Deputy Director General Samran, director of the Police Traffic Operation Center, has ordered highway and traffic police nationwide to intensify enforcement of the 10 main traffic violations during the final days of the long New Year holiday to ensure safe travel for the public. He reiterated the message "Don't Drink and Drive" after more than 15,000 drunk driving arrests were made.
Today (3 Jan 2026), Police General Samran Nuamma, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police and director of the Road Accident Prevention and Reduction Center for the 2026 New Year Festival, along with the director of the Traffic Management Center of the Royal Thai Police, revealed that Police General Kittirat Phanphet, Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, has instructed officers nationwide to continuously care for the public throughout the New Year festival. Special attention is given to the return journey to Bangkok, where traffic congestion is expected in several areas during the final days of the holiday. Therefore, highway and traffic police nationwide have been urged to strictly manage traffic flow and crack down on violations of the 10 main traffic laws to reduce accidents and ensure safety on all routes.
According to statistics from the four-day New Year festival from 30 Dec 2025 to 2 Jan 2026, nationwide there were 171 deaths and 956 injuries, marking a decrease compared to the same period last year. Regarding law enforcement to prevent and reduce road accidents, a total of 313,622 arrests were made for the 10 main traffic violations causing accidents, including 15,404 drunk driving cases. Among these, 100 repeat drunk driving offenders within two years were prosecuted. Repeat offenders under the Land Traffic Act B.E. 2522 (1979) face harsher penalties: imprisonment up to 2 years, fines ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 baht, and suspension or revocation of their driver's licenses by court order.
Traffic police have emphasized setting up checkpoints, inspection points, roadblocks, and service stations to manage traffic and provide convenience alongside strict law enforcement and campaigns to promote safe driving awareness. This approach not only ensures the public travels happily and safely throughout the festival but also enables the arrest of many other offenders, effectively preventing and suppressing crime in a tangible way. From 30 Dec 2025 to 1 Jan 2026, across the Metropolitan Police Bureau and Provincial Police Regions 1-9, arrests included 213 drug cases, 25 illegal immigrant cases, 20 cases involving possession of firearms or explosives, and 15 arrests on outstanding warrants.
Police General Samran has instructed officers to continuously monitor road accident situations, especially during the critical final 7-day period of intensified control until 5 Jan 2026. Additional preventive measures are being implemented at high-risk spots, intersections, frequent accident locations, and main routes with heavy traffic. Strict checks are conducted on drivers of private and public vehicles using targeted, integrated operations in close coordination with local agencies to minimize road accident fatalities and injuries during the end of the long holiday.
Police Lieutenant General Nithithorn Jintakanon, Commander of Education and head of the Traffic Police Image Enhancement Task Force at the Traffic Management Center, stressed that strict law enforcement aims to protect all citizens' lives. He urged all road users to comply strictly with traffic laws, drive safely and courteously, check vehicle readiness, get enough rest before traveling, wear helmets when riding motorcycles, always fasten seat belts, and refrain from consuming alcohol before or while driving to collectively reduce road fatalities.
If the public needs to inquire about routes, report incidents, or request assistance, they can contact the Traffic Police hotline at 1197, the Highway Police hotline at 1193, or the Royal Thai Police hotlines at 191 and 1599, all available 24 hours a day.