The Police Chief opened the 2026 Songkran Accident Prevention Center, ordering strict law enforcement and crime surveillance. He urged the public to check their vehicles before traveling and offered encouragement to all police officers who must work intensively during the long holiday period, despite not having a break.
Today (11 April 2026), Police General Kittirat Phanphet, Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, chaired the opening of the Road Accident Prevention and Reduction Center for the 2026 Songkran Festival and convened a meeting to receive situation reports from related agencies nationwide.
Police General Kittirat shared an overview of traffic conditions based on aerial surveys of main routes, stating that traffic on Motorways 9 and 7 heading east remains light and moves smoothly. Meanwhile, Motorway M6 is operating normally. However, vehicle volume leaving Bangkok onto Motorways 7 (continuing through Thap Chang–Ram Inthra) and 9 has started to build up compared to last night, but remains lower than the same period last year. Police officers continue to manage traffic efficiently.
The Police Chief emphasized strict law enforcement, especially on major causes of severe accidents: not wearing helmets, drunk driving, and drug use while driving. The Royal Thai Police will carry out arrests and impose penalties decisively. Additionally, coordination with the Department of Land Transport will be intensified to rigorously inspect the condition of public transport vehicles and their drivers, including drug testing and fitness, since these drivers are responsible for many passengers' lives.
"Most accidents result from factors related to people, vehicles, roads, and the environment—particularly near destinations when drivers often feel fatigued and may fall asleep. Therefore, I urge the public to check their vehicles before traveling. If feeling tired, they should rest at service points provided by various agencies along the route," the Police Chief warned.
On crime prevention, Police General Kittirat ordered the Metropolitan Police Bureau to intensify security at major Songkran event areas in Bangkok, such as Khao San Road. The focus is on ensuring safety, preventing harassment, and stopping pickpocketing by criminals. He also instructed tourist police to closely assist foreign tourists using applications and operation centers equipped with language translation capabilities.
Furthermore, given the current economic situation, the Police Chief expressed concern over property crimes targeting gold shops and convenience stores. He instructed prevention units to increase patrols and requested business operators to prioritize security and surveillance systems to minimize potential losses.
In closing, the Police Chief encouraged all police officers working hard during the long holiday period. He acknowledged that although officers do not get a break, everyone is dedicated to ensuring public safety and bringing happiness to citizens throughout the Songkran festival.