Isaan gearing up for Songkran safety
Northeastern provincial authorities are starting to put in place measures to reduce road accidents as the annual migration for the Songkran festival looms.
The official Songkran holiday is from April 13-17. In Nakhon Ratchasima extra buses and trains were on standby to cater for passengers unable to secure seats. Police are setting up checkpoints to catch traffic offenders. Provincial transport chief Anusorn Withurakorn said vehicle checks would be available for motorists at transport offices and car dealerships. Bus-drivers will be checked for alcohol consumption. He said 800 buses would be checked each day, adding that passengers concerned by driver recklessness should call the 1584 hotline. During the festival period the average 185 daily air-conditioned-bus trips will rise to between 200 and 300 trips. Standard bus trips will increase from about 70 to 100 a day to accommodate traveller volume. Nakhon Ratchasima police chief Maj-General Amnat Anartngarm said 7,000 officers and volunteers would man checkpoints every 15 kilometres of the Mitraparb Highway from Pak Chong to Bua Yai district. The province aims to lower road casualties to fewer than 15 dead and 200 injured. In Khon Kaen 150 daily bus trips will ensure travellers are accommodated. Traffic police will patrol the Mitraparb Highway, setting up speed traps and drink-driving checkpoints. Ubon Ratchathani state-rail official Sathien Thongrong said that from April 11-13 three 15-carriage trains would run six round trips, each carrying 1,200 passengers. Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani buses will make 12 trips a day.
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