Holiday road toll sparks traffic crackdown

PHUKET: The three deaths and 468 injuries on Phuket roads from last Friday through to yesterday has prompted the Governor to order a crackdown on driving offenses. Speaking at a press conference today, Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi said, “We tried to reduce the number of accidents with police checkpoints, testing drivers for alcohol and an anti-drunk driving campaign but the number [of deaths] still increased.” During the same period last year 553 people were injured and two people were killed by traffic accidents. Of the three killed this holiday season, two people were killed in motorbike accidents and the third died in a car smash. Gov Pongpayome said the Phuket Provincial Office will co-ordinate a multi-department campaign to reduce the number of traffic accidents in Phuket with police checkpoints around the island at least two or three times a week. Officers will be on the lookout for defective signal or headlights and motorcyclists not wearing helmets. “At the beginning, we will warn offenders. After that, we will start to fine them and make them take a course in road safety,” he said.