Police prepare for Songkran binge

Thailand’s Tourist Police division says it will implement stronger safety measures during the upcoming Songkran Festival, 11 to 17 April.
Tourist Police Commander, Police Major General Apichai Thi-amat, said he had deployed a team of officers to monitor tourist sites and venues where the Songkran Festival would attract foreigners.
“We are also finding ways to educate foreigners who will be attending the festival by sending in public relations officers who will explain Thai culture to reduce conflict and excessive behaviour.”
The police chief said a campaign would be introduced to reduce alcohol consumption.
Despite the good intentions of the Tourist Police, there are not enough officers to patrol even the most popular tourist areas, which means the job will be left to local police stations at most destinations to keep the peace.
Ministry of Transport also announced it has a safety campaign ready to roll out during the Songkran Festival, especially to improve the standard of bus services and road safety.
Between 11 to 17 April, 11 million cars are expected to be on the highways, while 32 free trains will offer 1,517 trips during the national holiday mainly to destinations in North Thailand.
The Transport Company is also adding more buses to offer 49,000 trips, while shuttle buses will be provided by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) within the city boundaries.
The Expressway Authority of Thailand said tolls on Burapha Withi Expressway will be waived from midnight on the 10 April to midnight on the 16 April.
The Department of Highways is also waiving tolls on Motorway No 7 (Bangkok-Chonburi) and No 9 (Bang Pli-Bang Pa-In) from 1600 on 10 April, to midnight on 16 April.
It is an annual policy to encourage travel during the festival, although critics say there should be efforts made to reduce the use of cars during a festival that blighted by road accidents mainly caused by binge drinking.
It should be a festival that encourages family reunions, travel to provinces to explore new destinations and lifestyle activities such as cycle holidays. However, cyclists who organise frequent weekend rides have learned to hang up their bikes for the Songkran holiday as the risk of being hit by drunk motor cyclists and car drivers increases substantially during the festival.
Thailand’s highway death toll over the seven days of Songkran, 11 to 17 April 2013, reached 321 surpassing the 2012 toll by 0.31%, or just a single death. The daily fatalities surpass those of war zones in the Middle East. Thailand has one of the worst road safety records in the world and police negligence is largely to blame.
Officials claim road accident related injuries were cut by 8.43% to 3,040 during Songkran 2013, compared to 3,320 in 2012, but it was more to do with data collection, or the lack of it, than hard facts. Road accidents (as opposed to injuries) decreased 9.62% to 2,828 compared to 3,129 during the same period in 2012.
Alcohol consumption was blamed for 39.11% of accidents followed by dangerous driving 23.59%. A total of 232,600 motorcyclists were also charged for failing to wear safety helmets and 222,601 motorists were charged for driving without a license. It is quite common to seer motor cycle drivers wearing an helmet, but not the two children and wife riding pillion.
Car rental firm recommend that foreign visitors drive only during daylight hours. Mornings are safer than late afternoon, according to accident statistics.

Sourced: ttrweekly