People who have been to Thailand for the Thai New Year have been through what is known as Songkran. Songkran or the Water Festival is in April and is usually 4 days of being soaked with water. Thais really love this time of the year and it is fun for a day, maybe two but sadly it also has a tragic negative.
The Thai New Year in April is when so many lose their lives in accidents. It is a time where Thais drink freely and then stupidly get behind the wheel of a car or on a motorbike.
These are the facts from last year’s “7 Deadly Days”
There was a total of 368 deaths and 4,803 injuries in 4, 243 accidents nationwide.When compared to the same period last year, this year's figures were 31 less accidents, seven more deaths, and two less injuries.
Accidents resulted from drunk driving at 40.56 per cent.
Accidents involving motorcycles were at 82 per cent.
Most accidents took place during 4pm to 8pm at 32.24 per cent.
So for the 7 days where the death toll is monitored and reported Thais lose about 53 people a day. It is a disgraceful figure.
Now a group called The Alcohol Watch Network and allies are rallying the Public Health Ministry to ban alcohol sales on Buddhist holidays and major festivals such as Songkran, New Year celebrations, Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha day, Asaraha Bucha day, and Buddhist Lent Day.
A spokesman said "We want the health minister - and the ministry - to have a clear standing and policy to push forward the alcohol sale ban for the coming Songkran festival."
He also said the government should pressure the national alcohol control committee and the control policy committee, so that enforcement of the law and strict restrictions on alcohol sales and consumption can get underway.
A government spokesman stated that banning of alcohol sales during major festivals such as Songkran, would affect tourism.
I agree that banning the sale of alcohol is not the answer. These are holidays for so many people and they are celebrating with friends and family. Banning alcohol sales will only mean people will stock up on alcohol supplies before the days where sales are banned. Also purchasing alcohol on banned days is easy.
Here in Thailand, the sale of alcohol is stopped from 6pm on Fridays until 6pm on Sundays when elections are being held, that is national or locally. It is an absolutely idiotic policy that makes no sense. I have been able to but alcohol when these supposed bans are in force.
The government spokesman also said, to avoid banning alcohol sales, they will examine other measures controlling alcohol consumption to reduce the number of traffic accidents caused by drinking during this period.
"Legal enforcement is not the only measure to control alcohol consumption and reduce the number of accidents during this period. We also have to strengthen the attitudes of people," he said.
Sorry, but that is bullshit. It is the job of law enforcement. They need to be out in huge numbers and actual do their job. Arrest people who drink drive, drive dangerously and so forth. Police are in presence during Songkran but not in places where they are needed. There needs to be an increase in police numbers in country areas where most deaths occur. Extra police should be transferred for the 7 days into the smaller rural areas.
Of course public awareness campaigns are good, but to what degree in Thailand I am not sure.
Maybe they can look at rules for Songkran as such:
Any person caught drink driving will have their vehicle confiscated and sold at auction. Money raised is donated to charities.
A mandatory jail term. Maybe two weeks for a minor drink driving offence, extending to one or two years for severe violations of the law.
Increase fines over this period to big numbers; drink driving 10,000 Baht, dangerous driving 10,000 Baht, Not wearing a motorbike helmet 2,000 Baht.
Anyway, this is just my thoughts off the top of my head. Banning alcohol sales will do nothing; it is an idea that should not be given serious thought. The government need to have the police enforce the law, put in public awareness campaigns and introduce deterrents that will make people think twice before endangering their life and more importantly, other people’s lives.
9 comments:
yeah Brunty, that'll happen!
I had to laugh as well. It would never happen and the group are kidding themselves thinking otherwise.
If police and the government do their job better then I am sure that the deaths and also accident would decrease.
I know my ideas are off the planet, I mean I think the current 200 Baht for not wearing a motorbike helmet is a joke and should be 2,000 Baht on the spot or bike is confiscated.
Even though I have been going to Thailand for 17 years now, I've never been there for Songkran. This year will be the first and I'm really not sure whether I should be looking forward to it.
We are usually based around the Chonburi/Pattaya area for the many golf courses. But we really consider going to a more rural area to visit friends and have a more quiet Songkran, but then maybe more dangerous?
Still very much enjoying your blog, be it about rabbits, deaths or the next so important School Day.
I like your idea, but since the entire country stops for 3 days anyway, and some places for 5 or 7 days - why not stop all motor vehicle activity at all? Nothing moves... that way no deaths from motor vehicles. Anyone in a car - is guilty. Easily seen and arrested. Who wants to drive during that time anyway? I've almost died a couple times blowing down the highway in Ubon when someone steps out from the curb and launches a bucket full of water into me so hard it knocks the wind out of me. You had that? People are nuts... what about the way a group of people will step in front of your motorbike doing 50-90kph because they want you to stop and take some abuse for a few minutes before they let you on your way? The roads are slick - I've almost locked 'em up.
Still - for me, SongKran is the best thing I've ever experienced in a group of people. Sisaket and Ubon are THE places to do it. You're in the right place Brunty - get some photos too!
Last time I was in Thailand was early 2005 and they had an alcohol ban for the elections. I'm not sure if it was countrywide or just Bangkok, as they were selling it openly in Phetchaburi the day before the election, and then on the day of the election were selling it on the unreserved seating train back to Bangkok. As soon as we crossed into Bkk, the drink sellers stopped selling beer and Bangkok was dry (technically). I actually saw an English guy go close to assaulting a waitress in Banglamphu because she told him he couldn't have a beer.
If the police and govt aren't going to do their jobs, a ban on holidays might be worth looking at. Anything that helps save lives should be looked at and encouraged, and a ban will save a few at least, even though it's easy to get around it. But I agree, it should be up to the police to be out in force and taking motorbikes away from drunk and helmetless riders etc.
ThaiGolfer:
If you like to be soaked with dirty water by large groups of tattoo-covered british hooligans while dodging vicious bar girls that aim for your eyes with the same dirty water; then come enjoy Songkran in the Pattaya area.
You will hate it after 2 days...up country will be much better.
Tell him Brunty.
In Malaysia, during the festive season, a maximum fine of MYR 300.00 (Bhat 3000.00) are slapped on serious traffic offences. Agree that Bhat 200.00 is a pittance and agree that the best way to deal with are much stricter enforcement.
You have to change people attitudes. This can be done as has happened in Australia for instance.
Go back 15 - 30 years ago and drink driving was almost accepted my Australians. Amongst young blokes it was a right of passage, the drunker you are and still able to get home in your car? What a legend.
In a short amount of time this has thank fully changed. one generation ago you would help your mate fall into the car to get home from the pub. These days you would hide his keys and refuse to give them back.
Thai golfer, If you read Isaarat's advice about Songkran it is true. Pattaya they do not play in the real spirit of Songkran, sadly a lot of the country doesn’t anymore.
Songkran is pretty safe in itself but the drunks, speeding drivers on the roads are what have to be looked out for.
Vern, Gday mate. Ubon is a great place for Songkran but 4 days gets a little long. Also young kids as you said throwing water so hard as they are deliberately trying to hurt people.
Every year this is causing scuffles when someone takes offence to how they have been wet.
If they banned cars and pick-ups this would kill the craziness of bumper to bumper water fights. I think this would be near impossible to enforce.
Maybe reduced speed limits and huge fines and jail terms are a good idea.
Hi Craig. The alcohol bans for elections are like that. You go into a province where elections are being held and you can’t purchase alcohol. Get into the next province and everything is available.
I too have seen foreigners get really angry at waitresses because they are doing their jobs. Many of the businesses can’t afford the 10,000 Baht fine and patron is 2,000 Baht.
I agree anything that saves just one life is worth implementing, but it is just too easy to get around these bans here in Thailand. Also it would mean much just stockpiling alcohol before the ban.
The police and government are the key.
Franky, the fools in Pattaya and mean as hell bargirls is no place for a fun Songkran. The filthy water is disgusting. I agree with you my friend. There are many other places to enjoy.
Derze, the traffic fines in Thailand are a joke. No licence is a 200.00 Baht fine. They are too small and need to be increased tenfold.
Memok, the culture in Australia has changed a lot. Mayes do now look out for mates and others will actual dob mates in who do risk drink driving. Our courts are too lenient on drink drivers and the fines are piss weak too.
I just don’t know with the way Thai culture is, if it could ever be changed. I think if there were appropriate punishments and fines then this could be a good step in the right direction.
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