BANGKOK, Dec 27 — The Thai government’s Road Safety Centre — the centre which every year in this season swings into action to prevent and reduce the number of the road accidents, deaths and injuries during the 2013 New Year holiday period opened today.
Pol Lt-Gen Chat Kuldilok, Deputy Minister of Interior, presided over the the opening ceremony of the centre set up at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
The centre will also serve as headquarters to link all commands at all level, to solve immediate problems occurring from road accidents and to adjust traffic plan to response the needs arising.
Gen Chat said the centre will promote road safety and monitor the number of traffic accidents during the so-called “Seven Dangerous Days” from December 27, 2012 until January 2, 2013.
The government has a target to reduce the number of road casualties during this period by at least five per cent from the same period of last year, he said.
During last New Year, a total of 335 people were killed and 3,375 injured in 3,093 road accidents .
As usual, emphasis will be given to controlling speed, cracking down on driving while intoxicated, wearing helmets for motorcyclists and controlling pickup trucks carrying passengers.
The deputy minister said that checkpoints will be in place, especially at minor roads, to monitor risky behaviour.
Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Director General Chatchai Promlert said that daily press briefings on the death toll and casualty counts will take place between December 28th to January 3rd at 10am to inform motorists to be more careful when travelling and to strictly observe traffic rules.
