Stiff measures issued for road safety during Songkran

BANGKOK, April 6 (TNA) -- Concerns over road accidents and the number of fatalities during the upcoming Songkran festival, Thailand’s traditional New Year which falls between April 13 – 15, Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda on Wednesday ordered concerned government agencies to explore ways to prevent and reduce the number of accidents. Gen Anupong in his capacity as the director of the Road Safety Centre said road accidents during the festival would occur more frequently as many people return home to visit their relatives and friends. Campaigns have, therefore, been launched aimed at reducing the number of road accidents between April 11 – 17, he said. The Road Safety Centre had launched campaigns and also built discipline between February 15 – April 17 and they would continue until this year-end. From next Monday until April 17, concerned government agencies would fix water-splashing zoning for the festival celebrants and they must not consume any alcoholic drinks, improving roadside environments, a rigid enforcement of traffic law, and an attempt to reduce the number of people killed and injured from road accidents, Gen Anupong added. (TNA)