NCPO seizes 435 vehicles from Songkran drunk drivers

BANGKOK, April 14 (TNA) -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) seized 435 vehicles from drunk drivers on the first day of its road safety campaign in the Songkran festival from April 12 to 18. NCPO deputy spokesperson Sirichan Nga-thong said that the seizure figure concerned motorcycles only and was recorded on April 12 alone, and authorities hoped the measure would help boost road safety during the Thai New Year festival. Officials also seized the driver’s licences of the drunk motorcyclists. They would be prosecuted along with other 30,000 motorcyclists who violated traffic rules, Col Sirichan said. On April 12, authorities also seized 102 public and private vehicles and 1,498 driver’s licences for traffic rule violation. More than 25,000 motorists would face legal actions for their traffic offences, she said. Apart seizing vehicles, NCPO encouraged motorists and passengers to use safety belts and crash helmets and advised drivers not to overload their vehicles. Besides, NCPO was operating checkpoints and service areas on accident-prone roads in a bid to prevent traffic accidents, Col Sirichan said. (END)