Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Pol Col Phatsakorn Sonthikun, who oversees traffic management and safety operations island-wide, confirmed that officers will “ramp up” enforcement efforts in the lead-up to and throughout the festival period, targeting the behaviours most closely linked to fatal accidents.
The move comes as Thailand enters full enforcement of stricter national road safety measures from Apr 1, marking the end of a three-month warning phase and the start of what officials have described as “real arrests and real fines” for serious traffic offences.
Pol Col Phatsakorn said officers will prioritise enforcement of the so-called “10 main offences”, with particular focus on three key violations: failing to wear helmets, speeding, and drink driving.
The full list of offences under intensified enforcement includes speeding, driving against traffic, running red lights, not wearing a helmet, not wearing a seatbelt, driving without a licence, dangerous overtaking, drink driving, using a mobile phone while driving, and unsafe motorcycle use.
Penalties under the nationwide crackdown have increased significantly. Fines of up to B4,000 apply for speeding and running red lights, while not wearing helmets or driving against traffic can result in fines of up to B2,000. More serious offences such as drink driving carry fines of B5,000 to B20,000 and potential jail terms of up to one year.
Pol Col Phatsakorn warned that there will be no leniency.
In addition to general enforcement, police will specifically target rental vehicles operated by unlicensed drivers, with maximum penalties to be imposed on both drivers and vehicle owners.
Officers will also crack down on undocumented foreign workers found driving illegally, he said.
The measures come amid ongoing concerns over accidents involving tourists unfamiliar with local roads and riding high-powered rental motorcycles, particularly at night.
CHECKPOINTS
As in previous years, checkpoints will be established across Phuket, with every police station ordered to operate at least two checkpoints within their jurisdiction.
Each station will oversee enforcement in its designated area, while also coordinating with partner agencies to address high-risk locations.
Analysis of five years of accident data has identified 30 “blackspot” locations linked to fatal crashes. While police declined to disclose the specific sites, all stations have been instructed to urgently implement risk-reduction measures at each location.
Pol Col Phatsakorn acknowledged that this year’s Songkran campaign faces a significant challenge: maintaining Phuket’s “zero fatalities” record achieved during the 2025 festival period.
“All units must focus on preventing serious accidents resulting in fatalities,” he said.
Measures will include mandatory alcohol testing of all injured persons involved in road accidents, increased monitoring of high-risk behaviours, and close review of enforcement data and accident statistics.
Officers will also conduct field inspections of checkpoints and intensify oversight of public transport vehicles.
‘PHUKET EYE’
A key component of this year’s campaign will be the rollout of the ‘Phuket Eye’ smart surveillance system, which is set to go live this month.
More than 500 CCTV cameras have already been installed across the island, with the system capable of behaviour detection, facial analysis, licence plate recognition and vehicle inspection.
Officials say the platform will allow for more targeted, data-driven enforcement, including tracking of rental vehicles and repeat offenders.
The system will be integrated with a provincial safety database compiling accident records, vehicle data and traffic offence histories, enabling authorities to better identify risk patterns and deploy resources accordingly.
The crackdown comes amid growing concern over rising road deaths in Phuket.
According to officials, 54 people were killed in road accidents between January and March this year, with those aged 15–34 identified as the most at risk.
High-risk areas include Srisoonthorn, Chalong and Wichit, while behaviour-related factors ‒ particularly speeding, drink driving and helmet non-use ‒ remain the leading causes of fatalities.
Public health officials have also warned that more than half of emergency room cases at Vachira Phuket Hospital are linked to road accidents, highlighting the scale of the problem.
UNLICENCED
Despite the focus on enforcement, police statistics from last year’s Songkran period reveal persistent gaps in compliance ‒ particularly among unlicensed drivers.
Of more than 5,000 cases prosecuted during the 2025 “Seven Days of Danger”, nearly 3,000 involved individuals operating vehicles without a valid licence, making it by far the most common offence.
Helmet violations ranked second, with 1,487 cases, followed by seatbelt offences and drink driving.
The figures have raised questions over the effectiveness of existing penalties, which remain relatively low.
Pol Col Phatsakorn himself acknowledged the issue, noting that fines for driving without a licence typically range from B500 to B1,000, with a legal maximum of B2,000.
“The penalties are quite light, so people aren’t afraid of it,” he said.
NO POINT
Further complicating enforcement is the continued delay in implementing Thailand’s driver licence points system, which was intended to penalise repeat offenders.
Dr Wiwat Seetamanotch, manager of the World Health Organisation–Royal Thai Government Country Cooperation Strategy for Road Safety Programme and Vice President of Phuket’s Provincial Traffic Accident Prevention Support Plan, confirmed that the system has effectively been inactive since shortly after its launch in 2023.
“Actually, this system has been delayed for about one to two years,” he said, citing procedural issues in data transfer between police and the Department of Land Transport.
Although improvements have been made, full implementation has yet to be finalised.
Dr Wiwat warned that public awareness of the system’s inactivity could undermine respect for traffic laws, but stressed that enforcement alone will not be enough to reduce fatalities.
KIDS ON BIKES
Authorities are also continuing efforts to address the long-standing issue of underage motorbike use.
Police have launched awareness campaigns in schools and signed agreements with partner agencies to promote universal helmet use, but the problem persists.
Under Thai law, individuals must be at least 15 years old to obtain a driver’s licence, yet minors continue to ride motorcycles across the island.
Dr Wiwat warned that young riders face significantly higher risks due to limited driving skills and poor decision-making.
“Eighty to ninety percent of accidents involve head impacts,” he said, noting that helmets can reduce the risk of death by around 40%.
He added that the risk of fatality increases sharply at speeds above 30km/h, and becomes “almost 100%” at high speeds without a helmet.
MORE ON MOTORBIKES
With fuel prices rising, more people are turning to motorcycles as a cheaper mode of transport — a shift that may further increase accident risk.
Dr Wiwat noted that the likelihood of death in a motorcycle accident is approximately 80 times higher than in a car crash.
“Motorcycles are the highest-risk mode of transportation, especially during the upcoming Songkran festival,” he said.
“It is crucial that drivers exercise extreme caution.”
Police have urged all road users ‒ residents and tourists alike ‒ to strictly comply with traffic laws, warning that enforcement during Songkran will be consistent and uncompromising.
With checkpoints in place, CCTV monitoring expanding and penalties increasing, authorities say the message is clear: risky behaviour on Phuket’s roads will not be tolerated.
The ultimate goal, officials stressed, is simple ‒ to save lives.