That helicopter buzzing over Pattaya New Year’s Day was the commander of the Chonburi Highway Police checking out how bad it was to actually be driving in holiday traffic.
Maj. Gen. Norabun Nannah took his 1:30 p.m. flight from Nongprue Airport after dropping off water, coffee, instant noodles and other staples to officers manning a checkpoint in front of the Pattaya Highway Police Station.
Maj. Gen. Norabun Nannah commented that while Sukhumvit Road and Highway 7 looked congested, he reckoned it wasn’t that bad.
After his flight in the two-seat copter, Norabun commented that while Sukhumvit Road and Highway 7 looked congested, he reckoned it wasn’t that bad. Backups on the main highway and connecting Pattaya roads was, at worst, about 30 minutes, he said.
Highway Police operated 227 checkpoints during the holiday period and no traffic-related fatalities were recorded from Dec. 29 to Jan. 1. But he urged those not fortunate enough to have a helicopter to travel safely.
