NCPO to implement measure to reduce drinking and driving

BANGKOK, Dec 19 (TNA) -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is set to implement a measure to help prevent drinking and driving during the coming New Year, by increasing the number of checkpoints on main roads in hopes to reduce road accidents during the New Year celebrations. Army Deputy Spokesperson Col Sirichan Nga-thong said that Deputy Army Chief Gen Theppong Tippayachan, in his capacity as the NCPO's secretary-general, had presided over the NCPO Secretarial Office earlier today, where he has reiterated to concerned agencies to immediately follow the order of Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha and Deputy Premier/Defense Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon to provide better conveniences and security to the general public during the coming New Year holidays. Col Sirichan said the NCPO would continue to implement the measure to seize driving licenses and vehicles of drunk drivers just like last year, as well as to prevent illegal activities, and provide more conveniences and support to cater to the celebrations of the public for the New Year. She added that the Peace and Order Maintaining Command ((POMC) is set to coordinate with relevant agencies to beef up security and safety measures, along with reduce road accidents during the 7 days of the New Year celebrations or between 29 December 2016 to 4 January 2017. Col Sirichan noted that other preparations have also been completed, including the readiness of equipment to mitigate disasters, mobile medical teams, rapid units to help relieve conflicts, whereas public service locations and rest stops have also been erected across the country. As for the measure to prevent drinking and driving this year, Col. Sirichan said, more checkpoints would be added on main connecting roads, as well as at risk areas which statistics showed high number of accidents in previous years, in order to ensure the efficiency of road accidents prevention for the year. (TNA)