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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.