CityNews – 150 police officers met at Tha Pae Gate to prepare action plans to correctly and safely protect the public and enforce the rules over Songkran.
Traffic Police will set up checkpoints around the city, making an effort to close escape routes and bypass sois in a bid to protect other drivers on the road. They will be focusing on traffic violations such as not wearing seat belts, having no drivers licence, not wearing a helmet on a bike, using mobile phones while driving and drink driving.
Doi Suthep will also be managed by police over the Songkran period. Public transport up and down the mountain will be available for all who want to visit, and police are planning on preventing private cars from using the road at that time.
6am – 9am public transport will go up the mountain and down again from 9am – 12 midday. From 12 – 3pm transport will go up the mountain again and down after 3pm.
Police acknowledge that they will not be enforcing the new rules on sitting in the back of pickup trucks, but encourage passengers to not sit on the side or back edges to ensure their safety.