The five urgent issues involve drug trafficking and abuse (28.6 percent),
flooding (20.9 percent), debt burden (18.5 percent), safety of life and
property (16.8 percent), and traffic congestion (15.4 percent).
The survey was conducted by the National Statistical Office between 1 and
12 October 2012 among 23,120 people aged 18 and over in all provinces
nationwide. Of this number 47.5 percent are male and 52.5 percent are female.
The Cabinet, during its meeting on 18 December 2012 acknowledged the
results of the survey on the people’s demand for 2013, submitted by the
Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, which supervises the
National Statistical Office.
Divided by region, residents in the central region and Bangkok want the
Government to urgently help them ease the drug problem most, at 34 percent and
28.2 percent respectively. What the people in the Northeast and the North want
most from the Government is debt reduction, at 32.9 percent and 32.1 percent
respectively. As for those in the South, they want the Government to urgently
help them tackle the falling prices of agricultural products most, at 39.2
percent.
Most respondents to the survey also indicated that they want the Government
to cope with higher costs of consumer goods and to eradicate poverty.
Around 70 percent of surveyed northeastern residents stated that they were
confident in the Government’s efforts to ease their difficulties and develop
the country, followed by those in the North, at 62.5 percent, in the central
region, at 58.6 percent, Bangkok, at 49.1 percent, and the South, at 40.5
percent.
At the same meeting, the Cabinet also acknowledged a road accident
reduction and prevention plan during the 2013 New Year festive season. The plan
calls for a campaign for road safety from 27 December 2012 to 2 January 2013 in
order to reduce road accidents, which have become one of the biggest killers in
Thailand. The preparatory period has been set from 1 to 26 December for all
responsible agencies to delegate work.
The objective of the campaign is to bring down the number of road accidents
and the death toll by 5 percent against the figures during the 2012 New Year celebration.
The campaign for road safety focuses on six measures, comprising
management, law enforcement, social affairs, traffic engineering, public
relations, and emergency medical and rescue services.
The campaign for road safety also seeks to control speed limits and alcohol
consumption while driving, promote the use of safety helmets among
motorcyclists, and upgrade the safety standards for vehicles, especially
motorcycles, trucks, and public transport.
(thailand.prd.go.th)