Police to launch traffic law crackdown
PHUKET CITY: In an attempt to reduce road accidents, Phuket Provincial Police have vowed to get tough on traffic violations under a new road-safety program, the state-run Andaman News service has reported on the NBT network.
The National Police Bureau will reactivate a traffic and road safety center in a bid to stem the alarming number of deaths resulting from road accidents, the report read.
The new initiative will run until July 31, 2009.
Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Chalit Tinthanee will serve as director of the local center, which will provide more breathalyzer units, radar speed detectors and other equipment to help police gather physical evidence and prosecute traffic law violators.
Police will hold a meeting to explain the strict new measures, which will include special zones for strict traffic discipline and assigning more officers at traffic-accident “black spots”.
Emphasis will be on charging motorists who fail to wear safety belts, motorcyclists without helmets, people operating motor vehicles under the influence of alcohol, and driving over the speed limit.
It was not mentioned in the report whether traffic police would shift the enforcement effort from the current system of using police checkpoints to one geared at catching motorists for moving violations.
