Second Lieutenant Cherdsak Champathet, adviser to the Justice Minister, held a press conference at the Road Safety Directing Centre yesterday to reveal the latest casualties, which came from 1,215 accidents.Two provinces have been free of reported accidents – Samut Prakan and Amnat Charoen – while 24 provinces have reported no deaths.Surat Thani reported the highest number of accidents – 49 – and the highest number of injuries – 59.Nakhon Ratchasima and Roi Et have recorded the highest number of deaths so far – seven.

Drunk driving and speeding were the major causes of road accidents.Cherdsak said statistics showed the number of road accidents over the three days was lower than last year, with 324 fewer accidents, or a 21-per-cent drop.Motorcycles were involved in most accidents.The period that accidents occurred most was from 1pm to 9pm.Deputy government spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the government had increased the number of buses and vans to cater for 24 million Songkran revellers.He said the government was allowing free use of motorway number seven from Bangkok to Ban Chang for motorists travelling to Chon Buri and Pattaya.