Police face biggest challenge on the streets today

It will be a real challenge for police to curb road accidents today, considered the ''most dangerous day'' of the Songkran festival, which statistically sees the highest number of road casualties.

Since April 13 is officially recognised as Songkran Day, water-splashing would be at its peak today as revellers would be out in force on the streets to get wet and drench others. No one should consider himself 100% safe from a drenching whether they are going to market, sitting in buses, or driving vehicles with windows down as that would be seen as inviting an attack.

Thousands of police have been stationed on roads to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers in case the attackers go too far. Wild splashers and drunken drivers are two major causes of road accidents during Songkran.

''The officers will turn their focus from main roads to minor roads,'' Interior permanent secretary Pongpayome Vasaputi said yesterday.

In past years, the majority of accidents, mostly involving motorcycles, occurred on minor roads. Last year, there were 4,274 road accidents countrywide, killing 361 and injuring 4,805 people during the long holiday.

The government has launched many campaigns to urge revellers to ''play water'' more politely and warned drivers not to drive when they are tipsy.

Police have been asked to keep an eye on vehicles serving as buses during the festival.

''We have to prevent these special buses from causing big accidents,'' Mr Pongpayome said.

Yesterday, police stopped 613,621 vehicles for a check. Up to 35,320 were found to be violating traffic laws in one way or another.

The Narenthon Emergency Response Centre said it sent out two teams every minute yesterday to mostly help road accident victims.

In a bid to help reduce the number of road casualties, Deputy Interior Minister Sithichai Kohsurat said the ministry would this year hand out awards to the provinces recording the lowest number of accidents. Last year, Khon Kaen topped the provincial fatalities list while Chiang Rai recorded the most accidents.

In Songkhla, several thousand Malaysians and Singaporeans arrived in buses and private cars to celebrate Songkran in the province yesterday. Tourist numbers are expected to swell to 20,000 for the ''midnight Songkran'' revelry in Hat Yai where people splash water throughout the night, police said