Road safety measures for New Year holiday

BANGKOK, Dec 19 (TNA) - Police and agencies concerned have mapped out road safety measures ahead of long New Year holiday. Deputy national police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul on Monday convened a meeting on the New Year safety measures. He ordered security measures to be implemented throughout the country, particular in Bangkok and surrounding areas for the public’s safety during the New Year Festival. The police also plan to facilitate motorists and to cut road accidents during the busiest travel season when the influx of people will travel home in provinces to celebrate with families. This year, people are allowed to sit on the back of the pick-up trucks, which was banned last year. However, the police will warn them or take a legal action if the passengers do anything that might cause danger to themselves or others. Meanwhile, seizure of vehicles, driven by drunk drivers is still valid. Motorcycle riders and passengers must wear safety helmets. Otherwise, the police will warn them and don’t allow them to travel without helmets. The mandatory helmet law will be fully enforced during the New Year period and it will be piloted in the metropolitan areas. Pol Lt Gen Charnthep Sesawej, Metropolitan Police commissioner said people do not need to worry about safety during the New Year celebration. The police have cooperated with soldiers in security operations and according to intelligence report, there is no irregularity. Concerning traffic direction and facilitation, the authorities will beef up patrols through the holiday season to crack down on dangerous driving during the seven-day period, starting on Dec 28. Pol Gen Chalermkiart Sriworakhan, deputy commissioner of the Royal Thai Police inspected the readiness of the police’s campaign to watch over empty houses during the New Year Holiday at the Bang Yai police station in Nonthaburi, adjacent to Bangkok. The campaign is launched for house owners, who apply to join the campaign, running form Dec 25 to Jan 3. The police will conduct frequent patrols to their houses, during the designated period to prevent robbery, which could occur when the houses are unoccupied during the New Year holiday. (TNA)