Immediate Action Required to Protect Schoolchildren Crossing Hazardous 4-Lane Highway in Korat

[webfact]

 

In an effort to address the life-threatening issue of schoolchildren crossing a busy 4-lane highway in Korat, the district chief of the Department of Highways confirmed that they are actively working to find a solution. This issue has been included in the 67th fiscal year plan.

 

The recent incident of schoolchildren risking their lives to cross the 4-lane highway during morning and evening hours prompted journalists to visit the area once again. They met with Siriwimon Mulanont, the director of Ban Som Mitrapap School No. 93, who revealed the significant challenges faced by students when crossing the road to and from school. The absence of pedestrian bridges and the high speed of passing vehicles make it extremely dangerous, especially during rainy periods when braking distances increase.

 

The curved road section in front of the school poses additional risks when police assistance is required to stop traffic, as there is a high chance of accidents involving skidding or collisions, resulting in severe casualties. Therefore, the utmost hope lies in the construction of pedestrian bridges, which would require budget allocation from the Department of Highways, reported INN.

 

Pichatchakun Suanet, the director of Nakhon Ratchasima Highway District 1, disclosed that the proposal to build pedestrian bridges has been successfully submitted to the Road Safety Division of the Department of Highways.

 

It is included in the budget plan for the fiscal year 2024, specifically allocated to improve safety in the school area. The project will cover a stretch of Highway No. 2, from kilometer 187+020 to kilometer 187+120 in Don Chom Phu Subdistrict, Non Sung District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.

 

The landowners on the opposite side of the road have granted permission for construction to commence. Furthermore, the Highway District has already coordinated with all relevant parties, including landowners and the Department of Highways, prioritizing urgent areas for implementation.

 

Every location is considered crucial, as the safety of all road users, pedestrians, and drivers, is of utmost importance. The highway district is determined to carry out the project in its entirety.

 

The planned pedestrian bridges will be designed for pedestrians, constructed with steel structures, and equipped with dedicated footpaths for schoolchildren.

 

Additional parking spaces will be created to ensure a safe waiting area for parents picking up their children, without obstructing the main road. The highway district is actively involved and has made comprehensive coordination efforts.

 

The landowners have agreed to the construction, and the Department of Highways has included the project in the 2024 budget plan. If approved later this year, the contract bidding process will commence in January 2024, followed by the construction phase, which is estimated to take approximately 200 days.

 

This timeframe accounts for groundwork preparation, foundation construction, and the assembly of steel structures for the bridges. In the meantime, the highway district has requested assistance from the traffic police and installed warning signs near the school area.

 

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[keith101]

There's an easy fix its called an overpass (footbridge)

Edited June 9, 2023 by keith101

[ChrisY1]

As ugly as they are…pedestrian bridges are the only sure way to protect people crossing roads here in Thailand.

Traffic lights, flagmen…all the signage in the world, but drivers will never take any notice without the police doing their jobs…and they’re just too lazy!

[actonion]

So,  so called drivers can see  2 red flags,  but cannot see 6 people in the road,    its Suicidal to try crossing any road in Thailand

[Confuscious]

Overpasses are useless.
On Mittraphap Road in Korat, between Big-c/Terminal 21, there are 2 overpasses and they are rarely used.
People uses now the lift and the covered overpass at Terminal 21 out of convenience.
But the other overpasses are not used.
Who wants to climb a stair and walk on an overpass in the 45 degrees sunshine?
Drivers need to learn to STOP for a pedestrian.
Failing to stop for a pedestrian should carry high sentences.
That's the only way to move forward with the Thai traffic.

[hotchilli]

On 6/10/2023 at 5:43 AM, webfact said:

Therefore, the utmost hope lies in the construction of pedestrian bridges, which would require budget allocation from the Department of Highways,

Why was this not considered when either the road or the school was built

[whichever came later]?

[hotchilli]

22 hours ago, actonion said:

So,  so called drivers can see  2 red flags,  but cannot see 6 people in the road,    its Suicidal to try crossing any road in Thailand

They can see them.. but they are ignored as a nuisance.

[fdimike]

The answer is that police need to do what they're paid to do.  Enforce the law and ticket those drivers who refuse to stop for pedestrians.   we have the same problem her in Udon Thani where the local government has done absolutely nothing to improve pedestrian safety.  All too much trouble until someone is killed or injured.  it's always after the fact here in Thailand.  Prevention is never thought about.  I really believe that thinking is just not part of the game here in Thailand!. 

[jacko45k]

Only solution might be a lollipop man with a double barreled shotgun.