Happy Songkran as much of the nation DRIVES DRUNK

[webfact]

Happy Songkran as much of the nation DRIVES DRUNK

 

Caption: Drunk driving arrests go through the roof

 

A government spokesman painted a lovely picture of Songran being happily enjoyed nationwide. 

 

Then came the reality.

 

Figures revealed nearly one hundred thousand drivers stopped for being drunk, tens of thousands of prosecutions and more than 2,000 vehicles seized. 

 

Deputy NCPO spokesman  Sirijan Ngathong said that everyone was helping out and cooperating as specially cordoned off areas throughout the kingdom were the scene of joyous, polite and appropriate celebrations. 

 

Though she warned people to be careful in the crowds and said it was very hot out there.

 

Then following the optimism of a holiday being enjoyed by millions came the stark reality. 

 

Much of the nation was getting paralytic then getting behind the wheel of buses and cars and riding motorcycles.

 

This came despite the dire warnings beforehand. 

 

Sirijan was referring to the government's DUI campaign when she announced that 32,772 bikes had been stopped and 973 confiscated on Saturday alone. 

 

Some 24,866 people nationwide face prosecution for riding motorcycles drunk.

 

On public vehicles and in private cars there was no hiding that the situation was almost as bad.

 

Some 25,446 vehicles were stopped with 1,972 licences taken in and 330 vehicles confiscated. There were 15,049 prosecutions. 

 

All this was just on Saturday 13th, reported Sanook. 

 

For the period 11th to 13th the DUI crackdown had resulted in a staggering 98,808 cases. 

 

Some 2,294 vehicles had been confiscated. 

 

People so far facing prosecution for drink driving are 44,024 on bikes and 27,283 in public vehicles and cars. 

 

Source: Sanook

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-04-15

[Bluespunk]

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

For the period 11th to 13th the DUI crackdown had resulted in a staggering 98,808 cases. 

 

For once the hyperbole is justified. 

 

That really is a staggering statistic...

[Dmaxdan]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

Some 2,294 vehicles had been confiscated. 

Maybe all the vehicles should be crushed rather than just confiscated.

[Captain_Bob]

About freakin' time these idiots get a dose of reality. With cameras almost everywhere now + social media, the BIB can't keep letting it slide without losing their face/job. Thais (particularly young males) need to know that they can't just throw caution to the wind and drive crazy-mao putting human lives at risk without consequence. And of course not just Songkran but year-round. 1-2 beers is one thing, but a lot of these guys are on a whiskey Red Bull yaba and who knows what else me-first road rage. 

[overherebc]

8 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

For once the hyperbole is justified. 

 

That really is a staggering statistic...

Sad point is it may not be only Songkran so many are drunk driving.

[fruitman]

So the big general let it happen again, ....AGAIN! 

 

I bet it's all a big misunderstanding...Thai people would never do such thing.

[PatOngo]

22 minutes ago, webfact said:

Some 25,446 vehicles were stopped with 1,972 licences taken in and 330 vehicles confiscated. There were 15,049 prosecutions. 

 

All this was just on Saturday 13th, reported Sanook. 

 

22 minutes ago, webfact said:

This came despite the dire warnings beforehand. 

Really emphasizes their respect for themselves and the law!

[fishtank]

I don't believe a word of it.

A Thai would never indulge in such behavior.

We all know they are perfect. 

 

[worrab]

26 minutes ago, webfact said:

Some 25,446 vehicles were stopped with 1,972 licences taken in and 330 vehicles confiscated. There were 15,049 prosecutions. 

Then the licences returned the next day as well as the vehicles. And as for the prosecutions...….maybe a slapped wrist and do not do it again!! Some deterrent to DUI...……….not!!  

[ZeVonderBearz]

Start running a good, safe and reliable 24 hour local bus service in all cities and bigger towns and the drink driving numbers will fall. People have no real alternative to get home after a night other than driving. This is all the failure of authorities.

[Vacuum]

4 minutes ago, ZeVonderBearz said:

Start running a good, safe and reliable 24 hour local bus service in all cities and bigger towns and the drink driving numbers will fall. People have no real alternative to get home after a night other than driving. This is all the failure of authorities.

Grab lovers will respond to this....

[evadgib]

I'm curious as to the accuracy & calibration record of their equipment.

[ExpatPH]

"nearly one hundred thousand drivers stopped for being drunk, and more than 2,000 vehicles seized"

 

why wasnt 100.000 vehicles seized and crushed in front of TV, and newspapers?

Repeat this message daily on tv news for a 1 year.

That might been a  wake up.

[sharktooth]

To be honest I can’t tell the difference between a drunk Thai driver and any other Thai driver.

[mike787]

Thais drive drunk everyday even if their not drunk!  There's just more deaths during Songkran.

2 things need improvement here:  Immigration rules and road deaths. 

[bluesofa]

32 minutes ago, evadgib said:

I'm curious as to the accuracy & calibration record of their equipment.

This is how the police in Udon calibrate their breathalyser:

I posted in another thread earlier regarding the police stopping a friend driving home at night who doesn't drink.

They tested his breath three times, before they realised he was telling the truth, allowing him to go.

I bet they still thought their batteries were duff.

[essox essox]

1 hour ago, worrab said:

Then the licences returned the next day as well as the vehicles. And as for the prosecutions...….maybe a slapped wrist and do not do it again!! Some deterrent to DUI...……….not!!  

one will NEVER KNOW.......

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, Bluespunk said:

For once the hyperbole is justified. 

 

That really is a staggering statistic...

Just wondering how they will get all these prosecutions (if they are actually prosecutions) through the courts? And they should.

 

Then of course there will be bail and review....

 

Not the main point but the infrastructure and the cost needed is staggering, and it just wouldn't be like this if the RTP and other authorities had taken serious action 20 years ago. 

 

[essox essox]

1 hour ago, ZeVonderBearz said:

Start running a good, safe and reliable 24 hour local bus service in all cities and bigger towns and the drink driving numbers will fall. People have no real alternative to get home after a night other than driving. This is all the failure of authorities.

where they going to put all the bus stops.....???

[DavisH]

Temples are doing a roaring business - praying they don't get killed by a drunk driver, or praying they can drink and drink and not kill themselves. It's easier to put the responsibility onto others. 

[bluesofa]

29 minutes ago, DavisH said:

Temples are doing a roaring business - praying they don't get killed by a drunk driver, or praying they can drink and drink and not kill themselves. It's easier to put the responsibility onto others. 

Or as we say in plain English: Pass the buck.

[Justgrazing]

4 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Or as we say in plain English: Pass the buck.

Not to be confused with pass the Buckfast .. ( for non Britons Buckfast is a fortified wine distilled by Monks in a Blighty Monastery ) .. 

[bluesofa]

Just now, Justgrazing said:

Not to be confused with pass the Buckfast .. ( for non Britons Buckfast is a fortified wine distilled by Monks in a Blighty Monastery ) .. 

Yeah, Buckfast Abbey near Buckfastleigh, it's in Devon.

[jaiyen]

1 hour ago, fishtank said:

I don't believe a word of it.

A Thai would never indulge in such behavior.

We all know they are perfect. 

 

No, It is only them that think they are perfect. Not sure how they can do that as they don't think ! We all know better.

[eggers]

Is it any wonder the number of deaths & injuries are so high!!!

Time Prayut, Prawit & RTP get serious about dealing with the appalling situation, if do nought it will only get worse & worse....

 

NEED TO ACT NOW,not just in peak times, but every day of every year; all the time!! 

[connda]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Figures revealed nearly one hundred thousand drivers stopped for being drunk, tens of thousands of prosecutions and more than 2,000 vehicles seized.

With most of the nation driving drunk, why only 2000 vehicles seized.  It tells me that the continuation of the problem is a enforcement issue, actually a lack thereof.

[Nsp64]

1 hour ago, mike787 said:

Thais drive drunk everyday even if their not drunk!  There's just more deaths during Songkran.

2 things need improvement here:  Immigration rules and road deaths. 

Not sure how immigration rules will help with drink driving

[Cake Monster]

3 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

Maybe all the vehicles should be crushed rather than just confiscated.

Maybe the drivers of the vehicles should be crushed.

That would sort out the problem

[off road pat]

2 hours ago, PatOngo said:

 

Really emphasizes their respect for themselves and the law!

24,866 people nationwide ware riding motorcycles drunk !!!!!

[bluesofa]

2 minutes ago, Cake Monster said:

Maybe the drivers of the vehicles should be crushed.

That would sort out the problem

A sort of flat-pack or Pad Flat Thai