Liquor sales at pump banned

BANGKOK: -- Liquor sales at petrol stations will again be banned during the long Songkran holiday period to keep the road death toll as low as possible.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday that the government's road safety measures in place for this year's Thai New Year are no different from last year.

Gas stations will be barred from selling alcoholic drinks and check-points set up to monitor alcohol levels of motorists through breath tests, he said.

Interior Minister Pol Gen Chidchai Wannasathit has been assigned to head the national accident prevention panel, said the prime minister.

According to Pol Gen Chidchai, the committee hopes to see a 15% decrease in road accidents from last year, or 637 deaths at the most, during the 10-day period. The minister has called a meeting with agencies concerned, including the Highway Department and the Public Health Ministry, to discuss the road-safety action plan for the provinces. No one from the police force will be allowed to take days off during the festival period.

--TNA 2005-04-02

It should be a permanent ban!!

Waste of time! In the States alcohol banned from in the car but as many drunk drivers as anywhere. Who can't stock up before leaving home ?Only makes it less convenient for family members not driving to purchase alcohol. Like everyone in my pick up at Songkran except me.

If they want to cut down on accidents educate thais how to drive! It's been difficult with my wife as she's become used to the insanity.

Waste of time! In the States alcohol banned from in the car but as many drunk drivers as anywhere. Who can't stock up before leaving home ?Only makes it less convenient for family members not driving to purchase alcohol. Like everyone in my pick up at Songkran except me.

  If they want to cut down on accidents educate thais how to drive! It's been difficult with my wife as she's become used to the insanity.

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Well said

Any printed news items about Nation TV News report last night that said as an additional tool for the police is that starting on Songkran a new law calls for confiscation of a vehicle for 3 MONTHS as the result of a drunk driving charge. I've not seen in this in print however, but that is strong action.

Confiscation of a vehicle is a good start.

From what I've observed, there is a dangerous lack of courtesy from most drivers. Pick-up trucks are really annoying especially on the highways, pushing from behind not letting you enough time to take over slower cars and then they decide to take over on the left just when you 're about to let them by.

Drivers are also mostly pulled over only at roadblocks or by policemen standing on the sidewalk. They never seem to drive around and warn drivers annoying infractions on the spot. This is probably the main reason of the Thais bad driving habits.

It should be a permanent ban!!

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Agreed

It should be a permanent ban!!

Agreed

So they will walk over the road and buy it from another store.

According to Pol Gen Chidchai, the committee hopes to see a 15% decrease in road accidents from last year, or 637 deaths at the most, during the 10-day period.

What a waste of lives! Just wondering what the maximum allowable blood/alcohol content is for drivers in Thailand.

In Australia it's 0.02% for new/probationary drivers and 0.05% for all others. There are even higher penalties for excess 0.08%.

Police in 2 states are now allowed to take the keys off drunk drivers.

During public holidays, double demerit points and fines apply.

Peter