Bangkok Delays AI-Powered Speed Limit Cameras

[webfact]

Photo courtesy: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration

 

In a bid to curb road accidents and enhance safety, Bangkok recently rolled out revised speed limits across the city. However, the implementation is hitting a snag as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) delays deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) cameras crucial for enforcement.

 

As of December 23, Bangkok streets were primarily subjected to a new speed limit of 60 kilometres per hour (kph), with exceptions carved out for 13 main roads. A further reduction was set around the Grand Palace to 50kph, including a strict ban on honking. Despite these measures, the absence of AI cameras is stalling effective enforcement as traffic police wait to see violations automatically captured and processed.

 

The roads exempted from the new 60kph limit include Vibhavadi Rangsit, Bang Na-Trat, Srinakarin, Phahon Yothin, and several others key for high traffic volume. Meanwhile, the zones around the historical Grand Palace, such as Na Phra That and Sanam Chai roads, are strictly controlled with the 50kph restriction to preserve the area’s tranquillity.

 

Police Major General Thawat Wongsanga, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, has championed the initiative, aiming not only to lower the high accident rates but also to align with global road safety norms. "Bangkok has a disturbingly high accident rate," he highlights, "Ranking among the top five cities worldwide for road accidents necessitates drastic measures."

Globally, this decision aligns Bangkok with efforts seen in other international cities making similar changes to reduce both the speed and incidence of traffic-related fatalities. The World Health Organisation (WHO) underscores that just a 1% increase in average speed increases fatal crash risks by 4%. A car hitting a pedestrian at 65kph is 4.5 times more likely to result in fatality compared to 50kph.

 

Yet, despite these statistics, there's significant resistance among Bangkok's motorists and residents, who question the effectiveness of this decision without proper enforcement in place. Pol. Maj. Gen. Thawat reiterates the necessity of AI cameras, given the inadequate human resources to oversee the entire city manually. He promises that tickets will be dispatched to violators once the technology is implemented.

 

In the interim, motorists are encouraged to voluntarily adhere to the new speed regulations, although the absence of active enforcement due to delayed AI camera installations may dampen compliance. The situation urges immediate action from the BMA to accelerate camera deployment, ensuring Bangkok’s roads not only remain orderly but safe for all.

 

This delay poses significant challenges, with road safety hanging in the balance as authorities work to catch up with technological needs. Efficient execution remains crucial, showing Bangkok’s efforts to transform its road safety landscape in line with global standards, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-02-10

 

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

"Bangkok has a disturbingly high accident rate," he highlights, "Ranking among the top five cities worldwide for road accidents necessitates drastic measures."

 

There ya go, by their own admission. 

[JoePai]

motorists are encouraged to voluntarily adhere to the new speed regulations  🤣

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

What ever happened to that extremely high-tech method of having actual traffic police officers use speed guns to track and cite speeding motorists?

 

On ya, that would mean they'd have to get off their arses and go out and actually do their jobs!

 

Or, maybe they're having a problem because they decided to buy their traffic speed cameras from the same manufacturer who built their infamous bomb detector units....

 

 

[PomPolo]

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

The World Health Organisation (WHO) underscores that just a 1% increase in average speed increases fatal crash risks by 4%

It is so reassuring to know the billions they get from countries around the world is going to good use, to provide common sense statements.

[Purdey]

They may have spent so much on speed guns but one rarely see them in use (or maybe I am lucky).

Adding AI is expensive, but then someone will get rich from it.

[Chelseafan]

3 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

What ever happened to that extremely high-tech method of having actual traffic police officers use speed guns to track and cite speeding motorists?

 

On ya, that would mean they'd have to get off their arses and go out and actually do their jobs!

 

Or, maybe they're having a problem because they decided to buy their traffic speed cameras from the same manufacturer who built their infamous bomb detector units....

 

 

 

AI Cameras are cheaper

AI Cameras can't be bribed

 

[Dionigi]

Everybody loves this term AI. What was wrong with speed cameras, go too fast take picture, get fined. It is not the cameras it is the speeders do not pay. AI is not going to help catch speeders.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

3 hours ago, Chelseafan said:

 

AI Cameras are cheaper

AI Cameras can't be bribed

 

 

Dunno about the cheaper part, considering what it really costs Thailand to implement and then keep operating anything requiring a modicum of technical knowledge expertise...  The normal pattern is that such stuff quickly falls into disrepair and iffy operating status.

 

Plus, and this is more to the point, when it comes to traffic/speeding enforcement, AI cameras are a thing that Thailand doesn't actually have up and running right now as we speak. Whereas they've got hundreds (thousands?) of traffic enforcement officers who COULD be deployed to enforce such things right now/today.

 

But hey, it's better to wait around, do nothing, make delay excuses, and then spend a lot of public funds on fancy equipment that probably will mean good profits and perhaps kickbacks for some connected supplier vs. getting the traffic officers who are already getting paid now to go out and actually enforce the traffic laws!

 

[lordgrinz]

Thailand has the same amount of police officers per 100,000 that the USA has, where are they all, and what are they doing all day?

[3NUMBAS]

They have yet to master normal intelligence before trying 😎 AI 

[3NUMBAS]

47 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

Thailand has the same amount of police officers per 100,000 that the USA has, where are they all, and what are they doing all day?

Picking their noses

[chickenslegs]

Forget speed cameras on multi-lane dual carriageways miles from residential areas. Concentrate on cameras at pedestrian crossings in urban areas - especially near schools - or in accident blackspots.

 

And, of course, jumping red lights.

 

[alien365]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

further reduction was set around the Grand Palace to 50kph, including a strict ban on honking.

It would be nice if they put up some signs. There are none. For the last 4 weeks at around 8:30 am I've driven 60, based on what I'd read here. I've never heard motorists use their horns there apart from the tuk tuk pip pips, which are not really an issue IMO.

[Chelseafan]

7 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Dunno about the cheaper part, considering what it really costs Thailand to implement and then keep operating anything requiring a modicum of technical knowledge expertise...  The normal pattern is that such stuff quickly falls into disrepair and iffy operating status.

 

Plus, and this is more to the point, when it comes to traffic/speeding enforcement, AI cameras are a thing that Thailand doesn't actually have up and running right now as we speak. Whereas they've got hundreds (thousands?) of traffic enforcement officers who COULD be deployed to enforce such things right now/today.

 

But hey, it's better to wait around, do nothing, make delay excuses, and then spend a lot of public funds on fancy equipment that probably will mean good profits and perhaps kickbacks for some connected supplier vs. getting the traffic officers who are already getting paid now to go out and actually enforce the traffic laws!

 

 

Don't dispute what you're saying but in theory with the installation of AI cameras, and remember these things are very invasive to the point they don't just check your speed but can see inside your car with 4D radar. I am sure they'll be cutting the traffic police roles over time. At technoloogy improves futher then more jobs will be lost.

Hopefully they'll never see the light of day, I've already received a few tickets from the current cameras...

 

 

[watchcat]

5 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

Thailand has the same amount of police officers per 100,000 that the USA has, where are they all, and what are they doing all day?

 

Waiting for some filthy rich "VIP" person they can escort after they have cleared the roads, thaen back to their mobile phones.