Thai PM thanks all parties for taking care of New Year travelers

BANGKOK, January 5 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha thanks all parties concerned for taking good care of New Year travelers nationwide. Expressing his appreciation to traffic authorities and other concerned parties for helping prevent serious violence from occurring during New Year celebrations throughout the country, Prime Minister General Prayut, who is also leader of the army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), told journalists on January 4 that the concerned parties will continue temporarily detaining drivers on charges of drunk driving and overspeeding up to the maximum of 15 days and seize their vehicles. Admitting that he is still dissatisfied with the high number of traffic fatalities during this year's New Year Festival, the prime minister said he is considering ordering police officers to seize driving licences of drunk drivers, instead of their vehicles. The government, for the first time, temporarily seized vehicles from drunk-drivers during the so-called "seven dangerous days" during the New Year Festival, which ended on January 4, in an attempt to reduce road accidents during the annual festivity. Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary for Justice Charnchao Chaiyanukij assessed that the new measure on temporarily seizing vehicles from drunk drivers has proven successful because more than 4,000 vehicles were taken by authorities. (TNA)