Police New Year target is helmets

PHUKET: Police will crack down on bad driving over Chinese New Year next weekend – especially on motorcycle riders who do not wear helmets at night. The Chinese New Year, which falls on February 1 this year, always brings an increase in traffic and accidents. Police are keen to halt the rising toll of unnecessary deaths and injuries in 2003. Visasva Sasismit, Phuket Provincial Palad, said the emphasis this year would be on catching drunk drivers, making motorcyclists wear helmets, checking seatbelt use in cars and limiting speeds. Police from seven stations around the island will set up checkpoints and fine offenders. “People rarely wear helmets at night,” K. Visasva added, “so we’ll check this more vigorously.”