It’s simple. If you’re drunk, you get kicked out of your vehicle.
After the deadliest Songkran on record, the deputy prime minister plans to make seizures of drunk-drivers’ vehicles a permanent law.
“I will have discussions with the Transport minister on the issue and will ask the National Legislative Assembly to expedite the case,” Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said yesterday.
Despite major campaigns to try and curb drunk driving, the consumption of alcohol remained a major cause of road casualties over Songkran, with 6,613 motorcycles, cars and pickups impounded from drunk drivers during the holiday.
Authorities were able to seize vehicles because of a National Council for Peace and Order initiative, reported the Nation.
“We have seized these vehicles to prevent road casualties,” Interior Minister Gen. Anupong Paochinda said yesterday.
During the “seven dangerous days” from April 11-17, 442 people were killed and there were 3,447 road accidents nationwide in which 3,656 people were injured, according to Anupong.
Statistics show drunk drivers caused 34 percent of road accidents while speeding accounted for about 33 percent of the accidents.
