Nikorn Jamnong believes deaths during this year's 7 Dangerous Days of Songkran will decline compared to 2025 because fewer people are traveling due to expensive fuel. He fears carpooling could lead to entire families dying in accidents.
On 10 April 2026, Nikorn Jamnong, party-list MP from the Bhumjaithai Party and chairman of the People’s Safety Foundation, said he is concerned that the recent sharp rise in fuel prices caused by the Middle East conflict will change travel behavior during this year's Songkran long holiday. He believes people will travel together by sharing rides, mostly in pickup trucks, pooling fuel costs among neighbors and friends.
Nikorn explained that although riding in the back of pickups is illegal, due to a shortage of adequate public transport, people still do so. However, it is quite dangerous. Having more than six passengers shifts the pickup’s center of gravity, making the vehicle harder to control and increasing accident risk. Excessive weight also strains the tires, risking blowouts at high speeds, which is very dangerous since passengers in pickup beds have nothing to hold onto and can be killed outright. He urged stricter enforcement of laws regarding pickup speeds when passengers are riding in the back, as this is a major risk during this year's Songkran.
Nikorn said that during Songkran, travel may shift towards renting passenger vans together to share rental and fuel costs. This brings problems, as van drivers often lack route familiarity, but a bigger issue is long-distance driving without sufficient rest, which can cause drivers to fall asleep at the wheel, leading to severe accidents. He cited a recent case where a van driver fell asleep and crashed into a truck, killing five people at once. This requires serious caution.
"When renting vans for travel, it is essential to ensure drivers get enough rest, and passengers should monitor the driver’s behavior closely. If the driver shows signs of drowsiness or fatigue, they should be told to take a break during the trip. A short nap can prevent accidents."
Nikorn said that with fuel prices so high, many people may avoid leaving Bangkok or other big cities and instead celebrate Songkran locally, partying intensively. Such celebrations often involve intoxication and careless water splashing, which can cause urban accidents, especially among motorcyclists. Last year, Bangkok had the highest death toll during Songkran, so this year could see even more deaths as more people celebrate within the city.
"With increased urban Songkran celebrations this year, I urge police and local authorities responsible for safety to work together to ensure celebrations are safe and to prevent losses caused by intoxicated participants. Everyone must take care to protect themselves, their friends, and others during the festival."
Nikorn said that since we cannot solve the high fuel price problem, which originates outside the country, we must conserve fuel and drive within legal speed limits—not exceeding 80 kilometers per hour—and regularly check that tires are in good condition, not worn or at risk of blowouts, which pose great danger.
Nikorn, who has initiated and monitored the 7 Dangerous Days campaign for over 23 years, believes this year's Songkran death toll will be significantly lower than the 253 deaths recorded during 11-17 April 2025, possibly by at least 5%, due to reduced travel from high fuel costs. However, he remains concerned about changed behaviors, urging caution when traveling in pickups or vans and during urban Songkran celebrations, especially in Bangkok. He stressed that no one wants to travel home with relatives only to die along the way. Given existing economic hardships caused by foreign factors, he hopes people avoid creating additional problems through carelessness.