However, a source at DDPM-Phuket cautioned that the first day of the campaign had yet to conclude.
“The number of accidents across the island so far during the campaign has not been confirmed yet. We have to wait until midnight tonight for the first day to conclude.” said the DDPM-Phuket source, who declined to be name.
Daily reports of road accidents, deaths and injuries will be shared with other officials at Phuket Provincial Hall at 9am on each day of the campaign, the source confirmed.
Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong last week called on the heads of the main government offices and major businesses on the island to make safety the top priority during the upcoming Songkran festivities, to be celebrated nationwide April 12-16. (See story here.)
Gov Norraphat also laid out a six-point strategy to help reduce the number of accidents, deaths and injuries during the holidays, as follows:
- To strictly enforce the law by setting up checkpoints
- Ask for a cooperation from contractors to urgently fix roads before Songkran. If repairs are not finished, warning signs must be set.
- To set up measures and/or guidelines to control public transport and taxis, as well as drivers and staff. Also to check (public transport) vehicles.
- To prepare emergency medical services.
- To set up marine operation centres and to check piers.
- To decrease any “environmental dangers” by checking for hazards beside the road as well as to set up operation centres for road and marine safety with officials stationed at centres.
Governor Norraphat, who has now spent just over one year serving as the island’s top-ranking official, last year vowed to take action to correct Phuket motorists’ wild driving habits in the hope of reducing the death and carnage on the island’s roads after Phuket suffered four deaths and 70 injuries in 67 accidents during the Songkran “Seven Days of Danger” road-safety campaign from Apr 11-17, 2017. (See story here.)
Meanwhile, DDPM-Phuket Chief Prapan Kanprasang confirmed that Phuket Provincial Police will set up checkpoints across the island for the duration of the seven days of the campaign
Four main checkpoints along with 10 service “rest points” will be set up in Muang District, with three main police checkpoints, five smaller police checkpoints and three “service points” set up throughout Kathu, will includes Patong and Kamala.
Thalang District will be host to four main police checkpoints, seven minor police checkpoints and three service points, Chief Prapan added.
However, Chief Prapan said that some checkpoints may not remain in the same location for all seven days.
“They might be set up at different locations during the campaign, depending on the appropriateness and situations in the area,” he said. (See story here.)