IN a move to improve road safety during Thingyan, traffic police in Yangon will for the first time use breath analysers to test the blood alcohol levels of drivers taking part in water festival activities, said Daw Ohn Kyi, a traffic police inspector.

“Drivers who refuse to be tested on the road will be taken to hospital for testing and could be jailed for up to six months,” she said.

The breath testers will be introduced to Yangon on April 1 in time for the water festival, which runs this year from April 13 to 16.

“A police officer who witnesses reckless driving will pull the vehicle over and test the driver,” said Daw Ohn Kyi.

According to a previous announcement issued by the police, first time drunk drivers are assesses a fine of K31,500. If they are caught again within one year, the fine is K51,500.

However, the penalty for a first offence during the water festival is K50,000.

“Almost all of the accidents that occur during the water festival are caused by drunk drivers, so this year we will impose increased penalties to improve road safety,” Daw Ohn Kyi said.

During the 2003 water festival there were eight accidents in which three people died and 18 were injured. In 2004 there were 21 accidents resulting in one death and 12 injuries.

Meanwhile, additional traffic rules will be announced for the water festival in early April, said Daw Ohn Kyi.

The announcements will be repeated daily in state-run media and will include regulations prohibiting driving without a muffler, driving without number plates or with fake plates, driving while the car is unregistered and driving unlicensed.

Also banned will be driving a car without doors or that is decorated with international flags, blowing horns in the Yangon municipal area, and driving cars that are very old or not roadworthy.

The penalty for infringement of any of these rules will be a K50,000 fine.
Daw Ohn Kyi said the new rules will come into force on the day they are first announced.