Traffic Chaos Looms As New Semester Starts

[george]

TRAFFIC CONGESTION: Chaos looms as two million students begin new semester

Nearly 400 traffic police officers assigned to school duty

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok motorists may find it difficult to welcome the opening of the new school semester today.

A total of 2,091,226 students will have to find their way to more than 1,600 schools across the capital, probably bringing nothing less than a traffic nightmare.

However, up to 391 city police officers will be on duty in front of schools, while traffic police and other authorities promised yesterday to deliver the best traffic flow possible.

“We have been preparing to cope with the traffic on the day the new semester begins,” traffic police chief Maj-General Panu Kerdlarpphol said.

He said his officers had already rehearsed with schools how parents should drop off and pick up their children.

“Throughout the past week, we have studied traffic conditions at schools and have tested what best we should do,” he said.

According to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s traffic department, Wattana Wittaya Academy will probably cause congestion on inbound Asoke Road, while Mater Dei School will choke up traffic on Ploenchit Road.

Saint Gabriel’s College, on Samsen Road, will also be another probable bottleneck, with many other schools expected to cause similar problems.

Last Tuesday, Bangkok’s traffic police officers were instructed to prepare to ensure that traffic flowed in front of schools, especially the 22 schools in the heart of the city.

Teachers and parents have been asked to volunteer as attendants in front of schools to help traffic flow. The volunteers will wear recognisable vests.

Construction companies have also been asked to remove unnecessary equipment from roads and equipment to deal with broken-down vehicles will be standing.

If Bangkok motorists have any inquiries about traffic, the hotline number is 1197.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau has also published leaflets with traffic instructions for parents and students and these have been posted in front of 22 schools in the heart of the city.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration decided to postpone the opening of its 433 schools until tomorrow because of traffic concerns. It was particularly concerned because a procession of the Lord Buddha’s relic is also scheduled for today. The procession marks Visakha Bucha Day, which falls on Sunday.

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority said its fleet of 15,578 buses, air-conditioned buses, concessionaire-run buses, mini-buses, and vans could accommodate 2.2 million passengers a day.

“We plan to increase the frequency of services during rush hours on those routes passing schools,” an authority spokesman said.

--The Nation 2005-05-16

[thymode91]

Not only inside Bangkok area, here in Samutprakan as I passed by this morning, oh men .. bumper to bumper.

[george]

Traffic flows in first school re-opening day

BANGKOK: -- The traffic is flowing rather well in Bangkok's areas on the first school re-opening day on Monday, as Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Pol. Gen. Chidchai Vanasatidya inspected two major areas where many schools are located this morning.

The traffic in the city was flowing satisfactorily this morning even in normally congested areas, including Samsen, Sathon and the Victory Monument, according to local journalists.

Prime Minister Thaksin personally inspected the Samsen area, while Pol. Gen. Chidchai went to inspect the Sathon area, said the journalists.

Several senior traffic police were at major areas across the city separately to direct the traffic.

Expressing his satisfaction with the rather smooth traffic, the prime minister instructed the traffic police to try to always manage the flow of vehicles as good as this morning.

"I've instructed the traffic police to control the city's traffic conditions as good as this morning everyday although it's tough and I know they'll have to work harder. But they need to", said the Thai leader.

Schools across the country re-opened for the new semester this morning, including those in the three troubled southern border provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani.

However, security measures have been beefed up in the three provinces, particularly areas in the vicinity of schools to protect teachers and students, as the spate of violent unrest has continued in the region since the beginning of last year, leaving hundreds of people dead and injured.

Meanwhile, Pol. Gen. Chidchai said that he had planned to establish a 'traffic volunteers' force in Bangkok to help manage the traffic in congested areas during rush-hours, particularly those where many schools are located.

"People from various groups, including parents and relatives of school children, will be encouraged to join the volunteer force", the deputy premier and interior minister told journalists.

--TNA 2005-05-16

[Sphere]

Several senior traffic police were at major areas across the city separately to direct the traffic. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wonder what they do on other days!

"...I know they'll have to work harder. But they need to" said the Thai leader.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Or else?

[Teach]

With the top brass gone I suppose it's back to normal tomorrow, traffic left to its own devices while the boys in brown collect their bull#### fines from the unsuspecting bottleneckers.

The coffers will start to fill again.

T.

[Greer]

No matter what else we may feel about the return of major traffic jams in our cities and towns across tha nation, the most important point is to ensure the safety of our children.

I hope all drivers will exercise restraint and caution, especially near schools.

Children have the right to a safe environment.