Welcome to Khon Kaen, the Northeast province of Thailand, recently spotlighted not for its vibrant culture or delicious food, but for a more somber statistic: it topped the charts with a staggering 24 car crashes on a single Friday. This revelation came courtesy of Chotenarin Kerdsom, the Interior Ministry’s deputy permanent secretary who can probably recite traffic stats faster than a street racer shifting gears.
Chotenarin took to the stage – figuratively, of course, this is government, not Broadway – on a calm Saturday to deliver some less-than-calm news from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM). Apparently, not only did Khon Kaen win the dubious honor of having the most crunched metal, but it was also where 23 unfortunate souls collected cuts and bruises from those roadside tangos.
Why so many automotive ballets? Well, Chotenarin pointed his finger at the usual culprits – that dastardly duo of speeding, hogging a whopping 39.2% of the blame, and its tipsy partner in crime, drunk driving, swaying at 23.1%. It’s like a bad cocktail that no one ordered but got served anyway.
Our stalwart Chotenarin isn’t just a bearer of bad news, though. He’s like a superhero leading a subcommittee whose single quest is to banish car crashes to the realm of mythology. But for now, they seem more like a grim reality TV show where 86% of the crashes star motorcycles, and 86.4% of the scenes are set on the oh-so-straight and deceptively benign roads. These dramatic moments unfold primarily on two stages: highways (41%) and those scenic village roads (32.4%), with evening times, between 6 and 7 pm, as their prime time slots.
If you’re in the 20 to 29-year-old group, take a bow because according to DDPM, you’ve got the lead roles in this unpleasant series. But it’s high time to cancel this show, folks.
The weekend brought more than just bad news; there’s a plan in action. Chotenarin, serving both as the voice of reason and the town crier, trumpeted the ministry’s alliance with provincial authorities, ready to rain down a strict enforcement of traffic laws and shower disapproval on risky behavior. Think drunk driving, racing against time, and forgoing the shield of crash helmets and seatbelts. This isn’t just advisable; it’s like the traffic version of a decree from the king.
In fact, Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has mounted his own steed, campaigning valiantly against drunk driving and promoting the chivalry of safe driving. Imagine that, a high-ranking official yearning for the days of horse-drawn carriages but settling for laws that keep drivers in the right lane.
But it’s not just about the adults in the room. It’s also about pre-empting calamity by casting a protective spell over notorious black spots – those wily junctions and deceptive stretches under repair. It’s like Chotenarin and crew are part architects, part wizards, weaving safety into the very fabric of the roads.
Then there’s Deputy National Police chief General Surachate Hakparn, a man with a title so long it causes traffic jams just pronouncing it. He dreams of a land where road accidents are as rare as an honest politician. He’s so into this dream that he’s basically told every police chief with a spike in accidents to put their blues and twos on and school those village road speedsters.
Interestingly enough, General Surachate has noticed a tide changing, with speeding starting to zoom past drunk driving as accident cause celebre – perhaps a nod to those “Don’t Drink and Drive” posters actually sticking in people’s minds. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s the fear of meeting Chotenarin and his statistical reports in person. Either way, it’s a change that could spell a brighter, safer future for the bustling roads of Thailand.
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