On the first day of the 7 Dangerous Days during the 2026 Songkran Festival, 20 people died. The top causes of accidents were speeding and abrupt lane cutting. The Road Safety Operations Center (ศปถ.) is deterring risky behaviors and enforcing strict laws.
At 10:20 a.m. on 11 Apr 2026, at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), the Road Safety Operations Center (ศปถ.) reported road accident statistics for Songkran 2026 on 10 Apr 2026. There were 135 accidents, 132 injuries, and 20 deaths. Fifty-nine provinces reported zero fatalities. ศปถ. urged related agencies to facilitate public travel, especially on main roads and routes connecting provinces, while strictly and continuously enforcing laws. Local mechanisms including community and family checkpoints were activated to monitor, inspect, deter, and warn individuals exhibiting risky behaviors intensively.
Police General Samran Nualma, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police and chair of the Songkran Road Accident Prevention and Reduction Center 2026 press conference, revealed that the center, led by the DDPM and partner networks, compiled road accident data for 10 Apr 2026, the first day of the “Drive Safely, Slow Down, Reduce Accidents” campaign. There were 135 accidents, 132 injuries, and 20 deaths. The leading causes were speeding at 37.78% and sudden lane cutting at 22.96%.
Motorcycles were involved in the majority of accidents, accounting for 70.49%, mostly on straight roads (78.52%). Highways accounted for 48.15%, local administrative organization and village roads 20.74%. The peak accident time was 3:01–6:00 p.m. (21.48%). The age group with the highest injuries and deaths was 60–69 years old (18.42%).
The provinces with the most accidents were Trang and Songkhla (8 each). Trang had the highest number of injuries (9), while Prachinburi and Songkhla had the highest deaths (2 each). Fifty-nine provinces reported zero fatalities.
Today, heavy traffic is expected on main routes leading to regional areas as people travel home and for tourism, possibly causing congestion at times. ศปถ. coordinates with all provinces and Bangkok to facilitate travel, especially on main and interprovincial routes, while strictly enforcing laws. Focus is on risky behaviors including speeding, drunk driving, no helmets, no seat belts, wrong-way driving, running red lights, no driving license, dangerous overtaking, using mobile phones while driving, unsafe motorcycles, overloading pickup trucks, lacking compulsory insurance, and unpaid vehicle taxes. Relevant agencies will check stranded passengers at transport stations and inspect vehicle conditions. Drivers and crew must have zero alcohol levels, no drug use, and not overload passengers. Unauthorized private vans operating passenger transport will be inspected.
Traffic management includes use of traffic cones and warning lights to alert drivers in advance at community checkpoints, traffic islands, and U-turn points. If these points are closed, clear lighting will be installed. Public announcements encourage drivers to prepare physically and ensure vehicles have compulsory insurance and current tax payments to be covered in case of accidents.
The DDPM Director-General, Teerapat Kachamat, also Secretary of the Road Safety Operations Center, stated that provinces are urged to use local mechanisms and volunteers to focus on community and family checkpoints to monitor, inspect, deter, and warn individuals with risky behaviors. The center also implements a “door knocking” campaign to advise citizens on traffic law compliance.
Weather forecasts for the next 24 hours indicate generally hot weather in upper Thailand with some areas experiencing extreme heat and haze during the day, which may cause fatigue and drowsiness. Drivers are advised to stop safely and rest if feeling tired before continuing their journey to prevent accidents. The southern region will have hot daytime weather with isolated thunderstorms; drivers there should exercise caution. Everyone is urged to be courteous and comply with traffic laws to ensure a safe and happy Songkran travel period.
Finally, if an accident occurs or is witnessed, report it via the emergency medical system 1669, the iDEMS system with GPS via video call, the Department of Land Transport hotline 1584, the Transport Safety Center hotline 1356, the Safety Hotline 1784 available 24/7, or the Line app “DDPM Incident Report 1784” by adding Line ID @1784DDPM for prompt assistance.