Police announce national highway safety campaign

BANGKOK: -- The authorities will launch a nationwide campaign to reduce the number of highway road accidents by 15 per cent next year.

Deputy Prime Minister Pol. Gen. Chidchai Vanasatidya said on Thursday that the authorities should concentrate on traffic control measures not only during major holiday seasons, such as New Year or Songkran festivals, but should give traffic safety serious attention all year round.

Pol. Gen. Chidchai, who is concurrently justice minister, said he may hold monthly meetings with provincial police commanders nationwide in a drive to reduce road accidents to a maximum of 456 deaths and 8,203 injuries annually.

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department Director General Anucha Mokhavet said his agency and the the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) would together provide a Bt 3 million budget (US$ 75,000) for each province under the campaign to curb road mishaps.

King Mongkut University of Technology Thonburi's centre on traffice and transport research and development will conduct a study to help contain flows of traffic between Bangkok and provincial areas during major festive seasons.

--TNA 2005-10-07

Disaster Prevention and MitigationDepartment Director General Anucha Mokhavet said his agency and the the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) would together provide a Bt 3 million budget (US$ 75,000) for each province under the campaign to curb road mishaps.

The powers-that-be could get a good leg-up on this campaign without spending 228 million baht (3 million X 76 provinces). Make the police enforce existing traffic regulations as they pertain to safety (red lights, one-way streets, driving on the proper side of the road, etc.). This wouldn't cost any money beyond what is normally being spent but more often than not, I get the impression such campaigns are nothing more than window-dressing for an excuse to dispense more of the national budget into various pockets.

Get the policemen to catch drivers commiting infractions ON THE SPOT by driving around, not by standing or sitting on the corner. Apply the fines and they may one day get rid of most road viruses.