Motorists face hefty fines for unlawful lane changing at 15 Bangkok sites

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Motorists face hefty fines for unlawful lane changing at 15 Bangkok sites

By The Nation

 

FILE photo

 

Bangkok traffic police will on Wednesday start issuing tickets against motorists who illegally change lanes to overtake other vehicles at 15 flyovers and underpasses in the capital.

 

Pol Col Kitti Ariyanon, deputy commander of the Bangkok traffic police, revealed on Monday that the cameras for recording illegal lane changing at the 15 locations had been installed last June and had been undergoing tests ever since.

 

During the test run, some 200,000 motorists had illegally changed lane to cut in front of other vehicles at those sites, said the officer.

Those committing offences during the test run would not face any punishment but those offending at the 15 locations from Wednesday would be issued tickets and could be fined up to Bt1,000, Kitti added.

 

The cameras have been in operation at:

 

1. Bang Khen Bridge, on the side of the outbound Ngam Wong Wan road;

 

2. Flyover at the Government Complex, on the side of the outbound Chaeng Wattana road;

 

3. Huay Kwang tunnel, on the side of the inbound Ratchadapisek road;

 

4. Flyover at the Borom Ratchonnee Intersection, on the outbound Borom Ratchonnee road;

 

5. Bridge over the Bang Khen roundabout, on the inbound Chaeng Wattana road;

 

6. Bridge over the Ratchathewee intersection, on the outbound Phetchaburi road;

 

7. Bridge at the Din Daeng intersection, on the inbound Din Daeng road;

 

8. Bridge at the Prachanukul intersection, on the outbound Ratchadapisek road;

 

9. Siriraj Bridge, on the outbound Aroon Amarin road;

 

10. Bridge at the Ratchda-Lat Phrao intersection, on the outbound Lat Phrao road;

 

11. Bridge at the Ratchada-Lat Phrao Intersection, on the inbound Lat Phrao road;

 

12. Bridge at the Wongsawang intersection, on the outbound Ratchadapisek road;

 

13. Bridge at the Rama IV intersection, on the outbound Ratchadapisek road;

 

14. Memorial Bridge, on the inbound Prajadhipok road;

 

15. Bridge at the Kamnan Maen Intersection, on the Kalapapruek road.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30344764

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-07

[RotMahKid]

How to see when overtaking is forbidden there. Did they put the proper signs or lines on the roads or is it just guessing. Please don't expect me to know every name of the bridges/fly overs or underpasses in Bangkok.

[mercman24]

can someone tell me why this move is illegal, for what reason ?, just asking, is it some bizarre thing they have thought up, ??

[George Bowman]

Well, it is another step forward. However, the traffic fines need to be increased. A member of our extended Thai family just laughs at the B500 fine for speeding.  People's driving habits can be changed if the 'hefty fine' is not laughable.

Edited May 7, 2018 by missoura

[overherebc]

1 minute ago, RotMahKid said:

How to see when overtaking is forbidden there. Did they put the proper signs or lines on the roads or is it just guessing. Please don't expect me to know every name of the bridges/fly overs or underpasses in Bangkok.

I suppose if everyone stayed in lane and stopped zig-zaging then the junction names wouldn't come into it. ?

[jackdd]

If the cameras look like the camera on the picture it means a cop has to stand next to them all the time. So they will only be used between about 8am and 4pm.

[ezzra]

I guess that these cameras are going to rake in millions of fines a day

as the local drivers just love to change lane even if it's only put their car

forward a measly a meter or two...

[jackdd]

1 minute ago, ezzra said:

I guess that these cameras are going to rake in millions of fines a day

as the local drivers just love to change lane even if it's only put their car

forward a measly a meter or two...

I assume only a low percentage of fines are actually paid, so the "millions" are probably a theoretical figure

[overherebc]

5 minutes ago, jackdd said:

I assume only a low percentage of fines are actually paid, so the "millions" are probably a theoretical figure

Don't they have a system in place where you have to pay outstanding fines before you can re-new yearly road tax, or, was that just a suggestion?

[worgeordie]

Hefty fines !!, of up to 1000 Thb,more important than catching

line changers, would be catching red light runners.

regards worgeordie

[lapamita]

3 day before had an accident

lady  drive o the right lane

can happen,when i called insurance and police, she turned up the car and flee the scene.

following here , was a race over 4 km on sukumvit.

catched here, even not stop, so i bumped her car of the street

after trying to flee again catch her keys

 

on the policetsation she gets only a fine of 1000 THB!!!!!!!!!! for recless driving !!!! all my talk over leaving the accident scene was not heard or ignorred

 

ja she was a very beautiful lady from bella russia, maybe thats why only 1000???

 

she nuts , bcs she had driving licence full insurance, and all documents ok, whatever was in her head to flee the scene.........

 

i think for only 1000, if i had some wrong (drunk,or...) in the future would drive away same......... and make an excuse later too...

 

only 1000 THb, my cigarette 1 yr ago in sukumvit was 2000 !!! and on the beach noe, right ???? up to 100.000k ??

 

[lapamita]

4 minutes ago, overherebc said:

Don't they have a system in place where you have to pay outstanding fines before you can re-new yearly road tax, or, was that just a suggestion?

yes must have.. bcs 5 years ago want topay tax..and cannot bcs open   fine in trat..had to pay first

[jackdd]

12 minutes ago, overherebc said:

Don't they have a system in place where you have to pay outstanding fines before you can re-new yearly road tax, or, was that just a suggestion?

That's what some people say. But other people also say they got tickets, never paid, and can still renew their road tax. I never got a ticket like this, so i can't speak from personal experience.

Here a news which said 11 percent of fines were being paid: https://news.lovepattayathailand.com/national/new-traffic-tickets-force-dont-ignore-issued1/ Maybe the law changes mentioned in this article increased it?

There are so many vehicles who don't pay road tax already (or drive without license plates, so not possible to issue a ticket), that i assume many people who get a 1000THB ticket just don't pay it and if they paid road tax before they just stop doing it from then.

[Cadbury]

I wonder will they be more effective than the Ja Choey mannequin speed cameras. Later models had the camera inside the head and focused out of the left eye. Memory lane is always good for a laugh where the RTP is concerned.

[smedly]

2 hours ago, mercman24 said:

can someone tell me why this move is illegal, for what reason ?, just asking, is it some bizarre thing they have thought up, ??

no idea which is part of the problem

 

Enforced proper lane discipline and only overtaking on the right would be a good step forward then this weaving around undertaking and lane changing would be a thing of the past - overtake only on the right, and anyone caught hugging the far right lane for no good reason (unless turning right or overtaking) be dealt with also.

 

Simple rules like these if enforced would improve road safety here along with speeding - drunk driving and mobile use 

[ChrisY1]

More trivial nonsense....illegal lane changing?...one can travel for miles and never see a road traffic sign!

Edited May 7, 2018 by ChrisY1

[Baerboxer]

3 hours ago, RotMahKid said:

How to see when overtaking is forbidden there. Did they put the proper signs or lines on the roads or is it just guessing. Please don't expect me to know every name of the bridges/fly overs or underpasses in Bangkok.

 

On some sections of road there are clear signs, in Thai and English stating that changing lanes is forbidden. The road lane markings change to solid rather than broken white lines too. 

 

I haven't visited all 15 mentioned here but the do know the ones I drive regularly. Usually there's me a a few others who observe this but many many who don't and weave about zigzagging like idiots to gain a few meters.

 

Near where I live there are some 30 km zones - flashing lights, highly visible road markings, rumble strips. These zones are outside temples and/or schools. So far I haven't seen anyone but me respecting them. Most zoom by me looking bewildered at why I'm driving so slow! 

[sstuff3]

can someone tell me why this move is illegal, for what reason ?, just asking, is it some bizarre thing they have thought up, ??

Solid lines between the lanes indicate that lane changes are not permitted. Thought this was common knowledge for westerners but doubt Thai drivers know it based on my experience seeing them change lanes multiple times with no regard to the lines.  

 

In some areas there are signs warning of the lane change restrictions in 200 meters, 100 meters, 50 meters ahead in both English and Thai script. In case you miss the signs, check the lane markings before changing lanes then you will be fine.

 

Sent from my SM-G935F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

 

 

[mike324]

57 minutes ago, sstuff3 said:

Solid lines between the lanes indicate that lane changes are not permitted. Thought this was common knowledge for westerners but doubt Thai drivers know it based on my experience seeing them change lanes multiple times with no regard to the lines.  

 

In some areas there are signs warning of the lane change restrictions in 200 meters, 100 meters, 50 meters ahead in both English and Thai script. In case you miss the signs, check the lane markings before changing lanes then you will be fine.

 

Yup most offending drivers drive across solid lines, or crossing over a lane that was no intended for their direction (eg. a lane that is for merging into the middle/right fast lane, where often times when there is traffic in the fast lane, offending drivers would cross over the solid lines into the slow lanes on the left.)

[mike324]

4 hours ago, jackdd said:

That's what some people say. But other people also say they got tickets, never paid, and can still renew their road tax. I never got a ticket like this, so i can't speak from personal experience.

Here a news which said 11 percent of fines were being paid: https://news.lovepattayathailand.com/national/new-traffic-tickets-force-dont-ignore-issued1/ Maybe the law changes mentioned in this article increased it?

There are so many vehicles who don't pay road tax already (or drive without license plates, so not possible to issue a ticket), that i assume many people who get a 1000THB ticket just don't pay it and if they paid road tax before they just stop doing it from then.

I think they started implementing the law since last year, but perhaps not all departments are up to date?

Without heavy fines, Thai drivers will never follow the law.

[BKKMG]

6 hours ago, RotMahKid said:

How to see when overtaking is forbidden there. Did they put the proper signs or lines on the roads or is it just guessing. Please don't expect me to know every name of the bridges/fly overs or underpasses in Bangkok.

The sections of the roads in question have solid white lines which signifies they are not to be crossed until return to the dotted variety. Lane changing at these sections is considered dangerous due to junctions etc. We have all seen the driving style whereby the vehicle sits in the right lane until their exit. The manoeuvre that should be done in advance of the junction is actually done within a few metres, which causes chaos to other road users.

 

Irrespective of this, lane changing frequently takes place because slow moving vehicles of all sizes occupy the right-hand lane as it is usually considered smoother. 

[connda]

Warning!!! Don't illegally change lanes at the following sites. This is hysterical. 

Nothing changes in Thai driving habits until cops are behind the wheel of police cruisers and patrol car and pulling traffic violators over for driving infractions like in the West. 

All these 'check points' are are revenue generation stations. 

[fullcave]

8 hours ago, RotMahKid said:

How to see when overtaking is forbidden there. Did they put the proper signs or lines on the roads or is it just guessing. Please don't expect me to know every name of the bridges/fly overs or underpasses in Bangkok.

You will know when the fine arrives in the mail. I don't know who comes up with this bullcrap but it's an intellectual midget. 

[300sd]

Good work boys.

 

Now that you have solved all the more serious driving problems, like speeding, too slow in fast lane, too fast in slow lane, poor merging habits, brake failure, not wearing seat belts, holding precious children on lap, driving like absolute imbeciles, blind drivers, (following too close), no lights at night, no signaling, no common sense when making a U turn. (no common sense at all actually). Defensive driving, never heard of it, texting.......yes so now fix that serious lane changing problem. Perfect.

[Redline]

 so will they take licenses  they don’t have, and try to get fines nobody pays ?

Edited May 7, 2018 by Redline