Khon Kaen Continues To Enforce Road Accident Preventive And Reduction Measures

[Jai Dee]

Khon Kaen continues to enforce road accident preventive and reduction measures

Khon Kaen Governor Panchai Bavornrattanapran chaired the seminar this morning (Apr 24) to evaluate the provincial performance in preventing and reducing road accidents during the Songkran holidays between April 11th and 17th, 2007.

Khon Kaen province reported 119 road accidents, resulting in 16 deaths and 128 injuries. The province set up 81 traffic checkpoints and dispatched 21,448 personnel to oversee the traffic situation. 558,779 vehicles were checked during the festival, and 10,924 people were prosecuted. The province received 3,620,200 baht of fines.

50 percent of road accidents were caused by the negligence of drivers, 25 percent were caused by drunk drivers, 18.75 percent were caused by reckless motorcyclists, and 6.25 percent were due to drivers’ disobedience to the law.

Mr. Panchai says road accident preventive and reduction measures have to be applied throughout the year because about 30 to 40 victims have died from road accidents in Khon Kaen each month. He says about 10 to 20 people in the province have died from personal conflicts. Therefore, Mr. Panchai says strict disciplines will have to be seriously enforced, and the province will start to train and educate youths on this matter before the schools will reopen. In addition, public relations strategy will be used to help lower the number or road accidents.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 24 April 2007