A total of 362 private vehicles and more than 2,000 driving licences were seized nationwide by authorities for traffic violations on Thursday and Friday, according to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
Of the private vehicles impounded, 313 were motorcycles and 49 were cars with 2,060 driver's licences seized. Police are withholding the vehicles and the licences for the duration of the New Year holiday, which officially ends on Tuesday, or until the owners pay their fines and claim their vehicles.
NCPO deputy spokeswoman Sirichan Ngathong said nearly 7,000 motorists have been arrested and charged over the past two days.
Authorities were tallying up the statistics in light of the New Year exodus which began on Thursday as the main highways out of Bangkok were packed with motorists heading out of town for the long weekend.
Col Sirichan said the main Mittraphab road to the Northeast, Phetkasem road to the South as well as Phahon Yothin Road and the Asia Highway to the North were clogged with vehicles.
Traffic ground to halt at the busy crossroads and intersections in the provinces.
Officials and volunteers were on hand to facilitate traffic and offer motorists and passengers beverages and mechanical help at roadside rest stops set up by authorities.
Traffic out of Bangkok was expected to be lighter yesterday and remain light until tomorrow when some holidaymakers start returning to the city, according to the authorities.
Many roads were expected to be crammed with motorists as people travel to important venues in the provinces to attend New Year's Eve events, including the mourning activities for the late King, the celebrations for His Majesty the King and the mass prayers over the threshold into the New Year.
Col Sirichan said organisers and participants were asked to keep the New Year events solemn and orderly and to refrain from lighting up firecrackers. The Department of Probation, meanwhile, said traffic offenders convicted by the courts will be sent to do community services such as assisting nursing staff at hospitals for a specific period of time.
Offenders are normally dispatched to help care for patients injured in road accidents or lend a hand in the routine operations of mortuaries.
The work will give the offenders a first-hand look at the damage and losses from reckless or drink-driving, according to department chief Narat Sawettanant, adding that the department will be compiling figures on road accidents and casualties from the accidents.