All checkpoints ready for expected human exodus leaving Bangkok today

[webfact]

All checkpoints ready for expected human exodus leaving the capital today



BANGKOK: -- As more than 200,000 people from Bangkok are expected to leave the capital today on public buses from Bangkok for home provinces to celebrate the five-day Songkran holidays beginning tomorrow, the Ministry of Interior yesterday launched the 7-Day Centre to Prevent and Reduce Road Accidents, aiming to provide better conveniences to the public and to help reduce accident and death rate from road accidents.

The centre went on operations from yesterday until April 17, with the theme ‘Safe Songkran, Promote Thai Tradition, and Create Traffic Discipline’, targeting to reduce road accidents during the Thai traditional New Year.

Interior minister Gen Anupong Paochinda stated that one checkpoint would be set up under the idea of ‘1 Community, 1 Village, and 1 Checkpoint’ in line with traffic zoning to increase safety.

At each checkpoint, authorities are ordered to strictly follow the order given out by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) in arresting and confiscating driving licenses of those who Drive Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol.

Meanwhile the Transport Ministry also launched the ‘Safe Songkran, No Drink and Drive’ campaign in cooperation with the Transport Company, aiming to encourage passengers and bus drivers to be vigilant while traveling.

From April 8-10, the Transport Company said more than 470,000 passengers had travelled home on its buses.

It was expected that today the number of passengers leaving on buses at its Morchit bus terminal will rise to 200,000 from yesterday’s 160,000 people.

At the same time, the Ministry of Public Health yesterday placed its over 10,000 health offices and hospitals in the provinces to organise a full medical team in order to cater to emergencies as starting today the number of bus travellers will rise sharply.

They were ordered to increase the number of beds in preparations to provide services to the people during the Songkran travels.

Highway police expected the highway to the Northeast, the Friendship Highway or Mitraparb will be jam packed this afternoon as office and factory workers planned to travel home provinces today.

Yesterday traffic on this highway at Klang Dong, Pak Chong and Lamtakong ground to either a halt or snail trail.

The situation today was expected to be worsened as Highway police advised motorists to choose other route as option to Nakhon Ratchasima via Chaibadan district of Lopburi.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/159210


-- Thai PBS 2016-04-12

[clockman]

Wish them luck!

[Pib]

Unfortunately the check points also have the side effect of making the traffic jam worst. I guess all medicines have some kind of side effect.

[WhizBang]

A bit late, the exodus started Friday night.

[smutcakes]

If Sunday was anything to go buy there cannot be many people left in BKK. I think people have been leaving since the 6th.

Took me 6.5 hours to get from BKK to Korat on early sunday morning when you can nearly do it in 2.5 normally.

[anto]

It started last Friday or Saturday .I saw photos on another site of jam packed roads leaving Bangkok .

[Hawk]

I passed about 10 checkpoints yesterday and 2 today. The police were chatting, watching the televisions, reading the newspapers or asleep. No officers were doing any work, a few looked incredibly bored.

Speeding seems to be officially allowed, it certainly was yesterday on the highways.

[Hornell]

I drove from Phi Mai to Suvannabhumi yesterday (Monday) - left at 0400, arrived at 0730. Picked up my visitor and returned arriving home at 1130. Run down was great and the return trip was only delayed by the roadworks on the Kanachapisek Bkk By-pass and the slower two lane from Korat north. Not a single check point was operating and no police were in evidence. No doubt today will be different.

[webfact]

More than 370,000 holidaymakers leaving Bangkok for a week

BANGKOK, 12 April 2016 (NNT) - More than 370,000 holidaymakers have begun to make their trips upcountry since last Friday to celebrate the Songkran festival with their families and loved ones.

Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said the number of people leaving Bangkok over the past three days has fallen short of its forecast by 20,000. He expects the number of travelers to peak between April 12 and 13.

The Transport Minister is confident there will be enough bus and train services for the holidaymakers and those returning to their hometowns. Transport Company Ltd and Don’t Drive Drunk Foundation have launched a road safety campaign to ensure passenger safety.

Public transport vehicles and their drivers will be screened in frequent intervals. Anyone found to be driving under the influence will face a fine of up to 10,000 baht or a maximum jail term of three months. A maximum fine of 50,000 baht will also apply to the bus operator.

To prevent the sales of overpriced tickets, police and Transport Company staffers will keep ticket counters under surveillance during the holiday period. Bus operators risk losing their service contracts with Transport Company Ltd if they are found to have committed the same offense repeatedly.


-- NNT 2016-04-12

[Laughing Gravy]

More than 370,000 holidaymakers leaving Bangkok for a week

BANGKOK, 12 April 2016 (NNT) - More than 370,000 holidaymakers have begun to make their trips upcountry since last Friday to celebrate the Songkran festival with their families and loved ones.

Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said the number of people leaving Bangkok over the past three days has fallen short of its forecast by 20,000. He expects the number of travelers to peak between April 12 and 13.

The Transport Minister is confident there will be enough bus and train services for the holidaymakers and those returning to their hometowns. Transport Company Ltd and Don’t Drive Drunk Foundation have launched a road safety campaign to ensure passenger safety.

Public transport vehicles and their drivers will be screened in frequent intervals. Anyone found to be driving under the influence will face a fine of up to 10,000 baht or a maximum jail term of three months. A maximum fine of 50,000 baht will also apply to the bus operator.

To prevent the sales of overpriced tickets, police and Transport Company staffers will keep ticket counters under surveillance during the holiday period. Bus operators risk losing their service contracts with Transport Company Ltd if they are found to have committed the same offense repeatedly.

-- NNT 2016-04-12

Just how do they work the figures out. It amazes me. Does someone have prior knowledge of who is leaving or does someone count passengers in trucks and cars. Or more than likely someone makes it up.

[Pib]

More than 370,000 holidaymakers leaving Bangkok for a week

BANGKOK, 12 April 2016 (NNT) - More than 370,000 holidaymakers have begun to make their trips upcountry since last Friday to celebrate the Songkran festival with their families and loved ones.

Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said the number of people leaving Bangkok over the past three days has fallen short of its forecast by 20,000. He expects the number of travelers to peak between April 12 and 13.

The Transport Minister is confident there will be enough bus and train services for the holidaymakers and those returning to their hometowns. Transport Company Ltd and Don’t Drive Drunk Foundation have launched a road safety campaign to ensure passenger safety.

Public transport vehicles and their drivers will be screened in frequent intervals. Anyone found to be driving under the influence will face a fine of up to 10,000 baht or a maximum jail term of three months. A maximum fine of 50,000 baht will also apply to the bus operator.

To prevent the sales of overpriced tickets, police and Transport Company staffers will keep ticket counters under surveillance during the holiday period. Bus operators risk losing their service contracts with Transport Company Ltd if they are found to have committed the same offense repeatedly.

-- NNT 2016-04-12

Just how do they work the figures out. It amazes me. Does someone have prior knowledge of who is leaving or does someone count passengers in trucks and cars. Or more than likely someone makes it up.

A very scientific method is used...it's called a Wild Ass Guess (WAG)....frequently used by politicians, centrals banks, govt agencies, private companies, etc.

Hech, I even use the WAG method sometimes when I ain't got a clue about the actual amount.

[laolover88]

‘Safe Songkran, Promote Thai Tradition, and Create Traffic Discipline’

How on earth can you get those three totally paradoxical phrases to make sense in one sentence?

[Moti24]

"Public transport vehicles and their drivers will be screened in frequent intervals. Anyone found to be driving under the influence will face a fine of up to 10,000 baht or a maximum jail term of three months. A maximum fine of 50,000 baht will also apply to the bus operator."

Well, the "may" has been replaced with "will", but a fine of up to 10,000 Baht! That'll be the usual 500 Baht for the driver, and a brown envelope from the bus operator.

Songkran or not, things seem to be pretty much the same to me.

[jerojero]

Create Traffic Discipline? Ha ha ha ha! I think I just pissed myself. 555!

[bangon04]

Dontcha just love it when Thai authorities issue orders to government agencies to actually do their jobs for a few days as a special treat.....

[mgjackson69]

If Sunday was anything to go buy there cannot be many people left in BKK. I think people have been leaving since the 6th.

Took me 6.5 hours to get from BKK to Korat on early sunday morning when you can nearly do it in 2.5 normally.

It was about the same for me Friday night/Saturday morning...5+ hours from Suvarnabhumi to Chok Chai, normally < 3 hours