Songkran aim: no more than 4 road deaths

PHUKET: As in previous years, the province will set up police checkpoints around the island during the Songkran Holiday period in a bid to keep road deaths and injuries to a minimum.

At a conference at Phuket Provincial Hall on Monday, members of the media were each handed a 24-page stack of documents prepared by the Phuket Office for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (ODPM) and detailing this year’s safety campaign.

The press package, entitled “Ten Days of Danger: April 7-16”, stated that the ODPM’s target is to limit the number of dead to no more than four and the numbered of injured requiring a hospital stay to just 53.

Vice-Governor Worapot Ratthasima told the press that it was imperative to meet the target set for the province by the national Road Safety Office, which calls for an overall reduction in accidents of at least 15% from the previous year.

In 2005, there were 397 reported accidents in the province during Songkran. Three people died and 433 were injured, of whom 90 required in-patient treatment.

In 2004, there were also three deaths, with a total of 424 people treated for injuries.

Nationally, the Road Safety Center aims to limit the number of Songkran road casualties to 506 dead and 6,196 injured.

During the 10-day period, checkpoints will be set up in the following locations:

Muang District: in front of Muang Mai Motors on Thepkrasattri Rd; in front of Surakul Stadium Wichit Songkraam Rd; and in front of Chao Fa Thani on Chao Fa West Rd.

Kathu District: in front of Phuket Fantasy in Kamala; and at the Tung Tong Police checkpoint on Phra Barami Rd.

Thalang District: at the Tha Chat Chai checkpoint on Thepkrasattri Rd; in front of Thalang Police Station; and in front of Cherng Talay Police Station.

Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura assigned his three deputy governors to oversee the safety campaign, one in each of Phuket’s three districts.

To report an accident, call the emergency number, 191, which is manned 24 hours a day.