Thailand Boosts Road Safety Measures for Songkran Holiday Travel

[snoop1130]

 

As millions of Thais prepare to celebrate the Songkran holiday, the government has unveiled an extensive road safety initiative to reduce traffic accidents and fatalities. From April 11 to 18, the newly launched national road safety centre will oversee operations to manage the influx of travellers during Thailand’s biggest travel period of the year.

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul led the opening ceremony at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, highlighting the government's focus on road safety and accident prevention. "Our aim is clear: reduce road deaths and serious accidents," said Anutin. "This centre will coordinate across multiple agencies to ensure traffic laws are enforced, safety measures are implemented, and road safety awareness is heightened."

 

Given that the official Songkran dates are April 13 to 16, with an extra public holiday on April 16 due to April 13 falling on a Sunday, a mass exodus from cities like Bangkok is anticipated from April 11. Authorities plan to monitor the situation until April 18 to manage an expected staggered return as many attempt to avoid heavy traffic on April 16.

 

Tighter controls at road checkpoints are a critical component of the safety operation. Reflecting on past cases where drunk drivers have caused incidents even at checkpoints, Anutin stressed, "Officers need to be more vigilant this year to prevent tragic accidents."

 

Education Minister Permpoon Chidchob has introduced five pivotal government policies designed to curb road accidents:

 

 

 

1. Establish a central command centre dedicated to accident prevention.
2. Address and mitigate risk factors commonly leading to road crashes.
3. Implement measures to reduce vehicle-related hazards.
4. Promote safe driving habits among all road users.
5. Ensure quick and efficient help for all accident victims.

 

To support these efforts, over 150 service points will be manned nationwide by dedicated vocational students volunteering to assist travellers. These young volunteers are trained to provide essential support in case of vehicle breakdowns and are equipped to handle repairs for electric vehicles (EVs), which are becoming increasingly widespread on Thai roads.

 

Additionally, public health volunteers will be stationed along major highways and secondary roads, ready to administer first aid and respond to emergencies throughout the holiday period. This multi-tiered approach aims to provide swift medical assistance and minimize the impact of accidents.

 

The government’s comprehensive strategy reflects a commitment to not only safeguarding motorists during Songkran but also fostering a culture of road safety throughout the year. With coordination between various government bodies and the involvement of community volunteers, Thailand hopes to make this holiday season safer for everyone on the road, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-04-10

 

 

[Negita43]

If drivers had a little more patience there might be fewer patients in the hospitals BUT I am afraid it's not in the average Thai's DNA

[Andytheburiramman]

Do they cut and paste the same lip service every year in the hope that people will believe this nonsense 🙏 

[kwilco]

Every year, like clockwork, the Thai authorities launch their annual Songkran road safety campaign, and every year they manage to demonstrate just how profoundly uninformed they are about the fundamentals of road safety. We see the same tired slogans, police checkpoints that appear more performative than preventative, and a flurry of short-term crackdowns that fail to address the systemic issues at play.

Equally predictably, members of forums like ASEAN NOW dive in with their own well-meaning but hopelessly anecdotal takes—"It’s all about helmets!" or "Ban alcohol for a week!"—as if a single-issue fix could somehow resolve a deeply rooted and complex problem. It becomes a chorus of misinformed hot takes, each more simplistic than the last, revealing a widespread lack of understanding about what actually works in road safety policy and practice.

What’s missing from both sides—authorities and commentators alike—is any serious engagement with proven strategies: things like consistent and fair law enforcement, urban planning that prioritizes safety over speed, public transportation improvements, proper driver education, and long-term behavioral change campaigns. Instead, we get reactive theatrics and internet armchair experts yelling into the void, year after year, while the body count climbs.

[NorthernRyland]

His expression does not give me hope anything will change this year. 😂 In fact I would bet my life savings it will be exactly the same as last year and exactly the same in 10 years.

 

[NorthernRyland]

12 minutes ago, kwilco said:

Equally predictably, members of forums like ASEAN NOW dive in with their own well-meaning but hopelessly anecdotal takes—"It’s all about helmets!" or "Ban alcohol for a week!"—as if a single-issue fix could somehow resolve a deeply rooted and complex problem. It becomes a chorus of misinformed hot takes, each more simplistic than the last, revealing a widespread lack of understanding about what actually works in road safety policy and practice.

 

How about the most basic of all rules, speed limits. Could they for once in their existence enforce speed limits, is this really too much to ask? I would say yes it is, it's way too much to ask and nothing will be done as usual.

[kwilco]

59 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

How about the most basic of all rules, speed limits. Could they for once in their existence enforce speed limits, is this really too much to ask? I would say yes it is, it's way too much to ask and nothing will be done as usual.

You really don't geddit, do you??? thet's exactly the rubbish I'm referring to.

[NorthernRyland]

24 minutes ago, kwilco said:

You really don't geddit, do you??? thet's exactly the rubbish I'm referring to.

 

Speeds limits are no good? You said "like consistent and fair law enforcement, urban planning that prioritizes safety over speed" so you must agree right?

[kwilco]

25 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

Speeds limits are no good? You said "like consistent and fair law enforcement, urban planning that prioritizes safety over speed" so you must agree right?

red my post - "members of forums like ASEAN NOW dive in with their own well-meaning but hopelessly anecdotal takes—"It’s all about helmets!" or "Ban alcohol for a week!"— and in your case "How about the most basic of all rules, speed limits" - as if a single-issue fix could somehow resolve a deeply rooted and complex problem. It becomes a chorus of misinformed hot takes, each more simplistic than the last, revealing a widespread lack of understanding about what actually works in road safety policy and practice." - your comment just shows you have very little understanding of the issues and trying to make a false dichotomy out my comments shows youy have no realargument.

[lordgrinz]

I know I am going senile at an early age, but I swear I heard this before.

[ChrisY1]

Almost 20 years here....heard this exact same waffle every year at Songkran and New Years.....almost word for word.....the results: usually an increase in fatalities and injuries.

Smart people probably, would now start to think these strategies don't work......

[ozz1]

Same thing every year tents up mobile phones out a comfy seat and watch the cars speeding by

But they won't learn

[bbbbooboo]

hmm… this usually means more people get killed 

[Coxy]

Yawn……same story every year with the same result

[quake]

Think we all know what this is.

T.I.T.

[Peterphuket]

There we go again...

 

I don't remember who ever said this but, it's something like: if you think the same thing every time told there is ever another answer, you are not good in your upper chamber.

[jwl53]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

• Establish a central command centre dedicated to accident prevention.
• Address and mitigate risk factors commonly leading to road crashes.
• Implement measures to reduce vehicle-related hazards.
• Promote safe driving habits among all road users.
• Ensure quick and efficient help for all accident victims.

Hahaha yet more words and no actions

But only for the holiday period 

They have missed a few essential issues

1 introduce a more stringent driving test

2 more traffic cops on the roads

3 more breathalyser tests

4 increase fines bans 10 fold

Word will soon get around a few 20000 baht fines for drink driving will stop it. Impound the car/motorbike until fine paid and ban served

[Classic Ray]

Not a mention of increasing police mobile patrols to detect speeders and drunk drivers.

 

Just providing (probably unpaid) vocational students to perform repair services on EVs. When will the first one be killed by the high voltages involved, or the first unquenchable fire happens?

 

At least it keeps the police overtime bill low and makes up for those enjoying Songkran rather than doing their duty.

 

The situation will not change until the Government and Thai people accept they have a problem and really want to reduce road collisions. But I won’t hold my breath on that one due to the fatalism and apathy shown so far.

[mikebell]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

"Officers need to be more vigilant this year to prevent tragic accidents."

 

11 hours ago, kwilco said:

things like consistent and fair law enforcement,

If police worked all year round & not just on the 20 dangerous days; if they maintained a visible presence on the roads on days when they were not drawing overtime, the daily death toll would come down.

[ikke1959]

Last minute measures which will not just as every year, work.... But the job is done It is announced and now time to enjoy their holiday.. They really don't care only around Songkran and New Year holidays. Instead of 24/7 365/365 days a year check and fine and educate people how to behave  or fine when things are not ok, It is only 10 days a year all the rest of the days people can do as they like..And the judges should give big fines so that people feel it in their wallet. That is the best things to get things done...and not in the wallets of the judges and police of course

[ikke1959]

1 hour ago, ChrisY1 said:

Almost 20 years here....heard this exact same waffle every year at Songkran and New Years.....almost word for word.....the results: usually an increase in fatalities and injuries.

Smart people probably, would now start to think these strategies don't work......

As Einstein once said: "stupidity is doing the same things time after time and think that the outcome will be different..."

Smart is not available in Thailand

[Zack61]

Checkpoints are as effective as an ice cube in hell in reducing road deaths. They slow down the traffic adding to people’s impatience in getting from A to B which then adds to the problem. A very lazy and ineffective way to manage the traffic problems. 

[Eloquent pilgrim]

 

 

Last Songkran, the police stopped a total of 279,873 vehicles for examination, and action was taken against 39,611 traffic offenders — including a staggering 11,013 for driving without a licence.

 

I wonder how many of those caught without a license were allowed to continue driving after a “fine” …. and are still driving unlicensed today

 

 

 

 

[Maejo Man]

One word to sum up this annual diatribe....YAWN!

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

From April 11 to 18, the newly launched national road safety centre will oversee operations to manage the influx of travellers during Thailand’s biggest travel period of the year.

Get the clean-up brigade ready...

[MalcolmB]

14 hours ago, Andytheburiramman said:

Do they cut and paste the same lip service every year in the hope that people will believe this nonsense 🙏 

They have done a lot of work and continue to be vigilant. 
Easy to criticize when doing nothing.

The road deaths trend during Songkran is on a downward trend and has saved hundreds of lives.

 

 

[kuzmabruk]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Officers need to be more vigilant

Won’t that interfere with the national pastime of watching TikTok.   I like the old signs that said “if drunk, drive slow”

[portisaacozzy]

14 hours ago, Andytheburiramman said:

Do they cut and paste the same lip service every year in the hope that people will believe this nonsense 🙏 

yes, drink driving is a late night early morning thing but'hell' who wants to get out of bed during those hours just to get a few drunks who might end up killing themselfs and others.

[ronster]

And it's groundhog day again folks !!

Why is everyone in the poster behind them wearing masks 🤔🙈😷😷😷

[ChrisKC]

Need more cops on the roads

 

instead of bums on seats

 

At ALL times