BMA and other related agencies have initiated many campaigns to instill road discipline to youths and the general public to ensure fewer road accidents in Bangkok.
Mr. Sakchai Bunma, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, presided over the meeting of the Road Safety Operation Center, district level, No. 2/2565 to jointly formulate guidelines for preventing and reducing road accidents in the area, and promote people’s participation in preventing and reducing road accidents, with Mr. Chatri Wattanakhajorn, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Bangkok, along with executives from the Office of Traffic and Transport, and representatives of the District Road Safety Operations Center (P.P.A. Rd., Khet.) from 50 districts and network partners.
The meeting reported the number of risk points and the places causing accidents, including unsafe crosswalks. All district offices have conducted additional surveys and collections. According to the order in the meeting no. 1/2565, a total of 620 points were reported that included zebra crossings, traffic lights, traffic signs, traffic signs on the pavement, handicapped ramps, electric lighting. The prioritization of improving those matters had been addressed to the Office of Traffic and Transport to ensure safety for all pedestrians and road users. In addition, on February 25, 2022, the Bangkok Road Safety Administration Center (BKK) organized “Campaign to Reduce Accidents at Crosswalks” at the crossing area in front of the Traffic and Transport Office, Mitmaitri Road, Din Daeng District, to solve problems and prevent accidents at crossings or zebra crossings, and to create social awareness to stop cars at crossings, as well as awareness of potential losses resulting from undisciplined driving and non-compliance with the rules. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has set up continuous campaign activities on the 21st of every month to awaken the power of stopping cars for people to cross the road at the crossings across the city.
For the activity “Knowing, sharing ideas, preventing road accidents, safe people, happy communities”, which provides opportunities for youths and the general public to submit a short clip for a contest on the topic “Reduce road accidents Everyone can help” with the aim to raise awareness among youths and communities to prevent and reduce road accidents, as well as instill traffic discipline, the goal is to reduce the statistics of accidents and deaths in the Bangkok area to a minimum. There are 97 teams who are interested in submitting their work, divided into 68 youth categories, and 29 teams for the general public. You can follow the announcement of the contest results on the Office of Traffic and Transport website on March 12, 2022. The award ceremony is scheduled on March 22, 2022, at 10 AM at the Airawat Pattana Building Hall, 1st Floor, Bangkok City Hall 2 (Din Daeng).
The safety of pedestrians has become a hot topic after a fatal accident in which Pol L/C Norawich Buadok rode his Ducati into a doctor while she was using a zebra crossing earlier this year. Therefore, a draft amendment seeking to increase fines for traffic offenses has been conducted and will come into force in July 2022 according to the House committee on transport. Under the bill, the fine for traffic offenses such as failing to comply with traffic signs will be increased four-fold from 1,000 baht to 4,000 baht. Moreover, motorists who fail to stop at pedestrian crossings will be fined up to 4,000 baht.