5-4-3-2-1-blastoff!

PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Highways Office (PPHO) has installed “count-down” traffic lights at three points on Thepkrasattri Rd.

The Chief of the PPHO, Wanchai Wattanasiri, said the installation of the new lights – which show how many seconds are left before the signal changes – is aimed at cutting the number of accidents resulting from people running red lights.

The new lights, costing a total of 660,000 baht, have been installed at the Wor Kor intersection just north of Phuket City, the Thalang intersection and the turnoff to the airport.

“If this system is effective in reducing the number of accidents, we will install it in many other parts of Phuket,” K. Wanchai said.

Phuket City Municipality also has plans to install count-down lights in the city. Wanlop Wangdan, Deputy Chief of Public Works, told the Gazette that the first will be erected soon at the Phang Nga Rd-Montri Rd intersection. The plan is to install the new system at 10 places around the city by the end of the year.

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The Phuket Gazette

18:16 local time (GMT +7)

Now I can finally sleep at night. My traffic worries have ceased to exist.

Installing the system is one thing using it is another. Here in Bangkok many of the intersections now possess a similar system but i have found them often not to be switched on or working and in one instance instead of counting down the indicator board was actually counting up. What use that is is beyond me but there again so are many things

Now I can finally sleep at night. My traffic worries have ceased to exist.

All we need to do is firebomb those two sets of traffic lights in Kamala and we're all home free.

and in one instance instead of counting down the indicator board was actually counting up. What use that is is beyond me but there again so are many things

Counting down = automatic

Counting up = manual

Works if the system is not messed up

Over here in Pattaya I've seen several times where the timer ticked down to zero, half the motorbikes blasted of (without waiting for the green light to come on of course), only the other side still had green

The timers ticked happily along, completely out of sync with what the lights were doing...

Pretty dangerous situation....

Now I can finally sleep at night.  My traffic worries have ceased to exist.

All we need to do is firebomb those two sets of traffic lights in Kamala and we're all home free.

I couldn't agree more. I just love sitting there waiting for those phantom vehicles to come off the side streets.

Works if the system is not messed up

Over here in Pattaya I've seen several times where the timer ticked down to zero, half the motorbikes blasted of (without waiting for the green light to come on of course), only the other side still had green

The timers ticked happily along, completely out of sync with what the lights were doing...

Pretty dangerous situation....

People also accelarate when they see the last few seconds before the red light comes on.....that's dangerous that is.

Couldn't they have an LED signboard instead, displaying messages like , 'Not long now'........'You!!!.. with the waistcoat on, you're side stand's down'.............'woah steady there khun Lek'..........'hey hey you, yes you, never mind looking down, get that helmet on'.

Would be much more effective.

A small step for automobilists a big one for Phukets image; besides: Phuket is also getting a 6 lane "Bypass"-Road and last but not least some roads a new asphalt - which they need like a teenager makeup! There must be really a lot of money here (Laguna) - unfortunately not enough to sign a new contract with the garbage disposal company...

BUT: maybe they're still "upcounting"