Many revellers plan to drive home: survey

[Lite Beer]

Many revellers plan to drive home: survey
Phatsa-on Pijansopon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Nearly a third of people planning to go drinking at New Year parties also plan to drive themselves home, a survey has revealed.

The survey conducted on 3,000 people by the Public Health Ministry revealed that 36.6 per cent of potential partygoers had no qualms about being behind the wheel even after consuming alcohol.

"This is even though 48.7 per cent are aware that alcohol consumption is the cause of accidents," Disease Control Department's director-general Sopon Mekthon said yesterday.

Highway Police, meanwhile, have produced a video marking bypasses and risky spots on the route from Bangkok to the North and Northeast, as they expect a huge volume of traffic and hope to prevent accidents.

Roads to be clogged

Highway Police predicted there would be heavy traffic yesterday evening and on the evening of December 30.

Highway Police chief Maj-General Somchai Kaosamran said the most problematic spot would be Bang Pa-in Interchange, where four roads to the North and Northeast meet and there are seven petrol stations that many people use as a meeting point.

He said people should watch the video clips his department has posted on the Highway Police website and YouTube for this occasion:

l www.highwaypolice.org/holiday_map.php;

l https://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=kQqQXW0_UWw ;

l https://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=Kd1VAJtjvlE ; and

l https://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=wl29g85M_mE.

Leaflets on road safety are available at Highway Police service points and people can also make inquiries via LINE ID "Highway1193", he said.

Somchai said a recent survey found some 106 accident-prone spots around the country, including 14 most risky ones that went uphill or downhill. He said he would instruct police to be stationed at risky areas and get dangerous U-turn points closed during the New Year break.

But he pointed out that accidents also take place on straight roads due to speeding and motorists disregarding traffic laws.

He said that apart from providing maps of bypasses and risky spots, other measures during this holiday season would include strict enforcement of traffic laws, especially against drink driving; motorists not wearing helmets/seatbelts; speeding; and those driving against the traffic.

He said everybody should check their vehicle's condition before leaving home and be aware that tiredness can also cause accidents. People who are tired should stop at 196 rest stops along the way to take a nap or get a coffee before continuing their journey.

The New Year holiday period, known as the "Seven Dangerous Days", last year (from December 27, 2013 to January 2, 2014), saw 151 road accidents, up from 142 accidents in the same period a year earlier.

Most accidents were caused by speeding, while the Highway numbers 1 to 3, which are main routes to the North and Northeast, saw the most accidents (137), followed by rural roads at 11.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Many-revellers-plan-to-drive-home-survey-30250773.html

-- The Nation 2014-12-27

[Thian]

Well than this is the ultimate chance for the Police to get rich (and save the reputation of Thailand). Just test all drivers and give them big fines if caught drunk.

Here in Singapore we don't have that problem.

[NongKhaiKid]

14 of the riskiest spots are uphill and downhill but accidents also happen on straight roads !

Who would have thought ?

[PatOngo]

[Toknarok]

48.7% were aware that consuming alcohol and driving causes accidents. That means over 50% are unaware that drinking and driving don't mix. No wonder the Thai accident rate is so appalling.

[Bluespunk]

"This is even though 48.7 per cent are aware that alcohol consumption is the cause of accidents," Disease Control Department's director-general Sopon Mekthon said yesterday."

That's all?

51.3 were unaware of this?

That can't be correct.

[Bluespunk]

" other measures during this holiday season would include strict enforcement of traffic laws, especially against drink driving; motorists not wearing helmets/seatbelts; speeding; and those driving against the traffic."

Every day.

Do it every day.

[LuckyLew]

Until they make the penalties harsher and actually enforce them the carnage on the roads of Thailand will continue

[Bob12345]

reading this article makes you wonder if it applies to earth or a parallel universe.

People who don't know that driving while drunk is dangerous.

Police indicating they are planning to enforce traffic laws for once.

[godden]

Bring on the Wacky racers.

[marko kok prong]

Craziness on the roads,music starting at 5am,distant members of my wife family strewn about the house,yeah sure love new year in Thailand.

[harada]

Thai roads are like jet ski operators over the new year period, best to be avoided.

[maidee]

thailand's pension plan ... counting on those 26.000 deaths on the roads, each year

[IMA_FARANG]

Well than this is the ultimate chance for the Police to get rich (and save the reputation of Thailand). Just test all drivers and give them big fines if caught drunk.

Here in Singapore we don't have that problem.

-------------------

But in Singapore even offering to "pay the fine now" to a cop will get you arrested.

Not in Thailand.

[mikemac]

"This is even though 48.7 per cent are aware that alcohol consumption is the cause of accidents," Disease Control Department's director-general Sopon Mekthon said yesterday."

That's all?

51.3 were unaware of this?

That can't be correct.

51.3 % probably just don't care.

[Robbie Dye]

Stop at 196 rest stops? Never get home at that rate!

[Gunna]

"This is even though 48.7 per cent are aware that alcohol consumption is the cause of accidents," Disease Control Department's director-general Sopon Mekthon said yesterday."

That's all?

51.3 were unaware of this?

That can't be correct.

Does it mean then that 51.3% think they drive better after consuming alcohol.

[Muhendis]

This time last year it took 10 hours to get, by car, from Swampy to Buriram. There were no accident holdups. Just sheer volume of traffic. No problem about speeding then so no accidents.

[johncat1]

Craziness on the roads,music starting at 5am,distant members of my wife family strewn about the house,yeah sure love new year in Thailand

Totally agree with you.

When Thais party they don't give a f... about anyone but themselves Music so loud you can hear it in the next village and often all night.

I took the easy way out last night when my alcoholic neighbours started to party and knew any complaints would be laughed at by them and the useless police force.

Booked into a hotel for the night, nice and quiet slept like a baby ha ha ha