Vientiane’s traffic police are stepping up road safety measures for the Lao New Year week.
Hundreds of officers will be deployed across the capital as authorities look to bring accident numbers down after deadly past celebrations.
The Traffic Police Department will station 561 officers and 18 vehicles across 145 posts in Vientiane Capital from 12 to 18 April.
Officers will run alcohol breath tests on private drivers and passengers on transport vehicles. They will check vehicle speeds and make sure motorcycle riders and passengers wear helmets. For multi-wheel vehicles, officers will verify that drivers and passengers have their seatbelts on. Anyone found without one will receive a warning on the spot.
The authorities are also tasked with monitoring overcrowding on public transport vehicles and managing traffic flow across city and district roads throughout the holiday.
Smaller But Targeted
This year’s operation is smaller than the nationwide deployment in 2025, when authorities assigned 1,172 officers across 143 stations from 11 to 17 April.
This year, officials will focus specifically on Vientiane Capital, with support from specialized units.
Road safety improved during the 2025 Pi Mai Lao celebrations. Authorities recorded 169 accidents nationwide from 14 to 16 April, nearly half of the 316 cases reported in 2024. The crashes killed 15 people, down from 33 deaths during the same period last year.
While the toll remained significant, it marked a clear decline from 2024.
The deadliest day in 2025 was 14 April, when 62 accidents killed nine people and injured 97. Overspeeding, drunk driving, and improper lane changes remained the main causes in both years.
Vientiane Province, Luang Prabang, and Vientiane Capital recorded the highest number of fatalities.
Authorities now target these areas as key focus points for stricter enforcement this year.


