Safety concerns ahead of New Year holidays

BANGKOK, Dec 6 (TNA) -- Many public holidays are observed in Thailand in December, especially the New Year festival, with concerned government official agencies are launching campaigns in an attempt to reduce road accidents resulted from poor conditions of the vehicle and driver behaviors. Sanit Phromwong, director-general of Transport Ministry’s Land Transport Department, expressed his concerns, saying that his department has launched campaigns on safety throughout December by cooperating with more than 2,000 private agencies nationwide aimed at reducing road accidents. Initially, 20 items of car inspection are given free of charge while police, soldier and volunteer personnel are dispatched to enforce traffic law during the long holidays celebrating the upcoming New Year festival, Mr Sanit said. Government agencies in Bangkok and upcountry are ordered to work closely with the Transport Ministry in the capital and concerned offices in the area in providing conveniences to motorists and passengers while drivers must refrain from drinking and to drive within the speed limit. Officials will be posted on main roads and highways in 11 provinces nationwide before and during the New Year holidays, he said. Speed tests will also be conducted on buses leaving and arriving Bangkok during the annual festival. Like the previous New Year festival, the Land Transport Department will cooperate with the Office of the Vocational Education Commission in setting up rest areas for motorists and passengers along with free drinking water, cold towel, massage, information on tour destinations and car inspection between December 29 – January 4, he added. (TNA)