More than 2,000 police officers will be deployed to manage traffic and ensure the safety of motorists nationwide during the upcoming New Year holidays.
Highway Police Division chief Somchai Kaosamran said about 2,300 highway police will be stationed across the country to help with traffic management and provide assistance and safety to travellers during the New Year break between Dec 31-Jan 3.
The police will work with volunteers, rescue workers as well as local administrative authorities in each province.
CCTV cameras have been installed along areas prone to accidents and traffic congestion in a bid to solve problems as quickly as possible, he said. Pol Maj Gen Somchai added traffic measures including additional lanes and U-turns will be arranged.
The highway police chief said he has also instructed 41 highway police stations and 196 highway police public service centres across the country to serve as rest stops to accommodate travellers.
Rooms, toilets, food and beverages as well as other necessary facilities will be provided at the rest stops.
Pol Maj Gen Somchai said highway police have been ordered to strictly enforce traffic laws against those caught drinking and driving, speeding, disobeying traffic signs, driving without a licence or safety helmets and using mobile phones behind the wheel.
The highway division is also seeking cooperation from lorry operators and lorry services during the New Year long weekend in a bid to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce the possibility of road accidents.
The division has also asked the Department of Land Transport for help in asking public transport operators to ensure they organise a sufficient number of services for passengers in Bangkok and other provinces.
According to Pol Maj Gen Somchai, a road safety campaign, for the "seven dangerous days" during the New Year festival, will run between Dec 29 to Jan 4.
During this period in 2014, 91 people were killed and 392 injured in 227 road accidents while 49 died and 227 were wounded in 146 road accidents across the country during the same period last year.
The main cause of accidents are speeding, dozing off behind the wheel, cutting in front of other vehicles, driving in the wrong lane and jumping traffic lights.
The poor condition of roads and vehicles and the weather also contribute to accidents.
Pol Maj Gen Somchai said motorists can obtain traffic updates and alert police about emergency incidents via the "Thai Highway Police" and "HomegGuard", the police mobile phone applications which are available for download both on the iOS and Android systems.
He also voiced concern over routes heading north and northeast that are prone to traffic congestion, particularly Highway 32 leading to the northern region and the Bang Pa-in interchange where Highway No.9 (Bangkok's eastern ring road) adjoins Highway No.1 (Phahon Yothin Road) in Ayutthaya.
Meanwhile, road accidents nationwide from January to November mostly involved vans, according to a survey jointly conducted by the Foundation's Bus Safety Project and the Road Safety Group Thailand.