FORECASTERS predict a 30-40 percent chance of rain across Phuket for tonight and tomorrow. People on small boats are advised to check for weather updates.


PHUKET: Tour buses will be checked at Phuket's Patong Hill this afternoon as Transport officials make tourism safety a key part of the Seven Days of Danger road safety campaign.

Bus drivers were given brochures and reminded of the need for care at all times as they drove onto Phuket via the Tachatchai checkpoint this morning.

The added activities came as Phuket prepared to celebrate the Songkran water festival - and the Pegas Touristik bus management responded positively to questions from Phuketwan about safety.

Phuket Land Transport Office specialist Jaturong Keawkasi said buses travelling both ways across Patong Hull will be checked for mechanical safety at Tungthong Checkpoint, on the Phuket City side, this afternoon.

''It's a first for Phuket and we hope it helps with safety for the rest of the year,'' he said. ''Drink-drive tests are very important.''

So far just four injuries on Phuket's have been reported with day two of the Seven Days of Danger halfway over.

In a timely response to Phuketwan, Suparerk Soorangura, Managing-Director of Trans Asia Express Ltd, has answered questions about Pegas T buses following a crash on Patong Hill on April 3.

Phuketwan asked: ''Can you tell me please what mechanical and driving standards you require when buses are contracted to work under the Pegas brand? Are you satisfied with the safety record of your branded vehicles? What are you prepared to say to encourage passengers to continue to trust the Pegas brand?''

Khun Suparerk replied: ''Pegas Touristik has passed on your e-mail to us as being a supplier of coaches to Pegas.' We are pleased to answer your questions as follows:

'' Trans Asia Express is a Professional Coach Operator since 1994. Altogether we owned over 100 coaches and vans. Our main business is chartering our coaches to government bodies, corporates, international and Domestic tour operators. (Major Inbound Tour Operators beside Pegas that used our services are such as Asian Trails, Go Vacation, Hotel Beds, Exotissimo and Asian Spirit.)

''We signed the contract to provide a year round service to Pegas in Phuket and Pattaya since 2010. Since then, we never engaged in any accidents.

''To ensure the safety of our vehicles, we have our Mechanic Team to constantly checked the quality of all our coaches. Once we detected any irregularity, it will be fixed immediately to guarantee the safety of our passengers.

''All our drivers have at least 10 years experiences and they are well-trained to serve international tourists.

''The incident which happened on the evening of April 3 was caused by a sudden stop of the vehicles in front of the coach during downhill to Patong. Our driver has to immediately push the brake and he suspected that the braking system was not working properly.

''For fear of hitting the vehicles in front, he decided to slow down and stop the bus by slowly bumping on the footpath. The passengers were not panic and the bus no damage. Our mechanic team was immediately sent to rescue the bus and drove the bus back to the garage.

''Upon checking the braking system by our mechanic team, there is a small problem with the valve in the air suspension system which caused the air brake not working perfectly. All has been fixed and the bus is running as normal the following day.''

Phuketwan hopes the attention to safety prevails all year long.

The Songkran celebrations - world's biggest water fight - are being moderated this year on Phuket to try to contain the waterplay and reduce needless crashes.

Bans on alcohol in Phuket's Soi Bangla today and tomorrow will probably be as successful as they always are: in other words, nothing is likely to change.

The usual restrictions on sexual harassment, dye in powder and ice being used will be obeyed by some, and ignored by many.

Waterplay zones for Phuket have been declared as follows: Saphan Hin Park; Kata-Karon beachfront; Soi Bangla and Patong beach road; Kamala Park; Surin Beach and Sirinath National Park.

Police road safety checkpoints will be operating in these spots in the Seven Days of Danger until April 17:


Isuzu dealership on Thepkasattri Road northbound, near Khor Kaew Soi 33
Vichit Council offices on Chao Fa West Road
Ake Anda village on Chao Fa West Road
Ramada Hotel on Patak Road, Karon
Bangchak gas station, Viset Road
Big C on the bypass road


Patong Hill Hotel intersection on Sirirat Road
Prabaramee Road, near Tungthong Police Station
Kalim intersection on Prabaramee Road
Near Ket Ho intersection on Wichit Songkram Road


Tachatchai checkpoint
Cherng Talay Council Offices on Srisoonthorn Road
Tah Reua Police Box on Tepkrasattri Road southbound, near Heroines' Monument
Tesco Lotus, Cherng Talay
Paklok Council offices