Twenty-five people were killed and 248 others injured in 234 road accidents across the country on Thursday, Chaiwat Chuntirapong, director-general of the Department of Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, told a press conference today.

44.02% of the accidents were caused by speeding, 20.94% by cutting in and 16.67% by drunk driving. 86% of the accidents involved motorcycles and 85.90% took place on straight roads, 47.01% on main roads and

23.50% on secondary roads. Most of the accidents took place between 4pm and 5pm.
Songkhla province saw most accidents, recording 11 involving 13 injuries. Bangkok had the most fatalities, with three.

Chaiwat said that, since tomorrow is when more people are expected engage in water splashing and in other festive activities, officials have been instructed to increase patrols on secondary roads in communities and to warn motorists and motorcyclists against speeding or drunk driving and to wear crash helmets in the case of those on motorcycles.

Deputy Interior Permanent Secretary Chotnarin Kerdsom, meanwhile, said that stores selling alcohol are warned not to sell to people who are under 20 and to observe liquor sales hours strictly.