April 4th, 2007, 00:27
Bangkok Post
City Hall and the Don't Drive Drunk Foundation have launched a joint campaign to reduce road casualties over the Songkran holiday. They are targeting the 10 provinces with the highest death and injury tolls during last Songkran _ Chon Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla.
About 500 volunteers from the foundation, including victims of drunk driving, will also be helping police at 100 checkpoints across the nation.
And 80,000 low-cost crash helmets will be available to motorcyclists soon under another road safety campaign. The Global Road Safety Partnership recently approved the Helmets for the King project, part of its activities to honour His Majesty on his 80th birthday this year. Eighty participating organisations from the private and public sector will each donate 1,000 helmets. Painted yellow and affixed with His Majesty's 80th birthday emblem, they will sell for about 100 baht each, compared with usual helmet prices of 200-2,000 baht. Those who purchase a helmet will be required to sign a pledge to the King that they will wear it every time they ride a motorcycle. All proceeds will go to one of the foundations under royal patronage.
Thailand has one of the highest injury and death rates associated with motorcycle crashes in Southeast Asia because too few riders wear a safety helmet, with 38,000 crash-related injuries reported in 2005 compared to 19,000 in 2001.
The GRSP is a global partnership of business, civil and governmental organisations working to improve road safety."
Bangkok Post
City Hall and the Don't Drive Drunk Foundation have launched a joint campaign to reduce road casualties over the Songkran holiday. They are targeting the 10 provinces with the highest death and injury tolls during last Songkran _ Chon Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla.
About 500 volunteers from the foundation, including victims of drunk driving, will also be helping police at 100 checkpoints across the nation.
And 80,000 low-cost crash helmets will be available to motorcyclists soon under another road safety campaign. The Global Road Safety Partnership recently approved the Helmets for the King project, part of its activities to honour His Majesty on his 80th birthday this year. Eighty participating organisations from the private and public sector will each donate 1,000 helmets. Painted yellow and affixed with His Majesty's 80th birthday emblem, they will sell for about 100 baht each, compared with usual helmet prices of 200-2,000 baht. Those who purchase a helmet will be required to sign a pledge to the King that they will wear it every time they ride a motorcycle. All proceeds will go to one of the foundations under royal patronage.
Thailand has one of the highest injury and death rates associated with motorcycle crashes in Southeast Asia because too few riders wear a safety helmet, with 38,000 crash-related injuries reported in 2005 compared to 19,000 in 2001.
The GRSP is a global partnership of business, civil and governmental organisations working to improve road safety."
Bangkok Post