Police insist on safe driving in monsoon weather

PHUKET: The head of Phuket traffic police has urged motorists to proceed with caution in their daily journeys during the heavy rains this weekend.

“People should be very cautious during this rainy weather, especially motorcycle drivers and passengers. The roads will be slippery, so people should drive with care and make sure they are wearing helmets,” Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Teeraphol Thipjaroen told the Phuket Gazette.

Col Teeraphol’s cautionary message follows a warning from the Thai Meteorological Department that heavy rain is expected to last throughout the weekend (story here), which prompted the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to issue a flash flood and landslide warning.

Col Teeraphol also warned about worsening traffic as a result of heavy rains.

“Traffic gets worse on rainy days, as vehicles cannot go as fast. More cars will be on the road as well, since a lot of people will choose to drive cars rather than motorcycles,” he said.

“Everyone must slow down, especially on curves or hilly roads. Accidents can even happen on straight, flat roads if the surface is wet.

“Check your vehicles and make sure they are safe to drive. Check your tyres and your brakes. If you cannot see through the rain, pull over to a safe place and wait until visibility improves. And always turn on your lights in the rain.”

— Chutharat Plerin