The number of holiday travellers killed so far this Songkran was 29 lower than the same period last year, while 57 more people had been injured.

The number of accidents (3,823) up to Monday night was 40 more than last year, the Interior Minister and the centre's deputy director Aree Wongsearaya said.

On Monday alone, there were 417 accidents. Most of them (86 per cent) involved motorcycles. Some 45 were killed and 461 others hurt.

Nakhon Phanom, Lampang, Sing Buri, Sa Kaew, and Bangkok topped the list with three deaths each, while Chiang Rai had the most injuries at 19, followed by Udon Thani (17), Kanchanaburi and Si Sa Ket, which had 14 each.

Chiang Rai also experienced the most accidents with 19, followed by Udon Thani (15) and Suphan Buri, with 14.

In the six days (April 11-16), 2.4 million vehicles were stopped at checkpoints nation-wide and 41,696 motorists found to have breached traffic laws. Most failed to present driver's licences, wear helmets or seatbelts.

With many holidaymakers returning to Bangkok from the provinces on Songkran's last day yesterday, Aree contacted public transport agencies to ensure there were sufficient seats for all.

Meanwhile, traffic on Mitraparb Highway from Nakhon Ratchasima to Sara Buri had eased and should be back to normal today. Nakhon Ratchasima bus terminals were packed with passengers but officials were confident all would be on their way to the capital by 8pm last night. In Bangkok, travellers arriving at the Mor Chit bus terminal and Hua Lampong Railway Station, caused heavy traffic around the transport hubs.