Thai Traffic Police ramp up waiting ban

[webfact]

Traffic Police ramp up waiting ban
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Traffic Police are enforcing a strict ban on waiting vehicles at 10 more spots in Bangkok in an effort to ease traffic congestion, bringing the total to 20.

The measure was introduced because as some vehicles wait for people to get in, traffic piles up behind it.

The new spots include the areas in front of MBK Centre, in front of the Platinum fashion mall, in front of Horwang School, and in front of Saphan Mai Market.

The assistant National Police commissioner, Pol Lt-General Ruangsak Jrit-ake, who oversees traffic affairs, said yesterday that a total of 20 areas in Bangkok now were facing the strict ban on waiting vehicles.

Since the ban started, 702 motorists have been charged with violating it.

Pol Colonel Pornchai Kajornklin, Metropolitan Police Division 4 deputy commander, said motorists violating the ban would face a fine of up to Bt500.

"But before we impose fines, we will campaign for public awareness of the ban," he said.


-- The Nation 2014-04-03

[kurnell]

Yes, what did happen to that plan? Like everything else, enforced for a day or 2 then forgotten. That's what I love about Thailand...the attention to detail.

[MaxLee]

Yes, what did happen to that plan? Like everything else, enforced for a day or 2 then forgotten. That's what I love about Thailand...the attention to detail.

It'll just be a desperate effort to increase the police officers' chances of receiving more 500 Baht notes from some innocent losers...

[NongKhaiKid]

The waiting ban will be ramped up except for vehicles bearing certain windscreen stickers, , where the occupants are recognised as being ' somebodies ' or where a luxury vehicle gives rise to the belief that the owner is a somebody.

Everyone else has the choice of paying an official fine or the reduced ' no receipt ' version.

[mca]

Police stated that any imported European motor vehicle with an engine capacity in excess of 3 litres was exempt from the ban. Special dispensation would be given to younger women driving Mini Coopers if the could provide documentary evidence that they were the daughter or mia noi of somebody important.

[WhizBang]

Police stated that any imported European motor vehicle with an engine capacity in excess of 3 litres was exempt from the ban. Special dispensation would be given to younger women driving Mini Coopers if the could provide documentary evidence that they were the daughter or mia noi of somebody important.

I am going to assume that is a tongue in cheek post. In Thailand, one can never be sure.

[mca]

Police stated that any imported European motor vehicle with an engine capacity in excess of 3 litres was exempt from the ban. Special dispensation would be given to younger women driving Mini Coopers if the could provide documentary evidence that they were the daughter or mia noi of somebody important.

I am going to assume that is a tongue in cheek post. In Thailand, one can never be sure.

I hear you mate. When I read a site like NTN the line between satire and reality becomes increasingly blurred. I always think the NTN writers must read BP or The Nation and think "Sh*t, they trumped us again. We can't top that"

[kiwikoppy]

They should enforce other traffic rules.

Yesterday evening i was driving home and from nan/petchburi intersection to the express way at witthayu, my side has 2 lanes, opposite traffic has 4 lanes.

But because they were completely stuck, they decided, hey i want to turn right on nana, so lets go against the traffic for about 600meter, blocking my 2 lanes. end result, it took me 2 hours to drive 500 meter, while there was no traffic in my lanes (that was going the right way anyhow).

what makes the people here think that you can blindly do whatever you want without regards for safety and others....

if I was a policeman i would be there yesterday and fine those 200 cars, would be such easy earned money, but nope, police were all sitting in their box....useless

[worgeordie]

I often wonder if traffic laws(others too) are really enacted to solve problems,

or just to give police more excuses to extort people,as the fines,bribes are

not really high enough to deter people from not braking the laws,

regards Worgeordie

[dddave]

Wow!!...Is there nothing sensible the Thais can ever do that does not immediately become the focus of derision and scorn from the ThaiVisa keyboard elite?

No matter what authorities here do; even something as beneficial as improving traffic flow, earns the scorn of this lofty ensemble who somehow need to fortify their status as sage observers by contemptuously mocking any effort made by people honestly trying to do their jobs.

These social hecklers seem to live in their own world of stereotypes and preordained conclusions into which the light of honest observation never intrudes.

It must be nice to be just so perfect and from such perfect places. One wonders why they are even here?

Edited April 3, 2014 by dddave

[bkkjames]

Here is another example - doing road work (non emergency / essential) in the middle of rush hour.

This morning as you approach the Rama 4 flyover to Asoke from Rama 3, normally a terrible area to begin with, a garbage truck and a bunch of workers are sweeping by hand one of the two lanes for the flyover on ramp. Needless to say if you have ever driven this road in the morning rush hour, the knock-on effect this move to beautify the road has had can only be described as - typical.

Rant over.

Edited April 3, 2014 by bkkjames

[Seastallion]

They should enforce other traffic rules.

Yesterday evening i was driving home and from nan/petchburi intersection to the express way at witthayu, my side has 2 lanes, opposite traffic has 4 lanes.

But because they were completely stuck, they decided, hey i want to turn right on nana, so lets go against the traffic for about 600meter, blocking my 2 lanes. end result, it took me 2 hours to drive 500 meter, while there was no traffic in my lanes (that was going the right way anyhow).

what makes the people here think that you can blindly do whatever you want without regards for safety and others....

if I was a policeman i would be there yesterday and fine those 200 cars, would be such easy earned money, but nope, police were all sitting in their box....useless

I don't know that particular stretch of road, but are you sure you were not the one in the wrong? Just as Auckland Harbour bridge changes lanes during peak traffic, with you being the only one going in your direction, are you sure you didn't miss a sign? You are probably inured to all the horns blasting and perhaps didn't realise they were all aimed at you?

[MMarlow]

Wow!!...Is there nothing sensible the Thais can ever do that does not immediately become the focus of derision and scorn from the ThaiVisa keyboard elite?

No matter what authorities here do; even something as beneficial as improving traffic flow, earns the scorn of this lofty ensemble who somehow need to fortify their status as sage observers by contemptuously mocking any effort made by people honestly trying to do their jobs.

These social hecklers seem to live in their own world of stereotypes and preordained conclusions into which the light of honest observation never intrudes.

It must be nice to be just so perfect and from such perfect places. One wonders why they are even here?

Brilliant post. Love it.

[Mentors]

Here is another example - doing road work (non emergency / essential) in the middle of rush hour.

this they love to do also in my home country.

[Old Man River]

Out of curiosity, besides the few mentioned in this topic, does anyone have a full list of the non-waiting areas? I am sure the 702 people they have caught didn't have a clue. It also would be nice to know the 20 most important areas in Bangkok.

[thesetat2013]

I wonder if they gave any thought to the fact that that when the police stop you while you wait to pick someone up it will block traffic a lot longer while they explain and then ask for bribe. Traffic will be blocked even longer now

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[bkkjames]

I wonder if they gave any thought to the fact that that when the police stop you while you wait to pick someone up it will block traffic a lot longer while they explain and then ask for bribe. Traffic will be blocked even longer now

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Well yes, but another one is those 'hunters' as I call them that emerge in the morning and late afternoon who think it's fine to stop with their flashers on while they load up on food from some stall.

[tingtongteesood]

What they need to do is get policemen at busy intersections to direct traffic, make sure people in the left turn lane actually turn and get out of the way, so many idiots block this lane and cause large queues behind them, they don't want to turn, they just want to queue jump. We have all seen the car that blocks the left turn lane for 5 minutes while the lights are red trying to turn into the next lane when they can't because nothing is moving. Many of the traffic queues are made worse by bad driving and utter selfishness. The whole u turn system is also stupid and makes people spend a lot longer on the roads, the u turners block 2 or 3 lanes and those trying to go straight suffer greatly from it. Also the idiots at shopping malls trying to block the traffic so the customers can take their cars out.

[Jonmarleesco]

Parking, rather than waiting - another congestion issue - I'm surprised that parking meters haven't found their way here. I'm sure the powers-that-be could find ways to make extra, as well as legitimate, income out of their installation.

[Jonmarleesco]

What they need to do is get policemen at busy intersections to direct traffic, make sure people in the left turn lane actually turn and get out of the way, so many idiots block this lane and cause large queues behind them, they don't want to turn, they just want to queue jump. We have all seen the car that blocks the left turn lane for 5 minutes while the lights are red trying to turn into the next lane when they can't because nothing is moving. Many of the traffic queues are made worse by bad driving and utter selfishness. The whole u turn system is also stupid and makes people spend a lot longer on the roads, the u turners block 2 or 3 lanes and those trying to go straight suffer greatly from it. Also the idiots at shopping malls trying to block the traffic so the customers can take their cars out.

It's the same old problem. Until the police actually direct traffic in a competent manner, something few of them seem capable of doing, and until drivers actually recognise road signs and markings - how many, for instance, know how a yellow box works? - the problems will persist.

And, yes, banning the idiots with their whistles, who have not the first idea of traffic control, and no business interfering with the free flow of traffic on the road, would certainly help.

[ggt]

What about parking...2 and 3 abreast...in the middle of a busy street...? When will this be addressed?

[Alwyn]

I hope it works. Maybe then they'll move to Chiang Mai and flame thrower the numpties who stop on the canal road to buy lottery tickets without even pulling on to the hard shoulder! They just stop on the inside lane, mental!

[GrantSmith]

They should enforce other traffic rules.

Yesterday evening i was driving home and from nan/petchburi intersection to the express way at witthayu, my side has 2 lanes, opposite traffic has 4 lanes.

But because they were completely stuck, they decided, hey i want to turn right on nana, so lets go against the traffic for about 600meter, blocking my 2 lanes. end result, it took me 2 hours to drive 500 meter, while there was no traffic in my lanes (that was going the right way anyhow).

what makes the people here think that you can blindly do whatever you want without regards for safety and others....

if I was a policeman i would be there yesterday and fine those 200 cars, would be such easy earned money, but nope, police were all sitting in their box....useless

That shits me too, but it's been going on since the Buddha was playing fullback for Buriram, and I suspect it's not infringing on any traffic laws when done during peak hour...

Petchburi's an interesting road like that though, all along it there's parts of it that do that same thing. But your particular beef - the Nana intersection - is particularly susceptible to that because there's a right turn just before the actual traffic lights, it's almost like they designed soi 3 to be dual carriage at one point and then changed their minds and made it one way...

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[GrantSmith]

What they need to do is get policemen at busy intersections to direct traffic, make sure people in the left turn lane actually turn and get out of the way, so many idiots block this lane and cause large queues behind them, they don't want to turn, they just want to queue jump. We have all seen the car that blocks the left turn lane for 5 minutes while the lights are red trying to turn into the next lane when they can't because nothing is moving. Many of the traffic queues are made worse by bad driving and utter selfishness. The whole u turn system is also stupid and makes people spend a lot longer on the roads, the u turners block 2 or 3 lanes and those trying to go straight suffer greatly from it. Also the idiots at shopping malls trying to block the traffic so the customers can take their cars out.

I actually saw this today for the very first time on Petchburi, a Policeman, complete with white glove, directing traffic at a u-turn intersection, initially I thought there was an accident and he was moving traffic around it but nope, he popped out every couple of minutes and stopped on coming traffic so those waiting to do a u-turn could do so.

The blocking of 2 lanes is frustrating if you're not doing a u-turn, but makes it easier if you're doing one and on the inside lane

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