Road Safety Plans In Store For Songkran Festival

[webfact]

Road Safety Plans in Store for Songkran Festival

The Land Transport Department has launched a free car check as part of the safe travel campaign ahead of the Songkran festival.

Land Transport Department Director General Tienchote Chongpeepian said his office, in collaboration with 2,000 garages nationwide, has launched a campaign offering a free full car check from to April 10.

He added motorists can look for the program's sign at participating garages in order to have their vehicles examined free of charge.

Tienchote went on to say that a rest stop will be set up every 400 kilometers on major roads in provinces like Kamphaeng Phet, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani and Rayong.

The director general said a help center for public transport passengers will be arranged and rotated around different provincial bus terminals.

A public transport help desk will be set up at the Mo Chit northern bus terminal from April 7 to 12, at the Ekkamai eastern bus terminal from March 21 to April 8 and at the southern bus terminal from April 11 to 17.

He noted vocational and technical students have also volunteered to offer preliminary repair services on major and secondary roads across the country.

-- Tan Network 2011-03-10

[asiawatcher]

If traffic fines were increased substantially to deter offenders the reason behind most traffic accidents, not just fatigue, accidents may actually fall. We all know Thai (and by education, Farang) have total disregard of road rules, do absolutely ridiculous things and yet are never fined, incarcerated or suffer loss of licence as Police do the same things. It may well be live and let live as a system but it is a horror story of death and maiming due in April - my guess (experience) is the 400km road stops are a total waste of time.

[truethailand]

100,000 breathalyser kits .... can I be a government minister now

[Payboy]

I'm confused - is this to be classified as a hub of road safety or crackdown on unsafe drivers?

[bushwacker]

I think the gov't needs to look at a road map. If a rest stop is set up every 400 kms then surely they cannot be set up in KP, Pits, and Nakhon Sawan. What is going on here .... another example of fine reporting (maybe)?

[sirchai]

If traffic fines were increased substantially to deter offenders the reason behind most traffic accidents, not just fatigue, accidents may actually fall. We all know Thai (and by education, Farang) have total disregard of road rules, do absolutely ridiculous things and yet are never fined, incarcerated or suffer loss of licence as Police do the same things. It may well be live and let live as a system but it is a horror story of death and maiming due in April - my guess (experience) is the 400km road stops are a total waste of time.

Land Transport Department Director General Tienchote Chongpeepian said his office, in collaboration with 2,000 garages nationwide, has launched a campaign offering a free full car check from to April 10.

Am I missing something here from to April 10?

The sad thing is that they should also check some Thai and foreigner's brains. Haven't met too many good mechanics, a free check doesn't mean shit.

The main problem's alcohol and to be honest most of them cannot drive. So what's the point of checking vehicles for free? :jap:

[sirchai]

I'm confused - is this to be classified as a hub of road safety or crackdown on unsafe drivers?

I'm sure not long and Thais will become "World Class Standard Drivers." :jap:

[Pib]

The main problem's alcohol and to be honest most of them cannot drive. So what's the point of checking vehicles for free? :jap:

The free vehicle check will identify numerous burnt out/inoperative brake lights, turn signals, headlights, etc., for the few who will do the check. But when the driver finds out these lights won't be changed for free, they will just drive away to go buy their case of 100 Pipers whiskey for Songkran. They also may add 200 baht to their wallet to pay off the police at the checkpoints. Songkran is one of the most profitable times for the BIB.