"We require them to take care of the victims so they can realise the tremendous suffering and difficulties they could cause," the Probation Department's director-general, Wanchai Rujanawong, said yesterday.

The punishment has apparently proved effective in reforming the motorists.

Between January and April, 17,964 drunk drivers were ordered to do community service, part of which included spending time with people who have been disabled after a road accident.

"Of these convicted drivers, fewer than 3 per cent have been caught repeating the offence," Wanchai said.

Social worker Supreeda Adulyanont said community service was a more appropriate punishment than fines for drunk drivers.

"In the past, drunk drivers faced a fine only and they tended not to care," Supreeda said.

Wanchai and Supreeda were speaking as a number of convicted drunk drivers donated blood and cared for accident victims as part of their community service at the Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital in Bangkok.

The Probation Department is working on the project in conjunction with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

One convicted drunk driver said he took his sentence seriously.

"I now consider myself lucky to be arrested before I caused an accident, which would have left my family, the victims and myself in great suffering," he said.