Checkpoints to be set up across Thailand during New Year’s celebrations

BANGKOK, December 24 (TNA) - Checkpoints and rest areas for car drivers will be set up nationwide by Thailand's Department of Land Transport from December 29, 2011-January 4, 2012 to control road accidents and other untoward incidents during people's New Year celebrations. Department of Land Transport Director-General Somchai Siriwattanachoke said on Saturday that 15 road accidents were reported recently and all of them involved with buses, causing six deaths and 138 injuries, with main causes attributed to motorcycles overtaking buses too sudden, drivers' falling asleep and speed driving. In an attempt to reduce the road accidents during the New Year festival, Somchai acknowledged, his department will set up checkpoints in Kamphaeng Phet, Pitsanulok, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani and Rayong, considered major junctions in all regions of the country, during the seven-day period. According to the senior Thai Transport Ministry official, security officers manning the checkpoints will check engines of buses, inspect whether drivers consume alcohol and their driving licenses. The official warned that bus drivers should not drive more than four hours continuously and then take a rest not less than half-an-hour before taking on the wheel again, saying that vocational students will also provide free car repairs on over 300 points on highways and roads throughout the country during the seven day-New Year travelling period. (TNA)