Picture courtesy of Thai Rath

 

Bangkok has initiated the installation of adaptive traffic lights at 72 key intersections to improve travel efficiency. This technology adjusts signals based on real-time traffic flow, and initial results show a 15% improvement in non-peak hours.

 

On 6th May, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, alongside Deputy Governor Wissanu Supsompon and traffic authorities, evaluated the new system on Sukhumvit Road.

 

Bangkok has about 500 intersections currently operated manually by police or on fixed timers, which can cause inefficiencies. The adaptive system, using cameras and computer calculations, aims to optimise vehicle flow.

 

Seventy-two intersections have been equipped with this new system along major roads like Sukhumvit and Petchaburi, with plans for an additional 200 next year.

 

While early results are promising during non-peak hours, data collection is ongoing for rush hours. In cases of severe congestion, police may still manually override signals when necessary.

 

Governor Chadchart emphasised that despite technological advancements, traffic discipline remains crucial for maintaining flow. Automation cannot replace the importance of adhering to traffic rules.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai Rath 2025-05-07

 

 

This is another iteration of a system designed by the Japanese years ago.

Love Bankok but traffic puts me off visiting more often.

Great system, but........

 

The cops switch off the automation at any opportunity.

Try getting out of Rama 4 onto Sukhumvit Road. If this helps with that it cant come soon enough

I spent 15 minutes at one light.

34 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

I spent 15 minutes at one light.

I can belive that

Just now, Bangkok Black said:

I can belive that

Near the zoo.

What?  Next they'll be trying to make smart drivers! 😂

Why on earth don't they just learn from other countries?

 

- the very long red lights lead to bunching of the traffic, and to large numbers of motorcycles gathering at the front, impeding the flow of traffic

- the lights aren't synchronised to allow one to drive down a main street with only a wait at the first set of lights

- don't use policemen to control the lights anywhere

They need smart drivers, not just smart traffic lights

11 hours ago, Bangkok Black said:

Try getting out of Rama 4 onto Sukhumvit Road. If this helps with that it cant come soon enough

Try walking across that intersection

Does anyone else remember when a computerized traffic light system was installed at several intersections. Must have been 20 years ago. One policeman was so angry about the traffic jam that was caused that he took an axe and cut all the wires.

For years after there were non-working traffic signals left at the junction on Saphan Soong, Bangsue, near Siam Cement.

You can't make this up.

4 hours ago, Zaphod Priest said:

Why on earth don't they just learn from other countries?

 

- the very long red lights lead to bunching of the traffic, and to large numbers of motorcycles gathering at the front, impeding the flow of traffic

- the lights aren't synchronised to allow one to drive down a main street with only a wait at the first set of lights

- don't use policemen to control the lights anywhere

I remember a report some years ago saying that a red light should never last for more than one minute in any location in any city, anywhere.

What they really need is roundabouts, traffic lights are always slow which is why many people don't follow

4 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

I remember a report some years ago saying that a red light should never last for more than one minute in any location in any city, anywhere.

Indeed. I often have this suspicion that many of the traffic jams in Bangkok are caused by terribly ineffective traffic lights management. On occasion cars are forced to wait few minutes at every traffic light which can easily add 15-20 minutes even for short trips.

On 5/8/2025 at 2:43 PM, scubascuba3 said:

What they really need is roundabouts, traffic lights are always slow which is why many people don't follow

I like roundabout, they work well in the west but not Thailand. 

 

The Thai's are too courteous, they give way, stopping for everyone.

Too many Thai's are clueless how a roundabout works. 

 

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I like roundabout, they work well in the west but not Thailand. 

 

The Thai's are too courteous, they give way, stopping for everyone.

Too many Thai's are clueless how a roundabout works. 

 

Yes but they can learn, traffic lights everywhere is unnecessary 

10 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Yes but they can learn, traffic lights everywhere is unnecessary 

They need to be modified roundabouts, like the dolphin roundabout.

 

The Wat Boon/Jomtien 2nd road was ripped out, just didn't work. 

 

34 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

They need to be modified roundabouts, like the dolphin roundabout.

 

The Wat Boon/Jomtien 2nd road was ripped out, just didn't work. 

 

I didn't know about Wat Bun, dolphin isn't a roundabout so pointless. I treat top of Pratumnak hill like a roundabout

On 5/8/2025 at 8:58 AM, Yagoda said:

Try walking across that intersection

tried it

11 hours ago, Bangkok Black said:

tried it

How was it.

2 hours ago, Yagoda said:

How was it.

Depends on the time of day.

Evenings the worst

28 minutes ago, Bangkok Black said:

Depends on the time of day.

Evenings the worst

I used to use old ladies to guide me. Or I would walk over the road and cross at 71 which was less obnoxious

On 5/8/2025 at 11:58 AM, Yagoda said:

Try walking across that intersection

 

 

 

 

4 minutes ago, fondue zoo said:

 

 

 

 

That is so Sukhumvit