Thailand Songkran: Urgent Action Needed to Stop Deadly Road Crisis
As the vibrant Songkran festival approaches, Thailand faces renewed calls to bolster its road safety initiatives. Experts at the Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit in Paris this week stressed the importance of consistent and impactful campaigns to curb road fatalities during the traditional New Year celebrations.
Kelly Larson, director of Bloomberg Philanthropies, underscored the need for sustained government action. Bloomberg Philanthropies collaborated with Thailand on road safety initiatives from 2015 to 2019, focusing on campaigns that highlighted the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding, particularly pertinent during the festive period.
“We worked with the government to develop a campaign to help people understand the risks of drinking and driving or speeding during this festival,” Larson stated, advocating for a resurgence of similar initiatives. She also emphasized the critical role of law enforcement, urging the Royal Thai Police, with whom she has previously worked, to rigorously enforce road safety regulations during the upcoming celebrations.
The Partnership for Healthy Cities, a global network of 74 cities committed to combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries, provides a platform for knowledge sharing and best-practice implementation. Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Health Organization (WHO), and Vital Strategies, this initiative empowers cities worldwide to adopt effective policies and interventions. Larson’s call for action comes as the Summit, held at the InterContinental Paris-Le Grand, concluded on March 21.
Beyond government efforts, Larson highlighted the crucial role of the media in amplifying road safety messages and holding authorities accountable for policy enforcement. She noted the importance of a “steady drumbeat of advocacy” to ensure existing policies translate into tangible improvements on the ground. Since 2007, Bloomberg Philanthropies' road safety program has invested $500 million globally to address this pressing issue.
Ariella Rojhani, director of the Partnership for Healthy Cities at Vital Strategies, echoed the importance of data-driven approaches. Accurate data on accidents and fatalities, she argued, allows authorities to identify trends, pinpoint problem areas, and implement targeted interventions. Drawing parallels with similar initiatives in Argentina addressing drunk driving during New Year celebrations in Buenos Aires, Rojhani stressed the necessity of a multifaceted approach encompassing both enforcement and public awareness campaigns. Successful interventions require coordinated intergovernmental collaboration, she added, expressing hope for a decrease in road fatalities during this year’s Songkran festivities.
Vital Strategies partners with governments, researchers, and advocates to promote sustainable progress in global health. Their emphasis on data-driven strategies and collaborative action underscores the complex nature of road safety challenges.
The Songkran festival, typically observed from April 13th to 15th, often extends beyond these dates as people travel to and from their hometowns. The Thai government tracks accident statistics during the “seven dangerous days” surrounding the festival. Despite previous road safety campaigns, last year’s Songkran period saw a sobering 287 road fatalities and 2,060 injuries resulting from 2,044 traffic accidents between April 11th and 17th. Chiang Rai province recorded the highest number of accidents (82) and 17 related deaths, while Phrae province reported the highest number of injuries (80). While seven out of 77 provinces registered no fatalities, the overall figures underscore the continued need for vigilance and proactive measures. This year, the focus will be on translating policy into practice and achieving a demonstrable reduction in these tragic statistics.
