All measures to ensure safe travel during Songkran now in force

[webfact]

All measures to ensure safe travel during Songkran now in force



BANGKOK: -- As Songkran festival is imminent, all measures to ensure full safety for revellers going homes for family reunions on this traditional Thai New Year with happiness are now rolled out.

All government agencies relevant to public transport, law enforcement, health, security, disaster relief were placed on stand-by to cope with the mass exodus of people in Bangkok to the provinces, starting end of the week.

Official estimate put the figures of people travelling out of Bangkok now at over 200,000 a day on public buses, excluding by own transportation, during this Songkran festival.

Highway police will implement road safety measures to ensure drivers strictly observe traffic rules, aiming to cut the number of road accidents from that of last year.

They will monitor speeding and drunk driving strictly, particularly pick-up trucks, carrying people and equipment for water playing, which are unsafe for the public.

Motorcyclists and pillion riders must wear helmets as the police will be deployed at 47 spots on major highways leading out if the capital to the North, Northeast, East and South, such as Phaholyothin, Phetkasem, Mitrapab and Bangna-Trat.

Special lanes will be opened to increase traffic flow for both inbound and outbound, Highway police said.

Meanwhile Government deputy spokesman said that the Cabinet’s meeting ordered surveillance units to station on both main and minor roads and set up the joint directive center for the police, soldiers and administrative officials to work together.

The measure, applied during the New Year holiday in January to impound vehicles of drunk drivers, will be implemented again during the Songkran holiday.

Meanwhile, the ministries of interior, agriculture and cooperatives, and culture are now launching a campaign urging the public to drive carefully, to save water and to spend time with families on the Thai Elderly Day, which falls on April 13.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau also held meeting with Land Transport Department, Transport Co Ltd, Expressway Authority of Thailand, Don Muang Tollway in preparation for facilitating people, returning home during the Thai News Year holiday.

Bangkok people are expected to leave the capital for hometown, starting from Friday April 8 and the highest number of travelers is expected during April 12-13.

About 200,000 passengers are expected at bus stations daily.

The Royal Thai Police also warns taxi drivers who reject passengers or overcharge fares that they will be arrested and fined.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/158459


-- Thai PBS 2016-04-06

[rkidlad]

Yet, I still won't be going anywhere near a car or a road during Song Kran.

[leeneeds]

add an hour per 100km to travel that is quick depending what road you travel

last year took me 4 hrs to do 120 km

[khwaibah]

Side bet anyone on the highway death toll being up or down.

[Hawk]

All police checkpoints/tents have been fully fitted with televisions and beds for the tired police officers. While drivers are allowed to drink, drive fast and kill each other and take out a few pedestrians as well.

This year is going to be a biggie on the roads, already people are driving like ass*oles, practicing for next week.

[leeneeds]

Side bet anyone on the highway death toll being up or down.

highway down but off high way up ,

1000 baht wager

[ChrisY1]

300+ road fatalities as always.........and not one iota of common sense used by the authorities in an attempt to improve (decrease) the upcoming carnage!

[natway09]

Did you not listen,,,, Boss said all ready....... How many body bags?

Do not let those girls (Ok,,, or whatever they are) show too much flesh, waggle their hips or enjoy themselves, that's far more important !!!

Tongue in cheek, but in reality it is very sad, Total lack of priorities

[ross163103]

555555555 "launching a campaign urging the public to drive carefully". Haven't heard this before, have we?! But I'm sure it'll work THIS time around!

[Jimbo2014]

Would help if the police did their job and traffic cameras / lights worked and the fines actually meant something and people who hit and killed other people were actually prosecuted. Then perhaps.... perhaps then Ill step out during Songkran

[trainman34014]

No thanks; we will be indoors for the duration as normal. There may be a water shortage but there is no beer shortage and all the lunatics will be out of the asylum !

[Guitar God]

They're going to open special lanes to improve traffic flow? Where have they been hiding these lanes and why weren't they already using them?

[SABloke]

They're going to open special lanes to improve traffic flow? Where have they been hiding these lanes and why weren't they already using them?

Cars and trucks will be allowed to drive out of Bangkok on the incoming lanes. Drivers are asked to be extra cautious and not drive in a provocative manner

[ratcatcher]

All police checkpoints/tents have been fully fitted with televisions and beds for the tired police officers. While drivers are allowed to drink, drive fast and kill each other and take out a few pedestrians as well.

This year is going to be a biggie on the roads, already people are driving like ass*oles, practicing for next week.

You're normally quite accurate. Did you forget the icebox and coolers and Hong Thong?

[manhood]

A country that "promotes" a NON consequence programm is the country of no changes at all!!!!!!!!!!!

[hutchings1963]

Motorcyclists and pillion riders must wear helmets as the police will be deployed at 47 spots on major highways leading out if the capital to the North, Northeast, East and South, such as Phaholyothin, Phetkasem, Mitrapab and Bangna-Trat. What a joke,but if it is lunch time it is okay to drive past check point with no helmet because we have to have lunch and look at out telephones

[Lampang2]

I drove yesterday (Friday) from Lampang to ubon ratchathani.

No problem at all.

Not much traffic.

3 police checks, 1 of them a radar. That yielded a lot of visitors, but I was lucky.

I of course did not drive on any Bangkok bound roads,.

Lot of Bangkok registration plates now in isan.

And traffic did pick up today.

Pretty busy on road 2050.

Expect it to be even busier tomorrow.

[brewsterbudgen]

Will the peak day for traffic leaving Bangkok be tomorrow (Sunday) or the day before Songkran officially starts, Tuesday?

Presumably the traffic flow into Bangkok from the north and from Rayong/Pattaya will be very light, pre-Songkran?

[ratcatcher]

The paper that cannot be mentioned carries this report. I have posted a link to Chiang Rai Times. Amazingly ThaiVisa has not mentioned it. Perhaps it is so common now that it's boring.

Police Hold Bus Driver for Drug Testing after 20 Injured in Buri Ram Accident

Coach lies in a ditch in Buri Ram on Saturday morning. (Photo by Surachai Piragsa

http://www.chiangraitimes.com/police-hold-bus-driver-for-drug-testing-after-20-injured-in-buri-ram-accident.html

[jamesbrock]

The paper that cannot be mentioned carries this report. I have posted a link to Chiang Rai Times. Amazingly ThaiVisa has not mentioned it. Perhaps it is so common now that it's boring.

Police Hold Bus Driver for Drug Testing after 20 Injured in Buri Ram Accident

Coach lies in a ditch in Buri Ram on Saturday morning. (Photo by Surachai Piragsa

http://www.chiangraitimes.com/police-hold-bus-driver-for-drug-testing-after-20-injured-in-buri-ram-accident.html

Yes, I was looking for a story in the Thai edition of Khaosod this morning, and was staggered by the large number of stories with images of dead road accident victims. It's like we foreigners only get about a tenth of those stories (especially if this place is the only source of one's news).

[mania]

Always makes me think a little the week before the deadliest 7 days of the year.

I mean there are over 300 people average walking around now that wont be in a week.

Boggles the mind.

Four years ago we did a 6 hour trip to family home but in recent years just stay home in Chiangmai

Also stats 2012...13 & 14 almost unbelievable to be so close eh?

I am guessing it may be DOA but not counting died after a week or so in hospital?

But even DOA 3 years 1 apart?

Songkran 2007: 361 deaths, 4,805 injuries and 4,274 accidents
Songkran 2008: 368 deaths, 4,801 injuries and 4,243 accidents
Songkran 2009: 373 deaths, 4,332 injuries and 3,977 accidents
Songkran 2010: 361 deaths, 3,802 injuries and 3,516 accidents
Songkran 2011: 271 deaths, 3,476 injuries and 3,215 accidents
Songkran 2012: 320 deaths, 3,320 injuries and 3,129 accidents
Songkran 2013: 321 deaths, 3,040 injuries and 2,828 accidents
Songkran 2014: 322 deaths, 3,225 injuries and 2,992 accidents
Songkran 2015: 364 deaths, 3,559 injuries and 3,373 accidents

Full Road Accident Statistics for Songkran 2015