Increased Security and Traffic Safety at Chiang Mai University (CMU) - to be Extended?

[Mapguy]

Today, although I was waved through, when driving in the main gate of CMU, it was clear that the university is serious about two things (and this is not about Chinese tourists): increased general security and traffic safety. There was a well-policed stop to monitor motorcyclists as well as auto drivers.

It was recently reported that there has been an uptick in theft in dormitories, for example. Perhaps so.

There is also apparently a real campaign to get two-wheeled students to wear helmets. And it seems the university is serious about it. That's a great move --- for the stuents and everyone else on the road! Adolescents on two wheels are scary to circumnavigate safely!

With so many students at the university --- literally tens of thousands now --- and since they travel off as well as on campus, here's a hope that the campaign has some lasting impact --- which will happen if the penalty is high enough, like denial of grade reports or transcripts. That would really hurt, not a 200 bhat fine.

Here are some additional suggestions and comments about enforcement :

It is also a concern that the cute coeds in their tight black skirts perched precariously on the bikes. ALL riders need helmets! Heavens, they say, mess up my hair and make-up!! Well, that is better than a face marred by road rash!

And three (maybe more!) to a bike and working their iPhones ?! Why are they allowed to enter or to leave the campus! It is a simple matter to turn them back.

I happened to check some other university gates. Is CMU REALLY serious? There was no real enforcement simultaneously with that done at the main gate. The main gate looked like a major security checkpoint (for drugs, human trafficking. miscelaneous murderers) with veritiable squads of security personnel and others. The other points of entrance were a day in the park (not like the main gate checkpoint which was comfortably in the shade!), and they were hardly a bump in the road except for the low-level shy security guards (probably paid 300 bhat per day) who are usually there. If the university is serious, it had better get serious --- and a lot smarter! Has it forgotten that students on bikes have cellphones, etc.! Not very smart for a place that is supposed to educate tomorrow's leaders!