Land transport officials on Monday conducted random drug and alcohol tests on passenger-van drivers in the Victory Monument area Monday to ensure safe driving conditions and reduce road accidents over the New Year holiday.
The tests were carried out by some 200 transport regulators, anti-narcotic police officers and soldiers at four minivan queues around the monument, one of the country's busiest transportation hubs, and covered 650 drivers.
Land transport director-general Sanit Phromwong, who led the inspections, said three drivers tested positive for substance abuse. One, identified as Komsan Khama, 39, admitted he had consumed some methamphetamine pills, or ya ba, two days ago.
He claimed he did not take ya ba regularly and only used recreationally. Mr Komsan drove van No. 37-41 from the monument to Ao Udom in Si Racha area of Chon Buri province.
The three were taken to Phayathai police station to have their personal information recorded. They will be sent to the 1st Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion on Chaengwattana Road to participate in a drug-rehabilitation programme for 15 days.
Pol Maj Gen Wicharnwat Borirakkul, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 1, urged New Year's commuters to report unsafe public vehicles to the Land Transport Department's 1584 hotline or send drug tipoffs to the Narcotics Suppression Bureau's 1386 hotline.