Fifty-five people died in road accidents nationwide during the seven days (April 11-17) of Lao New Year celebrations, the Traffic Police Department reported on Monday.

http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/free_55%20die%20in%207.htm

While the festival itself lasts for just three days, it is customary for people to celebrate the New Year over a longer period.

Department Deputy Di-rector General Lieutenant Colonel Khamthavai Phet-outhay told Lao media during an interview in Vientiane yesterday that the main cause of road accidents was drunken driving and high speeds.

While the total number of road accidents this Pi Mai was down, the number of deaths increased by 27.27 percent compared to the same period last year.

Mr Khamthavai said one of the most serious accidents occurred in Champassak province on April 13 when a heavy truck hit a smaller truck, killing six people. Police said the accident happened because of speeding.

The Traffic Police Department said there were more than 200 accidents nationwide from April 11-17.

During the three-day holiday itself (April 14-16) the number of accidents was 157, down from 170 last year, according to the department.

The number of deaths in this period increased from 17 last year to 28 over the holiday. The accident toll also saw 36 people seriously injured and 280 vehicles damaged.

The department reported that collisions between motorbikes were most frequent with 61, while 35 accidents involving cars were reported.

Vientiane recorded the highest number of accidents nationwide with 49, along with five fatalities. Eleven people were seriously injured and 59 people were stopped for drink-driving.

Savannakhet province recorded 21 accidents while the lowest accident rates were in Huaphan, Phongsaly, Luang Namtha and Khammuan provinces.

The department noted that most people involved in accidents had drunk too much alcohol.

For three days traffic officials attempted to protect revellers on Vientiane roads.

The department reported that most accidents occurred in the evenings when many motorists were drunk and driving home or were on their way to a party.

Have fun and be safe. I still don't understand why people drink and drive. The problem is worst in the U.S.
:-[ :(

My beloved cousin and his friend make up that number. I still feel sad for his family because he was a very close relative.

More than 200 accidents nationwide in one week is too high for such a small populated country like Laos. Many other accidents go unreported too.

200 in one week is crazy. Sorry to hear that your cousin was one of the 55.

In the U.S some people love to drink and party so drinking and driving is every weekend thing.
:-[ :-/ :'(

More than crazy for a relativiely small population. 55 deaths is an astronomical number in one week for something than can be prevented.

PEACE wrote on 20^th Apr, 2011 at 12:21pm:

More than crazy for a relativiely small population. 55 deaths is an astronomical number in one week for something than can be prevented.

Very high number. In Thailand about 230 people died from road accident in new year, but Thailand has 10 time more population. Many in Laos drive without car insurance and driver license.
:-/ :(

Even one death is one too many, but having said that, the deaths are not a shock in a society with average road rules. The truck driver who killed my cousin is in jail at the moment.

The USA is a bit different because most people drive cars and there's metal to protect you. There's never a day in Vientiane that you don't see motorbikes on the streets, they're everywhere.  

Most of the people in the U.S drive a car. Some ride motorcycle for fun and for speed. It doesn't matter what you drive. When you're drunk it doesn't help.
:o

I always drive a pickup truck (never a car) because I feel that I get more protection from all four sides if an accident should occur.

When one makes the transition into the unknown, how long is the norm before the cremation takes place? It IS always cremation, right? Never burying, right? Not in Laos, anyway, right? Out in the open too, right?

It depends how you died, and who you are.
It's always cremation in Lao culture.

If someone dies from an accident or other tragic circumstances, the cremation must take place very quickly, within a day or two.

If someone dies from old age or other natural causes, the cremation can take place in around a week.

If the deceased is someone very important, such as a head monk, the cremation can take place in two or three weeks.

Cremated remains of the deceased person is buried at a Buddhist temple.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 21^st Apr, 2011 at 9:59am:

If someone dies from an accident or other tragic circumstances, the cremation must take place very quickly, within a day or two. Cremated remains of the deceased person is buried at a Buddhist temple.

Why? What are the the superstitions surrounding the two quoted answers?

There's something about freeing the spirit quickly of those who die from murder or road accident, because they're angry.

Most Laotians have their final resting place at the temple, but some people's ashes are scattered in the river or sea.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 21^st Apr, 2011 at 11:16pm:

There's something about freeing the spirit quickly of those who die from murder or road accident, because they're angry. Most Laotians have their final resting place at the temple, but some people's ashes are scattered in the river or sea.

How long before your cousin was cremated? So he's not angry now?

Before cremating, do they recycle body parts as 'gifts' for someone who may become maimed or such? Does that type of thing go on in Laos?

So, I'm assuming from your answer, there isn't any cemetaries in Laos? No such place as a morgue, right?

My cousin was cremated the next day in a simple ceremony after his accident. The truck driver is in jail, so whoever thinks that people can get away in Laos by paying the police are dead wrong. If you kill someone in a road accident in Laos, it's automatic jail time for you.

We don't recycle body parts. The Lao belief is that if you remove a certain part of the deceased, such as the brain for example, they may be born again with not much intelligence. So out of respect to the deceased and in hope that they reincarnate to a better life, everything must be burnt with them.

The deceased is kept in a coffin, ready to be cremated.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 25^th Apr, 2011 at 9:06pm:

My cousin was cremated the next day in a simple ceremony after his accident. The truck driver is in jail, so whoever thinks that people can get away in Laos by paying the police are dead wrong. If you kill someone in a road accident in Laos, it's automatic jail time for you. We don't recycle body parts. The Lao belief is that if you remove a certain part of the deceased, such as the brain for example, they may be born again with not much intelligence. So out of respect to the deceased and in hope that they reincarnate to a better life, everything must be burnt with them. The deceased is kept in a coffin, ready to be cremated.

Was it not manslaughter the assailant was guilty of? It can't have been murder. Am I wrong? Do you know how long he's incarcerated for?
Any such thing as parole in Laos? Do they reward good behavour in the Lao penetentary systems?

Letting the deceased depart with as intact as possible sounds very sound.

Don't they cremate out in the open? Or do they do the burning in furnaces? Maybe you can choose how you'd like to go out?

It's not murder, however two people died as a result of his action (my cousin and his friend). There is such thing as parole, but I don't know how long he will be locked up for.

Yes, the deceased is cremated out in the open, but you can't see a body, just fire and flames, because the deceased is in a coffin which is surrounded by many branches of wood.

Was there even a court case? That was quite a quick conviction.

Did you cry?

I'm not aware of any court case.

Cry? Didn't you read what I wrote on the following thread?

http://www.laopride.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.cgi?num=1302630777/0#10


Quote:

My cousin's sudden death doesn't affect me much on a personal level, because he isn't an immediate family member, but still a very close relative, and his family is obviously devastated.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 27^th Apr, 2011 at 12:45am:

I'm not aware of any court case. Cry? Didn't you read what I wrote on the following thread? http://www.laopride.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.cgi?num=1302630777/0#10 Quote: My cousin's sudden death doesn't affect me much on a personal level, because he isn't an immediate family member, but still a very close relative, and his family is obviously devastated.

That's quite shocking! No court cases in Laos? Then the cops are ALWAYS right, right? You might as well do a runner. ;D

I'll take that as a NO!

We have court cases in Laos, but most offenses among "poor" people are settled out of court.

The driver's relative will be negotiating with my cousin's family soon, also with the other boys family who got killed together.

They've already paid my cousin's family 3 million kip ($375 US) for funeral costs, but that's not enough compensation for killing their son, so hopefully they get more than that when they meet again for further talks.

The problem is that two people died in the accident, so my cousin's family may not receive a lot of compensation, considering that the other boy's family also needs to be paid.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 27^th Apr, 2011 at 2:00am:

We have court cases in Laos, but most offenses among "poor" people are settled out of court. The driver's relative will be negotiating with my cousin's family soon, also with the other boys family who got killed together. They've already paid my cousin's family 3 million kip ($375 US) for funeral costs, but that's not enough compensation for killing their son, so hopefully they get more than that when they meet again for further talks. The problem is that two people died in the accident, so my cousin's family may not receive a lot of compensation, considering that the other boy's family also needs to be paid.

How are these 'poor' cases handled? You gets to play the judge and bang the gavel? Don't tell me it's the cop whose verdict could docilely be bought for US $10!

How much is someones life worth in Laos? I know in the States you could walk out of a courtroom with multiple millions in punitives alone! It also depends on how good of an 'actor' your lawyer is. :D

Is there any ill feeling towards to the assailant held by your aunty and uncle? What about your cousins? Don't they want to bring on karma? An eye for an eye? Do they have 'payback' on their minds?

You can't play judge, the decision is based on the law. I sad all along that if you kill someone in a road accident, it's jail time for you.

My uncle and aunty are probably still sad, but they are feeling a bit better now. They don't have payback on their minds because nothing can bring their son back. The truck driver is in jail, and they expect to receive more compensation soon, so that gives them some peace of mind.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 28^th Apr, 2011 at 1:22am:

You can't play judge, the decision is based on the law. I sad all along that if you kill someone in a road accident, it's jail time for you. My uncle and aunty are probably still sad, but they are feeling a bit better now. They don't have payback on their minds because nothing can bring their son back. The truck driver is in jail, and they expect to receive more compensation soon, so that gives them some peace of mind.

Is 'compensation' law too? What if it was a peasant? Will a buffalo and half a dozen chickens do? What if the assailant simply decides that he doesn't want to pay?

Yes, you are required to pay up if you are at fault. Everybody has money in Laos, or they can find ways of finding money, even poor people. They can sell their buffalo or other assets such as a motorbike or land. Relatives usually help out too, or borrow from somewhere.

If the defendant refuses to pay then he or she will be in jail for a very long time, and their assets may be seized.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 28^th Apr, 2011 at 2:25am:

Yes, you are required to pay up if you are at fault. Everybody has money in Laos, or they can find ways of finding money, even poor people. They can sell their buffalo or other assets such as a motorbike or land. Relatives usually help out too, or borrow from somewhere. If the defendant refuses to pay then he or she will be in jail for a very long time, and their assets may be seized.

The buffalo and half a dozen chickens won't do?

If you had a son and someone killed him, will a buffalo and some chickens do for you?

The buffalo goes for quite a substantial amount when under an auctioneer's hammer. You could also breed the chicken. :)

I was talking about the dirt poor. If they lack in possesion of mammon, where are you going to force them to get it from?

A buffalo in Laos is worth a few hundred dollars at most.

If the dirt poor have farm animals then they obviously have land. They can sell this asset to compensate the victims family, or get loans from friends and relatives.

llX wrote on 21^st Apr, 2011 at 1:49am:

Most of the people in the U.S drive a car. Some ride motorcycle for fun and for speed. It doesn't matter what you drive. When you're drunk it doesn't help. :o

Still the rate of road accidents caused by drink n drive is increasing, even we are having some strict laws against it but still we are unable to stop it completely. People need to understand the value of life, by driving after drinking they are not only playing with their life but the life of other people traveling on the road is endangered.

"Speed Thrills But Kills"

Agreed. If you going to drink dont drive.
:-[