Drivers of buses and other forms of public transport who are suspected of having consumed alcohol will be banned from operating vehicles during the New Year period, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said on Monday.
The ministry aims to reduce the rate of deaths and injuries on all forms of transport by at least 5% from last year's statistics, he said. Thailand has one of the world's worst road safety records.
The Ministry of Transport (MOT) will observe a "7-7-7" policy aimed at maximising safety precautions during a three-week period before, during and after the New Year.
Ministry statistics show there were 304 transport-related deaths nationwide from Dec 29, 2016 to Jan 4. This was up 29% from the corresponding period for the year earlier, when 235 deaths were reported and 1,805 injured.
Efforts will focus on reducing the rate of incidents across 61 accident-prone areas nationwide. Transport operators will have to cooperate with all of the safety measures.
"We have been in discussions with public transport companies to make sure they do not allow intoxicated drivers to operate their vehicles under any circumstances," Mr Arkhom said. "Injury and death rates from public transport must be zero."
Petrol stations could double as rest areas for sleep-deprived drivers, he said.
The MOT estimates 8.4 million cars will pass in and out of Bangkok during the New Year period. Public transport will service over 16 million people from Dec 28 to Jan 3, Mr Arkhom said.
