BANGKOK, Thailand – The Songkran Road Safety Center has directed provincial authorities to strengthen safety measures in Songkran water-play areas, enforce strict penalties for risky driving, and prohibit alcohol sales to anyone under 20 years of age.
On April 12, the center released a summary of road accident statistics for April 11, the second day of the “Safe Driving, Reduce Speed, Reduce Accidents” campaign. Accumulated data shows a total of 344 accidents for the first two days of the monitoring period.
Dr. Sopon Iamsirithaworn, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health and chairperson of the briefing, reported that speeding and drunk driving were the main causes of accidents. Most accidents occurred on straight roads and national highways, with incidents mostly occurring between morning and noon.
In response, the center has coordinated with provincial governments and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to enhance safety in designated water-play zones. Authorities must install warning signs for motorists and strictly control alcohol sales, focusing on vendors selling to minors or in prohibited areas.
Theerapat Kachamat, Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) and Secretary of the Road Safety Center, highlighted the proactive role of community checkpoints and door-to-door monitoring. These units are responsible for intercepting risky drivers, including those who are intoxicated, lack safety gear, or do not have a license, before they leave their communities. Rapid response teams have also been deployed to monitor religious activities and water-play sites to prevent dangerous behavior.
Citizens who witness or are involved in an accident can contact the 1784 hotline or use the “DDPM 1784” Line application for 24-hour emergency assistance. (NNT)
