New speed cameras being tested

[Buffy Frobisher]

If anyone is driving the At Narong/Ram Intra expressway in Bangkok, be aware that there are now 13 speed cameras on the expressway between the Sukhapiban 5 on-ramp and the Phattanakarn exit inbound, and 7 on the same stretch outbound. They are not the usual big grey boxes - these are mounted on the top-left corner of most of the steel gantries across the road, with a square black radar unit (K Band) above and a small camera taking the pics, hard to spot unless you're looking for them.

 

My trusty detector hasn't found too many on other expressways around the capital yet (there are a  couple now on the Don Muang Tollway) but they're certainly doing a major trial on this stretch of road and they're extremely strong radar signals, out to almost a kilometre with maximum strength at about 100 metres from the gantry. They've even got one on the gantry where the two active big grey box cameras are opposite Central Festival Eastville near Lad Prao, so they get you twice in the same spot. The BiB have also been unusually active with the portable laser cameras on the expressway so far this rainy season.

 

There are also 9 of the new camera systems on the Asia Highway between Bang Pa-In and Nakhorn Sawan outbound, but only two on the way back to the city that I've found so far.

 

Take care out there.

[dotpoom]

"Take care out there"....sure. Like what the authorities are trying to do to take care of responsible road users against the "speed" freaks.

[KhunAussie52]

What is the speed limit on the expressway?

[from the home of CC]

In my opinion this will only be effective if it hurts the bank account. Sending paper and not forcefully collect fines (from the Thais) will be a waste of time. Most foreigners would pay I assume.

[scorecard]

9 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

In my opinion this will only be effective if it hurts the bank account. Sending paper and not forcefully collect fines (from the Thais) will be a waste of time. Most foreigners would pay I assume.

 

They won't pay the fine(s) unless they are forced to pay. 

 

Perhaps the database should accumulate unpaid fines and when the count is 5 start action for 30 days jail for contempt of the legal process.

 

Or do a quick check to establish the name of the employer and start the salary garnishee process.

 

 

[KhunBENQ]

45 minutes ago, KhunAussie52 said:

What is the speed limit on the expressway?

To my surprise I find that within the city limits it's only 80 km/h.

Outside it's 110 km/h.

 

Information is from an article in khaosod (Thai language, April 2018) about speed cameras on expressways.
 

From own experience I know that speed limit is signalized by illuminated displays and I remember seeing "80" often.

 

 

Edited July 28, 2018 by KhunBENQ

[stropper]

thailand is now the same as most countries, if you read what happens if you do not pay the fine sent in the mail, you will be unable to pay the tax, registration and third party insurance  when renewing, and your licence may be cancelled , resulting in more fines, and they are checking, most road blocks are checking this, soon they will have computers at the road blocks, they are catching up fast!

[Weasel100]

This is one respect in which I will say that the Thai authorities are at long last catching up with the rest of the world. Western countries discovered long ago that there is a shit load of money to be gained from speed and red light cameras and it is encouraging finally to hear that speed cameras and red light cameras are at last coming to Thailand's roads in numbers.

In my own country Australia, I have decried speed cameras as being primarily money based with a side benefit to road safety. However, if ever there were a country that needs to start enforcing speed limits with speed cameras, it is undoubtedly Thailand. We all know that driving in Thailand is lethal, especially for those who ride motor-cycles. Something like 33,000 deaths a year on Thailand's roads and 74 per cent of those deaths happen to MC riders and pillions - these are close to the true statistics, not the fudged numbers provided by Thai authorities to hide the true scale of the problem. So many violent deaths each year on Thailand's roads should be a national disgrace but, it appears to me that until recently with the introduction of speed cameras etc, the relevant Thai authorities simply couldn't give the tiniest shit about road safety.

Roll on speed cameras all over Thailand but, for God's sake, hit the maniac Thais in their pickups and SUVs where they'll really feel it. In their bloody wallets and seriously enforce collection of fines. And make the fines significant - 1000 baht for a first offence, 5000 for a second inside 12 months, 15000 and cancellation of licence for a third in 12 months. And how about introducing the 12 points system that's so common in the Western world? The Thai road safety authorities need to be serious about this because the death toll on Thailand's roads is disgraceful.

Reduce speeding in Thailand through proper enforcement and I would predict a 60 per cent reduction in road deaths in Thailand almost immediately.

 

However, there is a problem. When speed and red light cameras become commonplace in Thailand, Thai drivers will do the following:

1 they will take the number plates off the front and or the backs of their vehicles so they can't be identified - a fine for missing licence plates may be small compared to speeding fines, or

2  Thai drivers will routinely lie about their not having been the driver of the vehicle at the time an offence occurred.

 

How to handle this?  Hmmmmmmm?

Finally, I am a very different driver in Thailand to the driver that I was when I lived in Australia and the driver I am when I go back to Australia on holiday. I am a "brisk" driver in Australia. In Thailand I am very very wary, rarely going over any posted speed limits. And, by the way, why are there so few posted speed limits in Thailand. In Australia, on'e rarely in any doubt about a speed limit at a particular place. In Thailand, It's quite difficult to know what speed I should not exceed when there are so few speed limit signs about.

[bubba]

Anybody have any recommendations for a locally available radar detector? I had a look at Lazada and they have several listed. Most look like some kind of cheap Chinese knockoffs. They do have a listing from an overseas seller for a "Cobra XRS-9880". Googling that, I found a listing for it on Amazon with a bunch of one star ratings stating that it is a Chinese or Russian fake not made by Cobra. 

[Weasel100]

Radar detectors will become more available in Thailand I'm sure. But, as in many Western countries, I would predict they'll be made illegal to own soon after with life in prison or death by lethal injection sentences for possession of one soon to follow.  Such is the civilized country in which we live.
You heard about the 100,000 baht fine and a year in gaol for smoking on a beach?

Edited July 28, 2018 by Weasel100

[NoshowJones]

4 hours ago, dotpoom said:

"Take care out there"....sure. Like what the authorities are trying to do to take care of responsible road users against the "speed" freaks.

It is not just the speed freaks, they also need to do something about the lane hoggers, lot of tea money for the cops if they get off their bahookies and do some work.

[Weasel100]

2 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

It is not just the speed freaks, they also need to do something about the lane hoggers, lot of tea money for the cops if they get off their bahookies and do some work.

Hear Hear!!!

[ThaiFelix]

2 hours ago, stropper said:

thailand is now the same as most countries, if you read what happens if you do not pay the fine sent in the mail, you will be unable to pay the tax, registration and third party insurance  when renewing, and your licence may be cancelled , resulting in more fines, and they are checking, most road blocks are checking this, soon they will have computers at the road blocks, they are catching up fast!

The last time I was stopped at a road  block the cop couldnt even get my Thai license expiry date right....wanted to fine me for expired license saying it expired that day....wife had to explain we just picked it up.....it was the issue date he was looking at!!!  

 

Now how is a meat-head like that going to check my unpaid fines on a computer??

[goegoe]

2 hours ago, bubba said:

Anybody have any recommendations for a locally available radar detector? I had a look at Lazada and they have several listed. Most look like some kind of cheap Chinese knockoffs. They do have a listing from an overseas seller for a "Cobra XRS-9880". Googling that, I found a listing for it on Amazon with a bunch of one star ratings stating that it is a Chinese or Russian fake not made by Cobra. 

 

hello, also interested, can you tell me when you find something good ? thanks.

 

 

[goegoe]

And if someone knows what is the fine for missing number plate ? I could lose one (at least) shortly !

 

[goegoe]

Around Pattaya also:

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1050254-pattaya-testing-speed-trap-cameras

 

 

Edited July 28, 2018 by goegoe

[Jonmarleesco]

'Take care out there.'

 

Well, if you stick to the limits, then you are taking care. 

[from the home of CC]

Years back in Canada they installed cams in a western city. They ended up reimbursing millions of dollars to ticketed motorists after concluding the cam results were inaccurate. I'm sure if you were fined doing 120 in a 80 zone the refund would be forthcoming. 

[watcharacters]

1 hour ago, ThaiFelix said:

The last time I was stopped at a road  block the cop couldnt even get my Thai license expiry date right....wanted to fine me for expired license saying it expired that day....wife had to explain we just picked it up.....it was the issue date he was looking at!!!  

 

Now how is a meat-head like that going to check my unpaid fines on a computer??

 

He won't need to worry about getting it "right".

 

He'll just shoot you on the spot.      ?

[Oztruckie]

2 hours ago, goegoe said:

 

hello, also interested, can you tell me when you find something good ? thanks.

 

 

If you want top quality radar detectors, Google beltronics radar detectors, don't know if there available here in Los, plenty available in Australia, usually first choice for overnight truckies in Australia, even though there illegal in Oz, plenty of guys still using them. 

[cracker1]

7 hours ago, bubba said:

Anybody have any recommendations for a locally available radar detector? I had a look at Lazada and they have several listed. Most look like some kind of cheap Chinese knockoffs. They do have a listing from an overseas seller for a "Cobra XRS-9880". Googling that, I found a listing for it on Amazon with a bunch of one star ratings stating that it is a Chinese or Russian fake not made by Cobra. 

There are several cell android phone apps that provide me with radar positions.

[goegoe]

3 hours ago, cracker1 said:

There are several cell android phone apps that provide me with radar positions.

 

Last time when I checked Thai were not using Waze a lot. What else ?!

 

 

[ncc1701d]

The airport to Pattaya motorway is very confusing regarding what is the actual speed limit. There are at least 5 different types of signage with a whole range of differing speed limits. New ones have now allocated speeds to lanes. There’s even ones showing what your speed is - but I really don’t think it’s accurate and not out by a few km/hr, but 10-15 km/hr out.

 

> 120 seems to be what the speed cameras are set to - but it’s anyomes guess. It’s fine they want to introduce speed cameras, but they’re going to have to make the limits a lot easier to understand. Not too mention are they targeting black spots or just generating revenue.

Edited July 29, 2018 by ncc1701d

[maxcorrigan]

1 hour ago, ncc1701d said:

The airport to Pattaya motorway is very confusing regarding what is the actual speed limit. There are at least 5 different types of signage with a whole range of differing speed limits. New ones have now allocated speeds to lanes. There’s even ones showing what your speed is - but I really don’t think it’s accurate and not out by a few km/hr, but 10-15 km/hr out.

 

> 120 seems to be what the speed cameras are set to - but it’s anyomes guess. It’s fine they want to introduce speed cameras, but they’re going to have to make the limits a lot easier to understand. Not too mention are they targeting black spots or just generating revenue.

I think they are targeting white spots (as in falang) it seems Thais don't bother paying, or even having the all incriminating number plates fitted!

[Thian]

I still have a 20 years old radar detector which is very illegal to use in Europe. So those things will get popular in Thailand now?

[William C F Pierce]

Thai drivers will learn the habits of Western Drivers very quickly

[gaff]

On 7/29/2018 at 9:55 AM, ncc1701d said:

The airport to Pattaya motorway is very confusing regarding what is the actual speed limit. There are at least 5 different types of signage with a whole range of differing speed limits. New ones have now allocated speeds to lanes. There’s even ones showing what your speed is - but I really don’t think it’s accurate and not out by a few km/hr, but 10-15 km/hr out.

 

> 120 seems to be what the speed cameras are set to - but it’s anyomes guess. It’s fine they want to introduce speed cameras, but they’re going to have to make the limits a lot easier to understand. Not too mention are they targeting black spots or just generating revenue.

 

Totally true ! They manage road signage just like they manage their lives. It's messy and stupid.

 

 

 

 

 

[gaff]

On 7/28/2018 at 11:45 PM, goegoe said:

 

Last time when I checked Thai were not using Waze a lot. What else ?!

 

 

 

Are you using it now ?!

 

 

[pehice]

Are they connected now ?

 

 

[scorecard]

On 7/28/2018 at 12:07 PM, Weasel100 said:

This is one respect in which I will say that the Thai authorities are at long last catching up with the rest of the world. Western countries discovered long ago that there is a shit load of money to be gained from speed and red light cameras and it is encouraging finally to hear that speed cameras and red light cameras are at last coming to Thailand's roads in numbers.

In my own country Australia, I have decried speed cameras as being primarily money based with a side benefit to road safety. However, if ever there were a country that needs to start enforcing speed limits with speed cameras, it is undoubtedly Thailand. We all know that driving in Thailand is lethal, especially for those who ride motor-cycles. Something like 33,000 deaths a year on Thailand's roads and 74 per cent of those deaths happen to MC riders and pillions - these are close to the true statistics, not the fudged numbers provided by Thai authorities to hide the true scale of the problem. So many violent deaths each year on Thailand's roads should be a national disgrace but, it appears to me that until recently with the introduction of speed cameras etc, the relevant Thai authorities simply couldn't give the tiniest shit about road safety.

Roll on speed cameras all over Thailand but, for God's sake, hit the maniac Thais in their pickups and SUVs where they'll really feel it. In their bloody wallets and seriously enforce collection of fines. And make the fines significant - 1000 baht for a first offence, 5000 for a second inside 12 months, 15000 and cancellation of licence for a third in 12 months. And how about introducing the 12 points system that's so common in the Western world? The Thai road safety authorities need to be serious about this because the death toll on Thailand's roads is disgraceful.

Reduce speeding in Thailand through proper enforcement and I would predict a 60 per cent reduction in road deaths in Thailand almost immediately.

 

However, there is a problem. When speed and red light cameras become commonplace in Thailand, Thai drivers will do the following:

1 they will take the number plates off the front and or the backs of their vehicles so they can't be identified - a fine for missing licence plates may be small compared to speeding fines, or

2  Thai drivers will routinely lie about their not having been the driver of the vehicle at the time an offence occurred.

 

How to handle this?  Hmmmmmmm?

Finally, I am a very different driver in Thailand to the driver that I was when I lived in Australia and the driver I am when I go back to Australia on holiday. I am a "brisk" driver in Australia. In Thailand I am very very wary, rarely going over any posted speed limits. And, by the way, why are there so few posted speed limits in Thailand. In Australia, on'e rarely in any doubt about a speed limit at a particular place. In Thailand, It's quite difficult to know what speed I should not exceed when there are so few speed limit signs about.

 

Good points.

 

IMHO a solid part of the answer is whatever is a very strong deterrent.

 

Simple example, when they introduced compulsory motorcycle helmets (all on the bike) in Vietnam it came with a very strong deterrent - get caught and you get fined plus the motorcycle is confiscated on the spot never to be returned.

 

Plus many warnings there would be no grace period, and it was applied from day one and It worked.

 

So is part of the answer to devise some strong deterrents?