PM wishes Thai people to be happy and celebrate Songkran safely

BANGKOK, April 13 (TNA) - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva wishes Thai people to celebrate the annual Songkran Festival happily with their families, advising the public to, however, prioritise their safety and relevant officials concerned to enforce strict measures to ensure road safety during this week's nationwide celebrations of the traditional Thai New Year.

During his interview with local media on the occasion of the Songkran Festival on Wednesday, Abhisit said that the traditional Thai New year festival is a good chance for Thai people to return to their hometowns to be reunited with their families, and wishes all Thai people to celebrate the Thai New Year festival happily and safely, as a large number of people are making long trips for the time being.

Abhisit insisted that his government has actively campaigned for road safety and, as everyone knows that the main causes of road accidents are drunk driving and sleepy drivers, the relevant officials have stationed at key sites to prevent and control such causes of road accidents; while reckless drivers will be punished by the law.

The Thai premier said that his government is also working out long-term plans to reduce the number of road accidents, through an official logistics committee, to ensure strict standards of drivers, especially truck drivers and passenger bus drivers; while the number of rest areas along major highways and roads will also be increased across the country. (TNA)