New 120 km/h speed limit a success, says transport minister

[Moonlover]

2 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Let's get it right. This only applies to 4 lanes each way, with no U turns, and if it is posted as such, yes?

No, not according the report in Thaiger. It said:

 

''The new limit applies only to highways with 4 lanes or more (at least 2 lanes travelling in each direction, divided by barriers). In the case of roads with traffic signs that indicate minimum and maximum speeds'', 

 

There is other criteria as well which is explained in the article.

 

Speed limit on Thailand’s highways increased to 120 kilometres an hour

 

 

[mwbrown]

I got a 500 baht ticket for going 135 near Chumpon, so it looks like my speed limit is 135 and I skip my next massage!

[kwak250]

5 hours ago, yeahbutif said:

What the speed limit in the hard shoulder .going the wrong way ?

Anything from 60-120 so long as you have your hazards on your good to go

[kwak250]

A thai friend was going about 120kph in the overtaking lane and moved back into the 100kph lane just where there is a camera and got a ticket for doing 118kph Not sure how you can avoid this .

How can you overtake at 120kph then slow down to 100kph to keep within the law.

Mind you he is an unlucky sod you should see his missus.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The trial was on a 45.9 km stretch between Ayutthaya and Ang Thong on the Asia Highway. It's a four lane road and the outer lane can be used to go 120 kmph

Four lane road, going in one direction... not much chance of anything happening... 

In the outside lane people used to do 120 anyway so there was no real change.

[metisdead]

An off topic post about speed limits on Chinese expressways has been removed. 

[Benmart]

This particular Minister should perhaps gloat over the horrific death tolls on his precious turf.

[Justgrazing]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

 

The trial was on a 45.9 km stretch between Ayutthaya and Ang Thong on the Asia Highway. It's a four lane road and the outer lane can be used to go 120 kmph

 

in 1st gear .. 

5.9 km to get upto maximum velocity and then 40 kms on its roof or side .. unless a klong or power pole get in the way .. 

[kynikoi]

Success = people driving faster (yes, that IS the *success*)

 

Apparently not success = people dying in same or greater numbers despite lockdowns.

 

Maybe not on that stretch but there have been some epic crashes in the last year or so.

 

Genius

Edited May 15, 2021 by kynikoi

[bradiston]

11 hours ago, yeahbutif said:

What the speed limit in the hard shoulder .going the wrong way ?

The boy racers on Sukhumvit Rd in Pattaya don't bother with the hard shoulder. The buzz is, middle of the road the wrong way, flat out. In the wee hours, of course.

[MrJ2U]

Hopefully expand it.  The slow driving causes the accidents.  

 

Countries who have increased speed limits have remarkedly less accidents.

 

The old speed limits are from the 70's.  Most of Thailand's roads are much improved.

[Mr Meeseeks]

9 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Obviously, the limit indicated on the last sign you passed is the limit.

Not correct for that stretch of road.

 

The limit is 120kph for the whole stretch. 

 

The old signs from when it was a 90kph or 110kph limit have not been removed.

[bangon04]

12 hours ago, Pilotman said:

what an incredibly stupid, uninformed comment to make, on an unproven change that has run for what, a month?   Typical; dumb as an ant. 

It is a success by saving hospital beds.... if you die instantly at the side of the road instead of needing treatment

[Road Warrior]

just give thai driver more time they will sure increase road carnage to continue to be the worst driver in the whole world !!!

[Seismic]

On 5/15/2021 at 1:41 PM, Liverpool Lou said:

Obviously, the limit indicated on the last sign you passed is the limit.

No, what you should have said is  'obviously they forget to take down the old signs each time the limit was changed'.

[kwilco]

anyone trying to make a realistic assessment t of road traffic at present is really not with it. the situation is affected by Covid and it is FAR TOO SOON to make any judgements based on statistics - so the guy is obviously just guessing

[Hugh Cow]

As many drive 40 k/ms over the speed limit anyway, that will mean drivers will now be doing 160kph. Good luck swapping from a 100kph lane into what will become the suicide lane.

Few drivers are capable or experienced enough to be driving over 100 kph safely, other than on a straight dry road where there is no unpredictable occurences such as being cut off, poor rod surface, road debris/potholes, flat tyres, drunk drivers etc including the inability to see anything at all outside the 60 degree arc in front of the vehicle, all of which are regular occurences on Thai roads.

 

[jacko45k]

On 5/15/2021 at 12:54 PM, MaxYakov said:

120 kph = 74.5645 mph. Not even autobahn speeds. Are buses and 18-wheelers and dawdlers (60 kph drivers) allowed in the 'fast lane'?

According to the sign there is a minimum speed of 100 KPH