of the new year holiday, when Thailand sees a spike in road deaths as many people exit cities bound for their homes in the countryside. Dubbed the "Seven Deadly Days", the days before, during and after the Songkran holiday see accident rates soar, with drunk driving accounting for many crashes. The seven days began on Wednesday this year and will end on Tuesday. The holiday is often referred to as the world's biggest water fight, with revellers throwing water at passing cars and motorbikes that sometimes swerve to avoid getting doused. Thailand's roads rank among the world's deadliest, according to the World Health Organization, and there has been little improvement despite safety campaigns over the years. On Tuesday, six migrant workers from Myanmar were killed when their double-decker bus crashed into a ditch near the border town of Mae Sot, the second fatal accident in as many weeks involving migrants. Thailand's transport ministry said it aimed to reduce the number of road accidents by 7 percent during this Songkran festival. Emergency responders doubt the latest safety campaign will have much impact. "These campaigns are quite isolated and mostly for show only," said Marko Cunningham from the Bangkok Free Ambulance Service, a volunteer ambulance organization. "Thai people know the laws and yet continue to break them," he said. "I have always said the main problem lies with enforcement." (Reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Darren Schuettler) -- © Copyright Reuters 2018-4-11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HLover Posted April 11, 2018 Share Posted April 11, 2018 With last year's successful campaign, good to see they brought it back for this year. Thank you for providing a safe environment for me to enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lungstib Posted April 11, 2018 Share Posted April 11, 2018 As suggested a month back the water throwing on main roads that is banned is now taking place at many points along the Mae Ai-Thaton road, in one case from a tent much like the one the officials are setting up to see how much booze they can drink while telling drivers not to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksidedog Posted April 11, 2018 Share Posted April 11, 2018 Much as I would like the campaign to be a success, I am far too much of a realist to believe for one second that it will be. Thais and farangs alike seem to totally part company with their brains when water throwing starts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOC Posted April 11, 2018 Share Posted April 11, 2018 38 minutes ago, snoop1130 said: "These campaigns are quite isolated and mostly for show only," said Marko Cunningham from the Bangkok Free Ambulance Service, a volunteer ambulance organization. "Thai people know the laws and yet continue to break them," he said. "I have always said the main problem lies with enforcement." Spot on...!! Those campaigns are nothing but a photo op for police and politicians..... And with the police being as playful (stupid) as the population...how are they supposed to earn any respect and enforce the law...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quandow Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 Once again - ANY holiday that is highlighted by the number of deaths it caused is worthy of rethinking its process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lupatria Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiSoLowSoNoSo Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 Time to load up with food and drinks and stay home, had enough of traffic jams and crazy kamikaze drivers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThreeEyedRaven Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 15 hours ago, snoop1130 said: The holiday is often referred to as the world's biggest water fight It would be more appropriate to call it what it really is, the worlds worst road carnage bloodbath. Hell of a holiday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stargeezr Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 Good Luck everybody, hope you all surivie this years crazy 7 days and get back home in one piece, whether it is in Thailand or somewhere else. Geezer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darcula Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 15 hours ago, snoop1130 said: the world's biggest water fight Top that, Libya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannot Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 Cobblers , accidents dont "soar" over this period if anything they're the same or less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falangjim Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 Your average Somchai or Lek risks being called "too serious" or thinking too much if they request a bit of common sense regarding Songkran safety. The ambulance driver says it all: Thais know the laws but break them anyway. Sad. How many Songkan celebrations are also memorials for families who have relatives killed in action during these Seven Deadly Days? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somchai Logic Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 Whatever!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fed up aussie Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 It does,not take a holiday period for all the idiots to cause havoc on the road.Any day will do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvavin Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 Thailand is so very proud of this 7-day death campaign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natway09 Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 They just do not get it,,, do they ??? The road traffic safety monitoring & policing needs to be 365 days a year ,,, Get it RTP????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannot Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 31 minutes ago, falangjim said: Your average Somchai or Lek risks being called "too serious" or thinking too much if they request a bit of common sense regarding Songkran safety. The ambulance driver says it all: Thais know the laws but break them anyway. Sad. How many Songkan celebrations are also memorials for families who have relatives killed in action during these Seven Deadly Days? "inaction" being the word Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benmart Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 16 hours ago, JOC said: Spot on...!! Those campaigns are nothing but a photo op for police and politicians..... And with the police being as playful (stupid) as the population...how are they supposed to earn any respect and enforce the law...? No respect, only contempt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dickjones2018 Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 any better for the death rate this time ... the only way is up... with the goons in charge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essox essox Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 17 hours ago, HLover said: With last year's successful campaign, good to see they brought it back for this year. Thank you for providing a safe environment for me to enjoy. are you sure?????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HLover Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 1 minute ago, essox essox said: are you sure?????? Not even .14 % Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essox essox Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 1 minute ago, HLover said: Not even .14 % no one is safe when this circus starts !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Media1 Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 17 hours ago, HLover said: With last year's successful campaign, good to see they brought it back for this year. Thank you for providing a safe environment for me to enjoy. LoL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saminoz Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 Thaiand's version of "The Purge" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essox essox Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 1 hour ago, natway09 said: They just do not get it,,, do they ??? The road traffic safety monitoring & policing needs to be 365 days a year ,,, Get it RTP????? They just dont get it do they?? Yur right about 365 days..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connda Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 The reality is that the 7 Deadly Days are not anymore deadly than any other 7 consecutive days during the year. These 7 days simply have more press coverage. The average death toll per day is over 60 souls and there were more then 1/4 million traffic related injuries before the end of March 2018. For a country with 76 million inhabitants, 20 million motorbikes, and 17 million cars/trucks, these are simply ghastly statistics. Thailand has a huge problem, but not one that is limited to major holidays like Songkhan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoshowJones Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 3 hours ago, Stargrazer9889 said: Good Luck everybody, hope you all surivie this years crazy 7 days and get back home in one piece, whether it is in Thailand or somewhere else. Geezer Crazy 7 days "somewhere else"?????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHYWHY Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 The Key Here is Enforcement Enforcement Enforcement Enforcement. There should be NO excuses No Bribes No I'm Sorry Enforce Enforce Enforce Take keys away from people let tyres down It's a Police Force So Enforce Enforce Enforce until message is understood by all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PEE TEE Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 Its a Thai Thing . i stay home thanks. after seeing last year ,foreigners firing ice cubes with catapults Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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