City and law-enforcement officials will blanket the Pattaya area with checkpoints, medics and free refreshments as it makes a concerted effort to cut the number of accidents during the New Year holiday.
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay outlined the city’s Dec. 28 – Jan. 4 plans at a city hall meeting Dec. 9. Among the efforts will be stations offering free water and snacks, public school awareness campaigns, random traffic checkpoints, and 24-hour rapid-response medical teams.
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay leads a meeting with city and law-enforcement officials to try and reduce the number of traffic accidents over the holidays.
Officials are targeting five high-priority areas: Sukhumvit Road at the intersection with Central Road and in front of the Pattaya Floating Market; on Third Road near both Soi Bongkot and the Sophon Market and Second Road in front of Central Center mall in North Pattaya. Each spot will host a stall offering beverages, candies and cold towels to help alert drivers. It also will be an opportunity for police to check if drivers are inebriated.
Most road checks, however, will happen randomly at checkpoints that will spring up around the area.
In case of accidents, the Sawang Boriboon Foundation will deploy two shifts of ambulances on standby and have medics available in 26 spots around the area. Nurses will provide triage before shipping victims off to area hospitals.
The city Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has been tasked with fighting car fires while the public relations staff will work with schools and media to get the anti-drunk driving message out.
