BANGKOK, Thailand – Pol. Lt. Col. Suriya Singhakomol, Director-General of the Department of Probation, revealed that strict measures remain in place during the Songkran festival to enhance road safety. Offenders on probation for violating the Road Traffic Act—including drunk driving, drug-impaired driving, reckless driving, and speeding—have been urged to understand the importance of road safety.
The department is encouraging them to take part in real-time surveillance efforts using CCTV systems to help monitor and prevent dangerous driving behaviors, and to immediately report incidents that may lead to accidents.
This preventive approach is part of an ongoing initiative by the Department of Probation to correct risky behaviors and sustainably reduce road accidents. Collaboration from all sectors is being emphasized in order to foster a culture of safe driving.
On April 16 alone, the courts ordered probation for 1,512 cases:
Drunk driving: 1,455 cases (96.23%)
Street racing: 1 case (0.07%)
Driving under the influence of drugs: 56 cases (3.70%)
Out of these, 12 individuals were ordered to wear electronic monitoring (EM) bracelets.
Cumulatively, from April 11–16, a total of 5,228 cases have been placed under probation during the intensified enforcement period, with 37 individuals receiving EM monitoring.
When compared to the same period last year (Songkran 2024), drunk driving cases have dropped from 1,616 to 1,455—down by 161 cases. The top three provinces with the highest number of drunk driving cases are:
Bangkok: 382 cases
Samut Prakan: 306 cases
Nonthaburi: 292 cases
The Department of Probation also expressed concern for the safety of citizens traveling during the festival. It has deployed personnel and volunteers across 28 service and checkpoint areas nationwide. A total of 661 individuals—including probation officers, volunteers, and probationers—took part in these operations. Furthermore, 119 probationers from 26 offices joined real-time monitoring activities through CCTV systems, aiming to ensure public safety during the return journey to Bangkok.
