New Year drunk driving up 23%

New Year drunk driving up 23%

The number of drunk driving cases recorded throughout the country over the "seven dangerous days" of the New Year period is up 23% on the corresponding period of the previous year and most of them are first-time offenders, according to the Department of Probation.

Between Dec 28 and Jan 2, a total of 4,635 motorists had been arrested and convicted in court for driving under the influence of alcohol, up 23% from the previous year, which saw 3,768 reported cases, Ruenvadee Suwanmongkol, the department’s director-general, revealed on Monday.

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Most of the convicted drunk drivers were first-time offenders aged between 30 and 38, Mrs Ruenvadee said. 

Of those sent to Bangkok North Municipal Court for sentencing, less than 1% were second-time offenders. 

She attributed the increase of cases to authorities’ stricter enforcement of drunk-driving laws.

Drunk driving offenders who are ordered by the court to be placed under the supervision of probation officers are required to report to authorities four times a year and do social service work for 12 hours. 

Penalties for drunk driving were toughened last year. Offenders now face up to six months' imprisonment and/or fines of up to 60,000 baht. However, despite the harsher penalties, during the "seven dangerous days" over the New Year, a total of 365 people died in road accidents, up 8% from the year before, and alcohol was reported to be a factor in many of the deaths.

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