SONGKRAN
Volunteers out to help cut road toll
- Published: 7/04/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
More than 900,000 public health volunteers will run campaigns to help slash the number of road accidents and drink driving incidents this coming Songkran.
They will receive three days of training at provincial public health offices before returning to their villages to raise awareness of how to prevent accidents during the holiday, Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said yesterday.
The Public Health Ministry will campaign against alcohol consumption during the festival just days after the government decided not to impose a ban on alcohol sales to avoid the negative impact on tourism.
Drink driving has been identified as a major cause of road accidents in past Songkran festivals.
Other activities aimed at reducing the casualties include providing massages to weary drivers and checking their blood pressure.
Mr Witthaya said volunteers would also help police oversee traffic safety on minor roads. In past years, most road accidents, usually involving motorcycles, occurred on minor roads.
Police in Nakhon Ratchasima have been also been told to focus on minor roads besides highways. Third Regional Police commander Krisada Pankongchuen said officers would strictly enforce alcohol-related laws over the period.
The province is regarded as a gateway to the Northeast as revellers wanting to celebrate Songkran in this region need to drive through Nakhon Ratchasima.
Meanwhile, city police are preparing to hand out 50,000 special calendars to people on Songkran day, April 13.
The calendar features photos of 24 most wanted criminal suspects.
Police will urge the public to inform police of their whereabouts, Bangkok police chief Worapong Chewpreecha said.
People who provide clues leading to an arrest will be rewarded, the calendar advises.
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- Writer: POST REPORTERS
