Authorities have yet again come up with a ridiculous statement regarding checkpoints which underlines their complete lack of understanding of the accident situation here. Read on.
The Deputy Commander of the Royal Thai Police has made known he is considering punitive measures against officers operating in areas where a high rate of accidents take place during the New Year holidays, while indicating more checkpoints will be set up along minor roads.
Elsewhere, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha has asked that citizens drive carefully and ensure their own safely during the holiday, reminding motorists that they must respect traffic laws by driving in an orderly fashion and remaining sober.
He said more checkpoints are to be set up along minor roads that have seen a high incidence of accidents, while rest stops are to be added to encourage travelers to take breaks. The PM impressed upon the force that police cannot use the period to take advantage of citizens.
Deputy Commander of the Royal Thai Police Pol Gen Sriawara Rangsiphramnakul meanwhile, dispatched officers who will be active throughout the long holiday. He also instructed Songkhla province’s immigration police to facilitate cross border travel during the holiday.
The deputy commander said today that police officers at 60 checkpoints across the country may even be subject to punitive measures if avoidable accidents occur at or near their posts. He instructed them to be proactive in dealing with drunk drivers and other such dangerous motorists.
How can you blame police at a checkpoint if a driver has a licence , tax and the car is in good condition , who then drives away and drives like a lunatic?
Checkpoints can not identify bad and/or dangerous drivers. The only answer is patrol cars or motorbikes on the highways who pursue and stop people driving dangerously.
If they have to resort to unmarked cars, then so be it. Good drivers have nothing to fear.
(Source:- The Nation, Thailand)