The government has set up a centre to monitor traffic accidents to improve road safety and reduce fatalities during the New Year holidays.
Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda, who also serves as director of the Road Safety Directing Centre, said the newly-developed centre has been working closely with other organisations to reduce the number of traffic accidents until Jan 5.
During the holiday period, traffic laws will be strictly enforced while checkpoints have been set up at accident-prone areas as a safety precaution, he said. Motorists will be asked to take alcohol tests on some roads.
Gen Anupong said the centre has decided not to set a target on the number of road accidents it hopes to prevent this year.
Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation director-general Chatchai Phromlert said the department will provide a daily report on road accidents with the number of casualties and real-time traffic information to the centre.
Meanwhile, speaking after a cabinet meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha passed on his greetings to the people of Thailand for the holiday period. "Best wishes for a long and happy holidays," he said.
Bangkok residents who plan to go out tonight to celebrate New Year have been warned about traffic congestion along the roads linking to the CentralWorld Department store, located on Ratchaprasong Road, traffic police said.
From 5pm-3am, parts of Ratchadamri Road from Ratchaprasong intersection to Pratunam intersection will be closed.
Parts of Phloenchit Road from Chidlom intersection to Ratchaprasong intersection, and Ratchadamri Road from Ratchadamri intersection to Ratchaprasong intersection will also close between 7pm-3am.
Rama I Road from Chalermpao intersection to Ratchaprasong intersection will be shut at the same time.