Plans in place for a safe Songkran festival

By The Nation

 

File photo

 

Authorities are preparing a “Safe Songkran” programme in an attempt to limit the number of casualties too often associated with the fun annual festival.

 

Songkran, which marks the traditional Thai New Year, is celebrated in mid-April every year, but the period has been dubbed the “Seven Dangerous Days” due to the large number of deaths and casualties on the roads. Nearly 400 people were killed and almost 4,000 injured during Songkran last year.

 

“Checkpoints will go up and officials will strictly enforce traffic laws. For example, no drink-driving is allowed, and drunk drivers’ vehicles will be seized,” Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon said on Monday. 

 

At the same time, he emphasised that officials must not engage in bribery. 

 

Millions of people hit the roads in Thailand during the Songkran festival either for holidays or to visit their home provinces. Because of the sheer number of travellers, the number of road accidents is higher than during normal times. 

 

Prawit said he planned to ban trucks and buses from using main roads during Songkran to ease traffic jams. 

 

He was speaking after he presided over a meeting of the Integrated Security Solution Centre, which included representatives of the armed forces, the National Police Office, the Interior Ministry and the Transport Ministry.

 

Defence Ministry spokesman Lt-General Kongcheep Tantravanich said highway police would be in charge of main roads while the Interior Ministry would take care of secondary roads. 

 

The Seven Dangerous Days associated with Songkran 2018 will be between April 11 and April 17.

 

“During the period, we will have provincial road safety centres up and running to reduce accident risks,” Kongcheep said. 

 

He said speeding, drink-driving, driving without a licence, and motorcycle riding without a crash helmet would be strictly banned. 

 

“We will also pay attention to the environment, such as road surfaces, lighting and traffic signs,” Kongcheep said. 

 

He said complaints about road conditions and problematic conditions could be directed to the hotline, 1586. “Regarding highways risks, call 1193,” he said. 

 

Kongcheep said authorities would also boost public safety at Songkran venues. 

 

Nikorn Chamnong, who heads the People’s Safety Foundation, urged the government to use local mechanisms to stop motorcyclists and their passengers flouting traffic laws. 

 

“Last year, the use of such mechanisms in Krabi reduced motorcycle accidents by 34 per cent,” Nikorn said. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30342293

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-4-2

2 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

“Checkpoints will go up and officials will strictly enforce traffic laws.

They are one day late. April fools day was yesterday.

I plan on meeting a fabulously beautiful and wealthy woman who will insist on  looking after me no matter what. I  think my brilliant plan has a greater  chance of success than the government's.

Isn't 10 dangerous days?

 

The madness in Pattaya goes on until the 20th.

 

Sadly another groundhog day x 10.

A creation of a couple of police muppet costume characters is sure to have a big impact on reducing the road toll. The child like creativeness of the of the Thai administration is mind numbing.

So there are two hotline numbers. They will be about as effective as the "building about to collapse" hotline created a few years back as a knee-jerk reaction to some building crumbling like a deck of cards and killing a number of people. After day three the phone didn't answer.

Edited April 2, 20188 yr by Cadbury

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

At the same time, he emphasised that officials must not engage in bribery. 

That photo literally epitomises their attitude to Songkran.

 

Two dancing police puppets 

On the ball once again.....I feel safer already......

Im placing the one bullet in the gun chamber  now, im sure it  will be safer

I wish, they would just stop it!

I have the feeling, there might be less deaths, if the "officials" would not "put plans in place"!

 

In the end, all they do to "ensure safety" is cutting down the fun for everybody, because they are not willing or able, to enforce existing laws against drunk driving, wearing helmets, not getting on a motocy with 3 or more people, not letting 10 year old's drive motocys.... 

Plans in place for a safe Songkran festival

Thank goodness! And there was me worried about the traffic.

Love this bit. At the same time, he emphasised that officials must not engage in bribery not sure how many seconds that will last could job for a white suit watchman.

The puppets are not reassuring at all.  

 

This is just some officials putting the cart before the horse, exercising their gums and grabbing some of that junta inspired civil servant lime light.  Stay off the roads if you can .

 

Thailand has proven that safety is only important if it affects profits.  Was have drink at a lovely, SAFE outdoor venue where there were several bars all doing good business.  They all shutdown around midnight, which was very odd.  We were all then herded down the street to this dingy night club, where there was only one narrow entrance / exit to accommodate several hundred people.  The number of people in the club would be an obvious safety violation in most countries.   The whole thing was over the top hinky.

 

Nearly 400 people were killed and almost 4,000 injured during Songkran last year.

That figure is probably under the daily death toll of 61 per day that happens on any given day.  The powers to be will continue to paid lip service to the problem without ever seriously addressing the root cause of the carnage.  It's just more hot air - something we have plenty of this time of year.

Edited April 3, 20188 yr by connda

Is this a belated April Fools joke....what a bunch of daydreamers. The only way to have a safe Songkran is to cancel the celebrations. As the Govt. have given an additional holiday this year, the death toll will be greater than last year no doubt...

Clowns