8,575 drunk driving cases represented 96.69 percent of all motoring-related cases taken to court by the police during the seven days of Songkran celebrations, seeking to have the drivers be placed on probation, according to the Department of Probation.
The courts, however, only ordered drivers in 1,910 of the cases to be placed on probation. These include 1,870 cases of drunk driving and 40 of the 270 cases of drinking while driving.
The three provinces recording the most cases of drunk driving between April 11th and April 17th were Bangkok (530), Roi-Et (473) and Chiang Mai (458).
During Songkran last year, there were 7,141 cases of drunk driving during the seven-day period, compared to this year’s 8,575, representing a 20.08% increase.
Department of Probation Director-General Weerakit Hanpariphan said that all the drivers who were placed on probation will have to go through screening to assess their drinking behaviour and, if it is discovered that any of them are or are at risk of becoming addicted, they will be sent for rehabilitation.
As for drivers who are at risk of recidivism, he said that they will be sent for boot-camp-style behavioural reform for three consecutive days and will be required to report to probation officials periodically and undertake social services.
