Bangkok lane-change crackdown nets 50,000 offenders in two days

By The Nation

 

 

In the first two days following a strict ban on the practice, Bangkok traffic police issued more than 50,000 tickets to motorists at 15 flyovers and underpasses for illegally changing lanes to overtake other vehicles.

 

The tickets can result in fines of up to Bt1,000.

 

Pol Col Kitti Ariyanon, deputy commander of the traffic unit, said that, on the first day alone, Wednesday, 27,514 tickets were handed out, mostly to motorcyclists.

 

Offenders were caught in the act by a Lane Change Camera System, which involves four automatic cameras at each location.

Eighty per cent of the offences occurred in daylight hours, Kitti said.

 

On Wednesday, most offences were recorded on the Siriraj Bridge on the outbound lane of Aroon Amarin Road, followed by the bridge at the Din Daeng intersection on the inbound lane of Din Daeng Road and the Huay Kwang tunnel alongside the inbound lane of Ratchadapisek Road.

 

Kitti noted that the number of violations on Wednesday far exceeded the daily average rate of 7,000 offences during a trial run in April.

 

He expressed hope that the number will drop dramatically once more motorists learn about the camera system, as occurred at the flyover at the Government Complex alongside the outbound lane of Chaeng Wattana Road thanks to a police public relations campaign.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30345140

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-11

kah ching  kah ching...jing jing

50,000 offenders in a single day at just 15 locations. So multiply that by the rest of the country, and surprise, surprise, there are millions of them at it, all with little or no regard for any of the other traffic laws either.

How about place the cameras at accident black spots,no can't make much money there.what a earner 50 million baht in two days.this countries roads are going to be covered in cameras within a couple of years.

52 minutes ago, webfact said:

The tickets can result in fines of up to Bt1,000

Why the ambiguity ! The offense is the same.

This caught were "Mostly motorcycles"

 

Well in this case it are the cars that cause most trouble by cutting in over the white line all the way at the end. The motorbikes cut in and disappear, but the cars lengthen the waiting time for those queuing correctly

Now to find the good and fast way to collect the money, that will be the problem but if they find a way to fix that the camera's will be everywhere!

 

this "technology" can also be used to catch red light beaters. do that and those numbers will increase exponentially!

Why dont put camera's (in most places they are already installed) and arrest the "Red light" offenders?
That would a real big income for the country.

The motorbikes cut in and disappear, but the cars lengthen the waiting time for those queuing correctly

One of the main reason to drive a motorbike in a big city is so you can cut through the traffic...I think its quite unfair to be punished for this "offense" while on a bike
Imagine the total gridlock.if all those bikers took a pickup truck instead. [emoji30]

1 hour ago, les Dennis said:

Why the ambiguity ! The offense is the same.

You are forgetting the "Do you know who I am" crowd, some of them get a discount.

 

 

1 hour ago, happy chappie said:

How about place the cameras at accident black spots,no can't make much money there.what a earner 50 million baht in two days.this countries roads are going to be covered in cameras within a couple of years.

Like in your own country where under the guise of raising traffic safety a nice earner for the state coffers has been "organised"?

24 minutes ago, RotMahKid said:

Now to find the good and fast way to collect the money, that will be the problem but if they find a way to fix that the camera's will be everywhere!

 

And outside lane crawlers and undertakers (no, not those guys in the black suits) and no lights bikes and no crash helmet drivers and ten in a pick-up or five to a bike and ........   Just a shame it can't get no licence drivers and drunk drivers too.   Then we would really be close to doing away with the traffic police !

4 minutes ago, johng said:

 

 

One of the main reason to drive a motorbike in a big city is so you can cut through the traffic...I think its quite unfair to be punished for this "offense" while on a bike
Imagine the total gridlock.if all those bikers took a pickup truck instead.

 

What about staying in lane?

Would that be such a burden?

I'm putting two and two together and smelling a rat. Most were motorcycles.Many were at Huay Khwang tunnel. Bikes are not really allowed in the tunnel though this hasn't been enforced for a year. I reckon they are fining bikes for using the tunnel bumping up the lane change figures.

2 minutes ago, hansnl said:

Like in your own country where under the guise of raising traffic safety a nice earner for the state coffers has been "organised"?

Yes and they worked as motorists slowed down in those areas and now they don't get the money from fines to maintain the camera system.

What about staying in lane?

Would that be such a burden?

On a motorbike ? [emoji47]

 

The mini vans have got to be the worst lane changers they drive like its an Alpine slalom ski course while attemping F1 speeds.

 

The problem is most Thais do not understand the traffic laws , and until there is a proper testing of knowledge and driving ability before handling over a driving license, all is doomed . Passing a test at any of these thai test centres is laughable , basically if you doing actually kill someone during your test you get a pass . Start of with teaching people how to drive .

I get it.... But stay in lane on my Forza through asoke????

now if l they could only get them to put down their cell phones  and drive.

Just now, gr8fldanielle said:

now if l they could only get them to put down their cell phones  and drive.

 

53 minutes ago, johng said:

One of the main reason to drive a motorbike in a big city is so you can cut through the traffic...I think its quite unfair to be punished for this "offense" while on a bike
Imagine the total gridlock.if all those bikers took a pickup truck instead.

 

Agree, motorbikes should be exempted from these traffic violations. Just a large cars should be allowed to go through red lights and imported cars should be allowed to break speed limits. Makes perfect sense to me, as laws should not be for everyone.

you don't see the difference between a car blocking an extra lane by trying to push into a queue and a motorbike skirting to the front of the queue causing no congestion in the process ?

Another complete waste of money as Enforcement will NEVER happen 

Great source of evidence though 

When government is running out of Income, this scheme generated 25 million Baht in two day. 

 

Well done!

10 minutes ago, johng said:

you don't see the difference between a car blocking an extra lane by trying to push into a queue and a motorbike skirting to the front of the queue causing no congestion in the process ?

They do cause congestion too. Just not as much. It slows down traffic.

 

I agree with you anyway. Motorbikes should have special rules. But it needs to be clear what those are.

Currently motorbikes are often forced out into the shoulder of the road anyway. This is due to various interpretations of the "motorbikes keep left" law that is super unclear.

 

At Rama 4 underpass they used to grab them by coming out of their box.

Since the military took control they cannot be bothered

12 minutes ago, NextStationBangkok said:

When government is running out of Income, this scheme generated 25 million Baht in two day. 

 

Well done!

You assume people will pay those fines and not just throw them in the garbage bin. Or you assume there will be enforcement...?

Sorry, overpass

No mention of how fines will be collected or what happens if fines are ignored or "lost in the mail".

Makes me think they didn't think it through.... 5555