Traffic cops deployed to bust wet-season jams

By THE NATION

 

 

Police will work with Bangkok’s Department of Drainage and Sewerage to ease traffic congestion during the wet season after the government relaxed lockdown restrictions and allowed malls and other businesses to reopen on Sunday (May 17).

 

After a meeting with Traffic Police Division on Monday (May 18), deputy police chief Pol Lt Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphas said extra traffic police are being deployed on congested routes as commuters return to work after weeks of shutdown.

 

“We will also work with Drainage and Sewerage Dept to pinpoint areas at risk of flash flooding during the rainy season so that we can divert traffic flows in time,” he said.

 

Damrongsak added that although many businesses had reopened, traffic in Bangkok is currently lighter than usual due to the fact that schools and universities are still closed. “Also, the construction of elevated train tracks along Rama II Road has been postponed to June 15, resulting in less congestion in the area. Meanwhile, trucks and oversized vehicles are still banned from Bangkok and its perimeter until June 1, as per the government’s order,” he said.

 

“The Metropolitan Police will gradually reduce curfew checkpoints in Bangkok following the government’s directive to reduce the curfew by one hour, to 11pm-4am,” added Damrongsak. “Currently the average number of curfew violators in Bangkok is around 300 per night and that trend is falling. The police will therefore gradually shift personnel from curfew checkpoints to emergency response teams, to provide assistance to road users at night.”

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30388058

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-05-18

 

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I imagine that the problem areas are already well known to authorities, who also know that extra police can do little to alleviate the situation.

If it's wet out the cops will be hiding in their little booths rather than "busting" (arresting?) the jams.

 

How can they be sent from curfew checkpoints to control traffic late at night if everyone is supposed to be home tucked up in bed duh!