Four provincial police chiefs have been moved to work at the Royal Thai Police's (RTP) operation centre as a form of punishment due to the high number of road accidents and fatalities witnessed in their provinces over the Songkran festival.
The transfer orders were signed by national police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda. It came into effect on Thursday and was leaked to the public on Friday.
The four senior officers are Bung Kan police chief Pol Maj Gen Thiwa Bundamnern, Phetchabun police commander Pol Maj Gen Sant Phoraksa, Amnat Charoen police chief Pol Maj Gen Tawai Buranarak, and Saraburi police commander Pol Maj Gen Chairat Thipayachan.
Pol Gen Chakthip said more transfers should be expected.
Road safety was a top priority during the holiday and those who are not up to the job knew they would face severe consequences, he said.
Their transfers were prompted by poor road safety records in their provinces during previous Songkran holidays, he added.
Pol Gen Chakthip did not go into details of how many accidents or fatalities were recorded in their respective provinces during the so-called "seven dangerous days of Songkran". The festival ran from April 11-17.
"There will be a wave of transfers if we find they failed to ensure adequate road safety. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has stressed the importance of this throughout the year," he said.
He said he informed senior police officers personally that road safety must be considered a top priority during Songkran.
"I've looked at the road accident figures and they are two or three times higher [than we expected]," he said.
Asked whether he thought the transfer orders would demoralise other officers, he said it is part of the job.
Some of those facing transfers were classmates of his at the police academy, he added.
Some 418 people died on the roads or later in hospital over the seven dangerous days of Songkran, up 7% from 2017, according to the Road Safety Centre.