Department of Rural Roads Orders Road Clearance and Surface Restoration to Prepare for Songkran 2026 Travel Rush

The Department of Rural Roads (DRR) has ordered a halt to construction work and restoration of road surfaces nationwide to prepare for the surge of travelers during the Songkran Festival 2026. It has launched a strict three-phase operation plan aiming to reduce accidents and fatalities by no less than 5%, while advising the public to plan their trips ahead.

Mr. Phichit Hunsiri, Director-General of the Department of Rural Roads (DRR) revealed preparations to accommodate public travel during the Songkran Festival 2026. The DRR has instructed all rural road offices nationwide to stop construction projects and restore road surfaces to ensure smooth and safe travel for the public.

Additionally, orders were given to increase lighting adequately and strictly monitor high-risk points, including construction zones, intersections, pedestrian crossings, and railway crossings on rural highways. The primary goal is to reduce the number of accidents, injuries, and fatalities on rural roads by at least 5% compared to previous data.

DRR's plan for handling Songkran 2026 is divided into three phases.

To efficiently facilitate travel and ensure safety, the DRR has divided its operational timeline into three phases as follows:

1. Preparation and Campaign Phase (3 - 9 April 2026)

• Inspect and improve traffic signs, road markings, lighting, and traffic signals to ensure they are fully functional.
• Prepare construction and road or bridge rehabilitation projects to restore road surfaces.
• Check and prepare the hotline system 1146, CCTV cameras, and radio communication systems.
• Conduct public awareness campaigns promoting safe travel on rural roads.

2. Strict Control Phase (10 - 19 April 2026)

• Restore road surfaces, stop construction work, and deploy staff to facilitate travel along all routes.
• Establish safety centers at both central and regional levels, cooperating with provincial agencies.
• Set up public service units appropriate to each area.
• Assign staff to operate the 1146 hotline, CCTV, and radio communication 24 hours a day.
• Deploy patrol teams to monitor accidents, assist broken-down vehicles, and coordinate rescue operations.
• In case of a major accident, officials will be dispatched within 24 hours to analyze causes and find immediate solutions.

3. Post-Festival Phase (20 - 26 April 2026)

• Collect and summarize accident statistics to analyze and develop future prevention strategies.
• Allocate budget to improve or fix hazardous locations where accidents occurred during the strict control phase.
• Accelerate short-term repairs at accident sites to complete them as soon as possible.

Advising the public to plan travel and conserve energy.

The Director-General of the Department of Rural Roads concluded by requesting the public to study routes and plan trips in advance for convenience and speed. He also urged consideration of fuel and energy use to cope with geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that might affect energy prices.

The public can inquire about routes, report emergencies, or request assistance at rural road offices nationwide or contact the Department of Rural Roads hotline at 1146.

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