Sharp rise in drunk-driving cases during New Year break

By The Nation

 

FILE photo

 

Nearly 12,000 of the 12,360 accidents during the New Year holiday period involved drunk driving, Vittawan Sunthornkajit, director-general of the Department of Probation, said.

 

The 11,997 wrongdoers have to enter probation. During the period from December 27, 2019, to January 2, 2020, there were 345 cases of driving under the influence of drugs, 17 cases of reckless driving and one case of illegal racing. 

 

Compared to the previous year, there was a sharp increase in drunk driving -- up 3,291 cases, or 37.80 per cent, with 362 repeated offenders.

 

"The Department of Probation will require all offenders to do an evaluation screening of their drinking behaviour to bring those who are at high risk to be treated as chronic alcoholics; 117 patients were admitted to the hospital in the first month, with the first 47 receiving treatment, while 1,424 people in the moderate-risk group, or 50 per cent, were sent to the camp to adjust their behaviour for three days.

 

They were encouraged not to drink alcohol during the behaviour change camp, with counselling by psychologists. After leaving the camp, they still have to take part in social service to take care of those injured in accidents.

 

They were taken to the morgue to see the condition of those who had died from the accidents, and also had to visit families affected by a drunk driving accident,” the director said.

 

Vittawan added that after the probation measure, those arrested for drunk driving had agreed to comply with conditions. 

 

The situation will be reviewed in preparation for the coming Songkran festival. During Songkran, the department will send staff and volunteers to every community checkpoint to prevent gaps in detecting drivers who were at the wheel under the influence of alcohol.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30380309

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-01-09

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3 hours ago, webfact said:

Sharp rise in drunk-driving cases during New Year break

wrong

 

you just caught more because the police made a slightly increased effort

The reason people drink and drive is because there is little chance of being caught

 

and

 

in the rare occasion they are caught they can either pay a fee to get off or face a small fine

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Vittawan added that after the probation measure, those arrested for drunk driving had agreed to comply with conditions. 

I promise ????just one last drink......

OK, genius. You've identified the problem. Now DO something about it!

Paradise red-neck country where authorities recently promoted drink driving.

 

Unreal.

 

T.I.T where money is more important than life.

were they not driving slowly ?

Exactly the reason we stay off the roads for the whole Holiday period and will continue to do so as it ain't gonna change...ever.    Things are dangerous enough on every other day of the year, so no point in tempting fate !

Compared to the previous year, there was a sharp increase in drunk driving

 

Straight after little Mr P command not to do it; what a great leader has the respect of the nation?

Because the roads are lawless and the police do nothing to enforce the rules. This is the main reason. 

16 hours ago, webfact said:

They were encouraged not to drink alcohol during the behaviour change camp, with counselling by psychologists.

These people don't understand 'change'. Crush and imprison they understand

4 hours ago, BobbyL said:

Because the roads are lawless and the police do nothing to enforce the rules. This is the main reason. 

If they are not enforcing the laws how are they seeing a sharp spike in drink driving arrests, Cannot only be at the scene of an accident.

 

I know 3 farangs that got done in Pattaya at a breath check and they all said the police station was crammed full of Thai's who got caught too.

Edited January 10, 20206 yr by Don Mega

20 hours ago, webfact said:

Compared to the previous year, there was a sharp increase in drunk driving -- up 3,291 cases, or 37.80 per cent, with 362 repeated offenders.

But at least all these drunks were driving more slowly based on the requirement!

19 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

If they are not enforcing the laws how are they seeing a sharp spike in drink driving arrests, Cannot only be at the scene of an accident.

 

I know 3 farangs that got done in Pattaya at a breath check and they all said the police station was crammed full of Thai's who got caught too.

They enforce it for a few days and then its back to normal. People are then used to being able to do whatever they want. If the rules were enforced every day all year I reckon there would be a huge decline in all road issues here. However, a 10,000/month police officer isn't going to be bothered about doing his job. 

Nonononono...this must be fake news!

Everything was BETTER this year!

Plomisse!

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Sharp rise in drunk-driving cases during New Year break

And courts were letting off first time offenders lightly ???

If the police continue their policy of stopping more people and start issuing appropriate fines such a suspended licences and heavy fines, word will spread. It’s not just the drivers but if passengers refuse to allow a drunk to drive them home word will spread. You’re never going to stop it completely but month by month you can reduce the number of incidents. It’s a slow process.  

18 minutes ago, TEFLKrabi said:

If the police continue their policy of stopping more people and start issuing appropriate fines such a suspended licences and heavy fines, word will spread. It’s not just the drivers but if passengers refuse to allow a drunk to drive them home word will spread. You’re never going to stop it completely but month by month you can reduce the number of incidents. It’s a slow process.  

I see...for a moment there, you forgot where you are!

Happens to the best of us!