Songkran In Phuket: Road Safety Clampdown Coming

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Songkran in Phuket: Road safety clampdown coming

Revelers enjoy the fun of Songkran on Bangla Road in Patong, Phuket.

PHUKET: -- The water-splashing riot of the Songkran Festival draws near and with it the Phuket authorities’ annual road safety clampdown.

Between April 12 and 18 police are promising to strictly enforce Thailand’s often-neglected traffic laws. In particular, officers will be on the lookout for drink driving, speeding and motorcycle riders without helmets.

Twenty-four-hour checkpoints will be erected at the following locations around Phuket:

1. Muang Mai Village, Thepkrasattri Road

2. Baan Sapam School, Thepkrasattri Road

3. Chao Fa Thani housing estate, Chao Fa East Road

4. Tah Chat Chai Checkpoint

5. Cherng Talay Police Station

6. Tha Rua Intersection

7. Patong Hill Intersection, Sirirat Road

8. Thung Thong Police Station, Baramee Road

9. Phuket Fantasea, Kamala

10. Patong-Kamala Road

11. Surin Beach

12. Nai Harn Lake

Police will also check buses to ensure they are safe. They are asking the public to inform them by calling 1548 if bus drivers are drunk, drive too fast or fail to swap drivers after driving long distances.

The plans were announced at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall late last month chaired by Vice Governor Smith Palawatwichai and attended by officials from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the Public Health Office, the Land Transport Office and the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization.

V/Gov Smith said 60 were injured and four killed during the Songkran period last year. In Thailand as a whole there were 4,332 injuries and 373 deaths.

“Most of the accidents involve motorcycles ridden by drivers who are drunk and riding too fast,” he said.

“This year we are aiming to reduce the number of accidents and deaths by 5 percent from last year,” he added.

The deputy director of Phuket Public Health Office, Dr Wiwat Seetamanotch, said most of those injured or killed were 15 to 20 year olds. Most accidents happened between 5 and 6pm and around 1am, when most nightclubs shut.

Dr Wiwat said the punishments for drink driving were not harsh enough.

“The punishment should be jail as an example to other drink drivers,” he said.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-04-06

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[NBT TV Phuket]

VDO on item-7- http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/prev...ws_headline=VDO - weekly Andaman News April 9 (whole program) or

Phuket and Phang-Nga authorities step up safety measures during long Songkran holiday period while Radio Thailand in Phuket plays its part on road safety campaign.

As part of the efforts to campaign for road safety, focusing mainly on not driving under alcohol influence and strictly observing traffic rules, Radio Thailand in Phuket on Wednesday launched a road safety campaign during the long holiday period of Songkran. The seminar was held at Phuket Merlin Hotel with related officials attending. On this occasion Diageo Moet Hennessy (Thailand) Limited donated 10 alcohol detection tools to Phuket and Phang-Nga provincial governors to support their provinces' work on alcohol detection to prevent loss of lives during the holiday period. The Thai Songkran festival holiday is celebrated during April 13-16 this year. Meanwhile Mrs. Anchalee Vanit Theppabutre, Deputy Director-General to the Prime Minister, stressed the government's policy and that the cabinet has announced this year as the year of safety. The Executive Director of PRD Region 5 Mr. Suriyong Hunthasarn reported the PRD's policy on road safety to make sure that 10 regional stations of Radio Thailand stations in upper southern Thailand under his supervision would join hands with their networks and alliances to ensure that motorists or passengers who are on the road get home to their families safely and celebrate a happy Songkran. Phuket Governor Wichai Praisa-Ngob stressed a simple statement: 'if you've drunk, don't drive' while the Phang-Nga Governor not only stressed on safety, but also encouraged Thais to follow the genuine essence of the traditional water festival to boost Thai-ness to visitors. Both governors however mentioned that the strict safety measures also cover marine journeys as the region expects a large number of holiday makers during this Songkran period due to the political unrest in Bangkok.