PM unhappy at road toll:
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed his displeasure at the number of road deaths over the Songkran festival despite an 11.8% drop in fatalities from last year.
“I am not satisfied with that. People are still dead,” Gen Prayut said, adding the reasons behind many of the road accidents were still the same — drink driving and speeding.
The premier said there were also other problems during the festival, such as gun crime, fighting and the wearing of revealing outfits.
It is necessary to create a sense of morality among people to tackle these issues in the long run, he said.
“As for the use of firearms, Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan ordered a crackdown to tackle this ahead of the festival, but it is difficult to eradicate this behaviour,” Gen Prayut said.
“Our efforts will continue. We do not want society to be like this,” he said.
A total of 390 people were killed and 3,808 injured during the government’s seven-day campaign to tackle road accidents, which ended on Monday, permanent secretary for interior Grisada Boonrach said.
According to Mr Grisada, there were 3,690 road accidents over this period with drink driving topping the list of causes, followed by speeding and overtaking.
Topping the list of types of vehicle involved in accidents were 3,230 motorcycles and 260 pickup trucks.
Udon Thani saw the highest number of road accidents across the seven-day period (161), while the highest death toll was recorded in Nakhon Ratchasima (17). Udon Thani also had the greatest number of accumulated injuries (168).
Four provinces where no one was killed in road accidents were Krabi, Narathiwat, Mae Hong Son and Samut Songkhram.
Mr Grisada, who is also the deputy chief of the Road Safety Directing Centre, said the agency will continue to spread public awareness about drink driving.
The Department of Provincial Administration would discuss with local authorities about how to get this message across, he said.
National Council for Peace and Order deputy spokeswoman Sirichan Ngathong said the drivers of 388,157 motorcycles and 321,284 public and private vehicles committed traffic violations from April 12-17.
Officials confiscated 5,677 motorcycles and 1,835 cars because the drivers appeared to be intoxicated, she said.
Army chief Chalermchai Sittisat said the 11.8% drop in fatalities could have been because people obeyed tougher traffic measures, including buckling up, wearing crash helmets and being aware of safety when travelling in pickup trays.