PHUKET – A British tourist drove onto sidewalk near Kamala Beach. His car became trapped in the sand before police officers arrived to assist and later fined him for driving on the sidewalk without a valid reason.
On April 22, investigators from the Kamala Police Station in Phuket Province examined why tourists were driving on the sidewalk and getting stuck in the sand near Kamala Beach. The driver was identified as a 26-year-old British tourist, so police helped get the car out.
This tourist stated that he came from Krabi Province and stayed in Kamala Subdistrict, Kathu District. In the evening, he and his girlfriend came to drive along the beach. It seems that there was considerable rain at the time, making the road slippery; the car lost control, crashed on the side of the dunes, and was unable to drive any further.
Police officials punished him for driving on sidewalks without a valid justification. According to the criminal code, irresponsible or terrifying driving that endangers people or property is punishable by a 4,000-baht fine. He also has to pay 20,000 baht in compensation to the rental car owner.
Earlier, Kamala police officers encountered a case of a person driving a vehicle onto a sandy beach, both Thais and foreigners. They installed warning signs prohibiting motorcycles and cars from driving down and put steel barriers at the entrance to Kamala Beach.
Public relations efforts are also underway with local boat and jet ski operators to assist in monitoring the boats and jet skis that travel down and up Kamala Beach, requiring the complete closure of the barrier. The media also promotes the barrier’s closure to keep tourists and residents informed.
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