New crackdown on traffic offenses

PHUKET: Police began a crackdown on traffic offenders from yesterday, as part of a fresh offensive aimed at reducing road deaths and injuries. Announcing the crackdown, which he said will continue indefinitely, Metha Mekarath of the Provincial Defense Office said that government employees caught breaking the rules of the road will face special punishment and could even lose their jobs. The campaign particularly targets motorcycle riders who fail to wear helmets, car drivers who do not wear seat-belts and speeding vehicles of all kinds. But other breaches are also being penalized – with police seizing illegally modified motorcycles, and cars driven by unlicensed drivers. As part of a longer-term drive to cut the accident toll, the Phuket Transportation Office is to open on Saturdays and will introduce a training program to educate people on what to do in an emergency. Seven other provinces are also part of the initial program, which was launched after discussions in Cabinet in Phuket last week. They are Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Lampang, Nakhon Sawan, Petchaburi, Songkla and Bangkok. K. Metha said, “I hope this will reduce the death toll, which is too high.”