Developed-in-Thailand road watch system catches lawbreakers, saves money

By Mongkhonchaowarat Tangmangmee 
The Nation 
Phitsanulok

 

File photo

 

Developed by Thailand, a smart traffic-police system is now watching over Bangkok’s roads round the clock, detecting illegal lane changes and issuing tickets to offenders – all automatically.

 

It streamlines the work process and prevents any disruption to traffic flow, which could otherwise occur if traffic policemen had to stop the offending vehicle on sight,” Naresuan University’s lecturer Woralak Kongdenfha said at a press conference on Friday after her team spent more than three years developing the innovative system. 

 

And there’s a bonus to the system: the cameras are so good that they can also help detect stolen vehicles and thus help catch car thieves.

 

“We are going to develop the system further so as to boost the chance of preventing car thefts,” Woralak added. 

 

The Naresuan University’s team started developing the system in 2016. 

 

To date, two private firms have also bought the rights to use the system. One has used the system to detect Phuket motorcyclists and motorcycle passengers who fail to wear a crash helmet. The other has used the system to detect lane changes in Bangkok. 

 

“Initially, we installed cameras inside traffic-police dummies but soon found that cameras there could be stolen,” Woralak said. “So, we have chosen to install cameras in a high spot at an angle that can best capture the licence plate number on a law-offending vehicle,” she said. 

 

The technology, which has won an award from the Thailand Research Fund, has reportedly helped the country save more than Bt15 million.

 

“Without this innovation, Thailand might still have to rely on an imported system,” Woralak said. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30347296

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-6-8

does almost ferk  all for  road  safety ......................cash  cash  cash..............does it do "driving too  close"

Very bad news. This means less manned checkpoints, less tea money. ?

21 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The Naresuan University’s team started developing the system in 2016.

ANPR invented in the UK (by the police no less) way back in the 1970's.

 

I guess we then had to wait for computers and cameras to become cheap enough to roll it out everywhere.

 

I suspect any related patents have long since expired.

They'll be off trying to sell it overseas now. Like magical rain-making by the North American Indians - do a little dance and ABRACADABRA.

On the ring road up here in Chiang Mai, they have a big 

set up over the road,with a speed read out for each of

the 4 lanes,its supposed to take photos and a fine issued

if you exceed the 90 Km speed limit. 

Today I drove under it doing 80 Km ,but the sign said 47 Km,

another system developed in Thailand ?

 

regards Worgeordie

19 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

On the ring road up here in Chiang Mai, they have a big 

set up over the road,with a speed read out for each of

the 4 lanes,its supposed to take photos and a fine issued

if you exceed the 90 Km speed limit. 

Today I drove under it doing 80 Km ,but the sign said 47 Km,

another system developed in Thailand ?

 

regards Worgeordie

This is a super intelligent Thai invention.   It not only records speeds etc etc it actually is a car make identification system.   It automatically identifies Mercedes Benz,  BMW and other high end cars and then computes their speed to 50% of actual,   or if it detects something indicated as more than twice the legal limit it arbitrarily chooses a low speed.   It is well known that those of wealth and substance are above any Thai law and speeding is thus no exception.  Therefore whereas a a real RTP officer would let them off an automatic system has been developed to do the self same job.   Yes Thais are no doubt geniuses.

Amazing just amazing, beaten the rest of the world to it, next they will have them installed in police  cars - just like many of the advanced western countries 

 

6 months from now, more than half will stop working.

“Initially, we installed cameras inside traffic-police dummies  ,,,"

 

I must say that did me laugh, replacing old dummies with new dummies

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

 

Well, I must say that the  police mannequin doll in the picture looks as useful as the live version.

Sometimes, I just scratch my head and wonder...

50 minutes ago, KiwiKiwi said:

They'll be off trying to sell it overseas now. 

Probably, yes.... with a Handbook and Service Manual written in the International Language of PC, Thai. I guess that would be additional revenue for ex-pat Thai persons to translate the Thai to English, or even maybe translate the Tinglish to Tinglish.....

Quote

To date, two private firms have also bought the rights to use the system. One has used the system to detect Phuket motorcyclists and motorcycle passengers who fail to wear a crash helmet. The other has used the system to detect lane changes in Bangkok. 

Wat?

14 minutes ago, wirat69 said:

Probably, yes.... with a Handbook and Service Manual written in the International Language of PC, Thai. I guess that would be additional revenue for ex-pat Thai persons to translate the Thai to English, or even maybe translate the Tinglish to Tinglish.....

 

Tinglish to Tinglish, yes. A good laugh is always useful.

 

 

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

“Without this innovation, Thailand might still have to rely on an imported system,” Woralak said

There's nothing wrong with relying an imported system, that works.

 

Pride here causing multiple re-invention of the wheel, at a massive cost.

 

But hey, it's developed locally!

 

Welcome to the 20th Century. 

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Developed-in-Thailand road watch system catches lawbreakers, saves money

This is ancient news going back to March 2015. This cub reporter has stolen someone else's news story. In March 2015.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Dummy-police-will-catch-traffic-offenders-red-hand-30256694.html

Note the similarities. The 2015 version"

"system can detect a vehicle that changes lanes and then issue a traffic ticket within a minute".

The plagiarised 2018 version by this lazy journo:

"..detecting illegal lane changes and issuing tickets to offenders automatically.

 

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Naresuan University’s team started developing the system in 2016. 

Very strange The Naresuan University’s team started developing the system in 2016 when in fact it was reported in the media in 2015. 

It seems Thailand is full of liars, even in the universities.

 

Hopefully the cameras are so good they can capture the VIN numbers when there is no number plate.  

13 hours ago, shady86 said:

6 months from now, more than half will stop working.

 

Sir, I do feel you are being very optimistic with your assessment.........

Not a single positive comment so far. Losing money through fines can help change driver habits. Police do get a cut of traffic fines collected so it will be in their interest to chase up non payers. Stopping the lane changers can help traffic flow as when they do push in from another lane to a line where many have been waiting then the whole line has to slow down or stop to let them in. If they did reinvent the wheel or the students did actually create a different version then it was a good exercise for them.

 

What I do not understand is private firms buying & using this system. Is traffic control & enforcement being outsourced now.

Edited June 9, 20188 yr by Valentine

14 hours ago, shady86 said:

6 months from now, more than half will stop working.

your'e optimistic.....i'd give it a week or so?

4 minutes ago, Valentine said:

Not a single positive comment so far. Losing money through fines can help change driver habits. Police do get a cut of traffic fines collected so it will be in their interest to chase up non payers. Stopping the lane changers can help traffic flow as when they do push in from another lane to a line where many have been waiting then the whole line has to slow down or stop to let them in. If they did reinvent the wheel or the students did actually create a different version then it was a good exercise for them.

 

What I do not understand is private firms buying & using this system. Is traffic control & enforcement being outsourced now.

you do realise MOST people do not pay the fines?? Wifes friend  in the Police said " if u get any fines just ignore it" great eh, fine all you like if  no one pays  its no good.

 Better would be removal of vehicle ie confiscation  BUT speeding is not the main issue, its purely abysmal driving,  no signals, wrong lane,  no idea of speed of vehicle when joining a fast flowing road, U turn, driving too close, UTTER inattention at the wheel for numerous reasons but Thais seem to have a 2  second attention span, driving whilst tired................all the cameras in the world WONT fix  this.

Ehmmm how about speed?

14 hours ago, janclaes47 said:

 

Well, I must say that the  police mannequin doll in the picture looks as useful as the live version.

 

At least he's smiling, not wearing sunnies and not stealing your cash !!!

2 questions:

 

1.  shouldn't the dummy have his free hand extended for a payoff? 

 

2.  as far as the cameras detecting motorbike riders in Phuket not wearing helmets, is the software programmed  to automatically discard photos of Thai motorists, and concentrate on farangs only?  In order to emulate real police officers, of course. 

Edited June 9, 20188 yr by alfalfa19
just cuz

10 minutes ago, Valentine said:

 

 

What I do not understand is private firms buying & using this system. Is traffic control & enforcement being outsourced now.

 

That's the way it works in the US, as far as red light cameras go.  7 years ago, which is my last knowledge of the system,  it went something like this: 

A private company installs the red light cameras, some of which don't work properly.  They also allegedly maintain the cameras.  When someone gets the redlight ticket, the fine was something like this, 7 years ago:

500 dollar ticket.  The private company processes the transaction and sends you an official looking ticket.  about 150 dollars goes to the private company.  the other 350 was divided up between city, county, and state entities.  Basically a scam with the proceeds being divvied up between several entities.  Where I live , in San Diego, they pulled them all out a couple years ago, because they were unreliable and basically a racket. Outlying towns , such as Escondido still use them, unfortunately. 

 

15 hours ago, worgeordie said:

On the ring road up here in Chiang Mai, they have a big 

set up over the road,with a speed read out for each of

the 4 lanes,its supposed to take photos and a fine issued

if you exceed the 90 Km speed limit. 

Today I drove under it doing 80 Km ,but the sign said 47 Km,

another system developed in Thailand ?

 

regards Worgeordie

The traffic sucks so bad anymore on the ring roads that it's difficult to get up to 90 kph no less actually speed. I pass a couple regularly: one just North of Thai Wasadu and one in the Mae Chok area.  I don't think I've clocked over 70 kph (on my speedometer) since they was put in.  And like Worgeordie mentioned, they are ridiculously inaccurate on the low side - it as if they really don't want to nail speeder, but simply want to 'dot-the-i' on their publicity reports. 

When their cameras can detect aggressive driving, road rage, and the no-brainer - running red lights then I'll be impressed.  Bangkok only, catches illegal lane changes and helmetless motorcycles - that's not a deterrent, it's a cash cow. 

I'll still assert (over and over and over) that Thailand has a completely ineffective traffic enforcement methodology.  Until they adopt First World traffic policing standards that offers a proactive deterrent to aggressive, negligent, and careless driving, then the carnage on Thai roads will continue unabated.  They need to put traffic cops in patrol cars on the street and start pulling traffic violators over en-mass for driving infractions - that's what scares drivers and creates a deterrent to willfully breaking traffic laws.

This is what deters First World drivers:

 

In Thailand the average driver would ignore this until such time as police start to monkey hammer Thai drivers with fines and jail time for evading police stops.  The public can be trained, but the government shows no sign of having the will to enforce laws.
As such, Thailand will remain the Most Dangerous Roads in the World! 

Edited June 9, 20188 yr by connda

12 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

Hopefully the cameras are so good they can capture the VIN numbers when there is no number plate.  

Spot on.

Outstanding, they've come up with a way to put a few of the fake cops to work. Now....what about finding something useful for the other 200,000 or so fake cops to do.

 

 

Edited June 9, 20188 yr by Hayduke

1 minute ago, Hayduke said:

Outstanding, they've come up with a way to put a few of the fake cops to work. Now....what about finding something useful for the other 200,00 fake cops to do.

My wife says there is not money for police traffic cop in police cruisers.  I agree.  Submarines, secret satellite networks, funding for the Buddhist religion, expensive housing for the judiciary, and police escort vehicles for VIPs are much, much, much more important that slowing the slaughter on Thai roads.