Government Urges Road Safety During Upcoming Songkran

[Jai Dee]

Acting PM urged every party to work together in reducing road accidents during Songkran festival

Acting Prime Minister Chitchai Wannasathit(ชิดชัย วรรณสถิตย์) has urged all sides to work together to prevent road accidents during the upcoming Songkran festival.

Gen. Chitchai revealed that related units will campaign for fewer accidents during the Songkran festival. He said the authorities will emphasize more on "Don't drink and drive campaign."

He said the officials will also try to decrease the amount of accidents caused by motorbikes. He said the numbers of motorbike accidents are highest when compared to other types of vehicles.

Gen. Chitchai added that during the "10 risky days" period or during the 7th-16th of April, 30,000 checkpoints will be set up to examine vehicles and also a rest point for the drivers.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 07 April 2006

[Jai Dee]

People are reminded to exercise care when travelling on Songkran celebrations

As Songkran Festival is approaching, several government units have begun campaigning for road safety to keep accidents to the lowest.

Chief of the Public Disaster Prevention Office of Surin Province Viset Sathira-pattanakul (วิเศษ สถิรพัฒนกุล) says it is estimated that there will be a lot of road users during April 7th to 16th, when people travel to hometowns to celebrate the Thai traditional New Year of Songkran on April 13th. In this northeastern province, Mr. Viset says five operational plans have been drawn up. They include law enforcement, public relations on preventive measures, emergency medical care, traffic engineering and the data and evaluation system.

In other provinces in the North and the Northeast, officials have been drilling in how to deal with road accidents by using last year's cases as models for the exercise. In Buriram Province, vocational colleges and the private sector are cooperating with the provincial administration in providing free engine checkups, which will not only ensure higher safety but also energy saving.

In the eastern province of Trat, which is popular for its marine attractions and draws a lot of tourists annually, owners of tour boats and controllers are warned to exercise most care. Officials have been dispatched to check the safety system and facilities at various harbors.

As in the previous year, officials throughout the country will step up public relations campaigns on safe driving during the 10 dangerous days beginning April 7th.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 07 April 2006

[Pattaya_Fox]

Let`s hope that some common sense comes into the equation this year and we don`t see the carnage and slaughter of the previous years.

[stumonster]

[Jai Dee]

Road deaths are still lower than target on the first of the 10 dangerous days

30 people were killed on the first day of the 10 dangerous days in connection with the Songkran holiday.

According to the Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, there were 286 road accidents nationwide in the first 24 hours of the festival, from the midnight of April 7th. The incidents killed 30 people, which was one person lower than targt, and 314 others were hurt. Compared to the same period of 2005, the number of deaths was 7.14 percent higher while the rate of the injured was a decrease of 16.49 percent. Trang Province had the highest number of accidents of 12, followed by Chanthaburi and Nakhon Pathom. But Chachoengsao recorded the highest toll with 4, followed by Kanchanaburi, Trang and Pathum Thani, with 2 each.

Mr. Anucha Mokhawes (อนุชา โมกขะเวส), the Director-General of the Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said most of the accidents were caused by drink-driving, 21.68 percent; followed by overspeed, 17.13 percent. Most of the accidents happened to motorcyclists with 47.97 percent of them didnot wear helmets.

The police have so far set up 2,907 checking points along highways and 80,000 police have been deployed. As a result, 24,586 motorists were taken legal action for different offences.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 April 2006