Deputy National Police Chief visited and encouraged traffic police and highway police overseeing traffic control and management during the period when people return home. He stressed that "the last day is expected to have the heaviest traffic" and ordered the rapid opening of special lanes to ease congestion. He revealed that on 3 Jan 2026, over 630,000 vehicles entered Bangkok, with today's number expected to exceed 640,000 vehicles.
Today (4 Jan 2026) at 13:30, Police General Samran Nualma, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police and Director of the Center for Prevention and Reduction of Road Accidents during the 2026 New Year Festival, along with the Director of the Traffic Management Center, visited to inspect traffic conditions and encourage police officers at the Traffic Control and Command Center (Unit 02), Traffic Police Division 4, Traffic Police Bureau. They were welcomed by Police Colonel Natthapong Chuedech, Deputy Commander of the Traffic Police Division, Police Colonel Jamorn Thongphan, Deputy Commander of the Traffic Police Division, and other relevant officers.
Police General Samran said the Traffic Police Division reported that this afternoon, traffic heading into Bangkok is still smooth with no queue buildup. The volume of vehicles is expected to increase during the evening and night. He instructed police officers to strictly follow the National Police Office's New Year 2026 Road Accident Prevention and Reduction operational plan, and to carry out traffic discipline inspections with honesty and transparency.
At approximately 14:30, Police General Samran visited, received a briefing, and presented gifts to encourage highway police at the Traffic Management Control Center CCTV, 4th floor, Highway Police Division. He was welcomed by Police Major General Saruti Khaosopa, Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, Police Major General Pornsak Laorujiralai, Commander of the Highway Police, along with Deputy Commanders Police Colonels Meechai Kamnoedprom, Chakrit Mongkolsri, Surasak Sitthiyai, Suksawat Kusitipon, and other staff at the center.
The Highway Police Division, assigned by the National Police Office as the main unit for traffic management, coordinates with local police and neighboring agencies. The highway police use a traffic management control center equipped with CCTV cameras, functioning like AI, installed on key congested routes to monitor traffic conditions, analyze, assess situations, and plan traffic management, especially opening special lanes on major routes. There is also a 24-hour hotline at 1193 for calls, advice, and coordination with local highway police to assist the public.
Regarding traffic conditions, the highway police reported that yesterday (3 Jan 2026), over 636,453 vehicles entered Bangkok, which is 17% more than the previous New Year in 2025. It is expected that today, being the last day of the returning travel period, traffic volume will be similarly heavy or greater.
This afternoon, people began returning to Bangkok, with an estimated vehicle volume of 644,572. On 5 Jan 2026, the estimate is 569,154 vehicles. The most congested routes include the Northeastern region's Highway 2, Mittraphap Road, with traffic backups at traffic lights from Mueang Phon intersection in Khon Kaen province, Sida intersection, Ban Wat intersection, and Talat Khae intersection in Nakhon Ratchasima province before entering the Nakhon Ratchasima bypass road connecting to Motorway M6, where highway police have already opened special lanes as planned.
Meanwhile, Highway 24, Chok Chai–Det Udom, experiences congestion at traffic light intersections from Prasat intersection in Surin province, Prakhon Chai intersection, Nang Rong intersection in Buriram province, and Chok Chai intersection in Nakhon Ratchasima province. Some travelers use the Tako route on Highway 348. The highway police will open and close special lanes for uphill vehicle movement, which has been done five times today already. Congestion is also expected on Highway 304 between Wang Nam Khiao and Kabin Buri, where special lanes will be opened to expedite traffic flow.
Motorway M6 is congested at bottleneck points at Sikhiu and Pak Chong toll booths. After these points, traffic flows smoothly up to the Eastern and Western Ring Roads.
In the Northern region, traffic is heavy near repair zones on Highway 117 bypassing Nakhon Sawan city, continuing to the Asian Highway (Highway 32) at traffic light intersections and fuel stations. The worst congestion is at Bang Pa-in interchange, which connects to Bangkok. Highway police are on site to manage traffic.
In the Southern region, traffic is heavy at Wang Manao intersection and on Rama 2 Road at Bang Thorat during high tide. Highway police have opened special lanes at both locations to facilitate traffic.
The Deputy National Police Chief instructed highway police to manage the returning traffic to Bangkok smoothly, conveniently, and safely, assisting the public comprehensively. He emphasized resolving traffic light intersection congestion and the prompt opening of special lanes. Information should be shared with local police and related agencies for integrated operations. He also praised the good performance during this period and called for post-New Year meetings to review lessons learned for application in upcoming long holiday festivals.
Police General Samran presented morale-boosting gifts to police officers from both the Highway Police and Traffic Police Bureau who are on duty caring for the public during the 2026 New Year festival, to encourage their work.
If the public needs route information, incident reports, or assistance, they can contact the Traffic Police Hotline at 1197, the Highway Police Hotline at 1193, or watch real-time traffic updates on the “Highway Police” Facebook page, which streams live traffic from key travel points.