The world was laughing at #Thailand after the Asian News Network broadcast a report revealing a traffic sign reading ‘If You Are DRUNK – Drive SLOWLY’

Whilst the rest of the civilised world applies strict drink driving laws it appears that in Thailand the subject is still something of a joke.

ANN claims to have contacted officials in Nakorn Ratchasima to be told that drink driving is IMPOSSIBLE to stop in Thailand and that the best they can do is appeal for drunk drivers to try and drive responsibly.

Japanese news reported the story using the headline ‘Media From the Land of Confused.’

In the four days between Dec 27 – 31 over 18,000 drunk drivers were arrested throughout the Kingdom.

Suriyan Hongvilai, spokesman of the Office, said courts had been flooded by drunk driving cases during the ‘Seven Dangerous Days’ of the New Year period.

On New Year’s Eve alone, 8,744 drunk drivers were arrested and sent to court. The two other charges keeping courts busy over the holiday period were driving without a licence (2,947 cases) and driving under the influence of drugs (259), he said.

Despite a campaign to deter drivers, drunk driving was once again a prime culprit in the holiday road carnage, accounting for 32.29% of all accidents.

This was followed by speeding (29.5%), and cutting off other motorists (15.6%), according to the Road Safety Directing Centre (RSDC), a task force created by the government.

Veera Khengkasikarn, a Ministry of Education inspector and RSDC president, said motorcycle riders and elderly drivers were the most common victims.

Motorcycles were involved in 80.9% of crashes, while road users aged over 50 accounted for 25% of victims.

A total of 256 have been killed and 2,588 injured in 2,529 road accidents nationwide from Dec 27 to 31, Mr Veera said yesterday.

But the Drive Slowly Whilst DRUNK message appears to be working as the New Year death toll fell slightly from last year and injuries are significantly lower than on an average day, according to Mr Veera. – Sanook