Campaign to make Songkhran safer

BANGKOK  The Thai Cabinet has approved measures by the Ministry of Interior to combat the annual road carnage that accompanies the nation-wide Songkhran festival holiday.
Government spokesman Yongyuth Maiyalap said measures focus on improved traffic flow management and ensuing roads and vehicles are well maintained.
The casualties are not likely to fall dramatically from 321 fatalities and more than 3,000 injured during last year’s festival.
Criitics point out that the Songkhran Festival turns Thailand’s roads into a playground, with villagers encroaching on highways to deliberately slow traffic, so they can douse vehicles with water. As many of the participants, both water throwers and car drivers are intoxicated it leads to horrific accidents on highways passing through towns and villages across the country.
inside no 4Both the government and provincial authorities are not prepared to zone play areas during the festival and banning water throwing on major roads and highways. The high incidence of motor cycle accidents is caused by drunk driving, but there is also considerable evidence that throwing buckets of water and ice cubes at passing motor cyclists puts them at serious risk.
The government says it has cracked down on drunk drivers well ahead of the festival, which is due to start at the weekend as thousands of families, resident in Bangkok drive to their family homes up-country.
The transport ministry has invited people to use a new online information system to study traffic information and alternate routes on www.mot.go.th, or call the 1356 24-hour hotline.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said it will campaign to reduce road accidents during the festival, 9 to 15 April, according to the city’s traffic and transport department director, Taweesak Lertprapan.
“The campaign calls for consideration for others, discipline, safety and respect for the cultural aspects of the festival… to reduce accident,” he said.
BMA has installed more closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at various spots all over the city to monitor traffic.
The administration has instructed all hospitals to be ready for emergency medical services in terms of equipment and personnel.
The national media dubs the holiday the “seven deadly days”. This year it runs from 9 to 15 April, although water throwing is supposed to be limited to 13 to 15 April .
The Moral Promotion Centre has issued its values list for festival goers.
Discipline: Follow the rules underlined by society, such as traffic laws, safe driving within the speed limit, avoid crosscutting others. When using public transportation stand in line;
Be patient: Avoid gambling and tolerate anger from those who are drunk and others to avoid potential fights;
Kindness: Show kindness, help and support for each other;
Giving and sharing; Be helpful to others and the society, like offering seats to elders;
Responsibility: Know one’s duties in society, to guarantee the safety of others, for example, bus drivers;
Consciousness: Know what one’s actions may lead to; especially drinking and driving;
Caution: Be careful, don’t do anything that may harm or injure yourself or others.
Last year, Thailand’s highway carnage over the seven deadly days of Songkran, 11 to 17 April 2014, reached 322 fatalities surpassing the 2013 toll by 0.31%, or just a single death (321), according to Road Safety Directing Centre.
Injuries from road accidents also increased 6.09% to 3,225 compared to 3,040 in 2013. Road accidents (incidents rather than injuries) increased 5.80% to 2,992 compared to 2,828 during the same period in 2013.

sourced:ttrweekly.com