Road safety measures for New Year celebrations arranged

BANGKOK, November 30 (TNA) - The Department of Land Transport, under the Thai Ministry of Transport, has prepared road safety measures for the upcoming New Year Festival, aimed to reduce road accidents and casualties nationwide. The department's director-general, Sanit Promwong, told journalists on Thursday that the measures will be strictly implemented in three phases, during December 21-27, 2017, during December 28, 2017-January 3, 2018 and during January 4-10, 2018. Sanit noted that the so-called 777 road safety measures are specially aimed to achieve an ambitious target of "zero fatality" from public transport systems nationwide during the three-phase periods of before, during and after the upcoming New Year celebrations, seven days each. Sanit said he has instructed provincial land transport offices nationwide to also prepare public cars and buses to sufficiently meet the surge in public demand during the upcoming New Year celebrations, stressing that no passenger will be left behind at all terminals across the country. Besides, a strict screening system must be launched at all bus terminals to prevent theft and other mischievous acts of all forms, while free auto check-up points will be set up at 189 focal sites across the country. According to the senior official, his department will also work together with the Royal Thai Police and local administrative organizations to strictly check alcohol levels and preparedness of drivers of public cars and buses, as well as the conditions of their vehicles at 212 terminals and checkpoints nationwide to reduce road accidents and casualties. (TNA)