Thailand: Drunk drivers forced to do community service at morgues

(Baonghean.vn) - Traffic participants in Thailand who are drunk will be punished with labor at hospital morgues. This is one of the latest moves by the government to limit accidents caused by drivers drinking and driving during the upcoming traditional holiday.

During Songkran, an average of 2.3 people die and 160 are injured in traffic accidents every hour in Thailand. Photo: Guardian.

During the annual Songkran holiday, thousands of Thais ride motorbikes without helmets on their way home for the New Year. In addition, alcohol consumption during these days is unavoidable.

According to Thai government statistics, on average, more than 2 people die and 160 are injured every hour in traffic accidents during the traditional New Year holiday. That is why people call this holiday “7 dangerous days”.

With the situation likely to worsen, especially after Thailand became the second country in the world in terms of traffic accident deaths, the Thai government proposed banning drunk drivers from participating in traffic during the holiday period in early 2016. However, last weekend, the solution of forcing violators to do community service at the morgue was approved, as a more deterrent measure.

Colonel Kriangdej Jantarawong, Deputy Director of the Special Mission Planning Division, said the measure is a strategy to deter road users who are not careful and drive while drunk from ending up like traffic accident victims in the morgue.

Anurak Amornpetchsathaporn, director of the Public Health Department’s emergency response division, said on April 11 that violators will be tasked with transporting and cleaning the bodies of traffic accident victims. He hopes that they will understand the pain and severity of traffic violations, so that they will have better attitudes and behaviors when participating in traffic.

Thanh Hien

(According to the Guardian)