No More U-Turns on Asoke Road
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter


A relatively light traffic day is seen on Asoke Road in a 2014 photo. Photo: Clay Gilliland / Flickr

BANGKOK — Starting in February, making random U-turns along Asoke Road will no longer be allowed.

The turns made by drivers, often seeking to enter office buildings, are blamed for contributing to the misery-inducing traffic on the road located in the center of one of Bangkok’s busiest business districts. To ensure the ban lives beyond its announcement, metropolitan police said traffic barriers will be installed along the entire length of the road starting Feb. 1.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1454046936


-- Khaosod English 2016-01-29

There should be a permanent concrete dividing curb down the centre from end to end, to allow pedestrians to cross the road easily while preventing motorcyclists from driving against traffic.

So more cars will be on it for longer, queuing up at the specified u-turns.

10 million people living in an area that could comfortably sustain only 4m.

The problems are not road management.

Look at all the God Damn motorcycles blocking the crosswalk. Police don't do a damn thing about it. No wonder a girl was killed their a few months ago.

I was in Bangkok a few weeks ago coming down Asok and the taxi I was in stopped as a full sized city bus did a u-turn right before the lights at this junction.

Traffic in every direction was forced to stop as the road wasn't clear and at one point the bus was parked sideways across both sides of the road waiting for people to let him through.

So the U-turns on Asoke will stop now, right? 555

So the U-turns on Asoke will stop now, right? 555

"To ensure the ban lives beyond its announcement, metropolitan police said traffic barriers will be installed along the entire length of the road starting Feb. 1"

otherwise the Royal Thai Police farce would be forced to do their job and enforce the law?.

There should be a permanent concrete dividing curb down the centre from end to end, to allow pedestrians to cross the road easily while preventing motorcyclists from driving against traffic.

Have you ever tried crossing Asoke? It is suicide.

Even at pedestrian crossings cars and motorcycles ignore the red lights.

I was in Bangkok a few weeks ago coming down Asok and the taxi I was in stopped as a full sized city bus did a u-turn right before the lights at this junction.

Traffic in every direction was forced to stop as the road wasn't clear and at one point the bus was parked sideways across both sides of the road waiting for people to let him through.

Seen that many times. Often the police will help the bus do a u-turn. A few minutes later when a car tries to u-turn at the same spot, the very same cop will book him.

I have never seen a U-turn on Asoke. There are however many right hand turns, most which are legal as the painting on the road allows it. So the head line "making random U-turns" is giving the wrong impression. Let's see how this turns out. Drivers not driving on the same side of the street as their destination will face a very loooong drive to make their U-turn.

Look at all the God Damn motorcycles blocking the crosswalk. Police don't do a damn thing about it. No wonder a girl was killed their a few months ago.

That tragic incident was further north next to the GMM building.....a car ran a red light.

I was in Bangkok a few weeks ago coming down Asok and the taxi I was in stopped as a full sized city bus did a u-turn right before the lights at this junction.

Traffic in every direction was forced to stop as the road wasn't clear and at one point the bus was parked sideways across both sides of the road waiting for people to let him through.

Oh they do that everywhere in BKK, even groups of 3-4 doubledeckers all make the same U-turns blocking all lanes and that takes ages.

Buses also stop on the fast lane of the road to let people in/out. I passed when on the left and then 2 young girls jumped infront of my motobike out of the bus.

Busdrivers don't follow any rules, why would they?

It would also help if Thai drivers get taught how to make a sharp corner.

Many of them need 2 incoming lanes when they make a Uturn. Anybody with a real driverslicense only needs 1 but hey TIT.

It would also help if Thai drivers get taught how to make a sharp corner.

Many of them need 2 incoming lanes when they make a Uturn. Anybody with a real driverslicense only needs 1 but hey TIT.

So true,. From an overhead view a Thai 90 dgree turn would look like a question mark. Do they think their steering wheel only turns a quarter turn?

U-turns on a fast moving street or any highway have got to be the most Ignorant Idea ever.

The issue isn't U-turns. The issue is right turns, particularly into/out of buildings. But by not allowing those turns, it means that cars need to do a 10 km detour to get where they want to go.

The issue isn't U-turns. The issue is right turns, particularly into/out of buildings. But by not allowing those turns, it means that cars need to do a 10 km detour to get where they want to go.

Does this actually work? I'd have thought having cars on the road longer doing the "extra 10km" or whatever at a crawl speed would defeat the object and cause more congestion? If traffic flowed at normal speeds then OK, but they cannot in Bangkok. Perhaps traffic will find other more suitable routes to get to their destination - if there are any to be had?

The lack of right turns has been enforced for a while now and is a pain for those of us living around the Phetchaburi area necessitating a detour through the backstreets unless we are willing to cross Asoke.

These first world problems I have I tell you.