Phuket traffic fines are not enough, says poll

The Phuket News

 

The current traffic fines levied against drivers are not enough to deter dangerous drivers, said the Phuket poll. Photo: The Phuket News / file

 

PHUKET: -- A huge majority of respondents to an online poll by The Phuket News have voted that the traffic fines currently levied against willfully reckless and often lethal drivers are not enough to prevent further carnage on Phuket’s roads.

 

The poll, which closed at midnight last night (end of May 7), asked, “Do the current penalties deter people from breaking the traffic laws?”

 

Only 6% voted, “Yes, the current penalties are enough; there is no need to change anything.”

 

A further 24% voted, “Yes, the current penalties are enough, but enforcement is lacking.”

 

However, the remaining 70% of respondents called out the current system of issuing for failing to invoke any change in driver’s behaviour.

 

The lion’s share of votes called for heavier penalties, with 43% of respondents voting, “No, the current penalties do not deter traffic offenders and must be made harsher, for example fines should be increased.”

 

A further 27% or respondents voted, “No, the current penalties, which are mostly fines, do not work and officials must also use alternative punishments such as community service.”

 

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-traffic-fines-are-not-enough-says-poll-62086.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2017-05-08

Fines might seem low to us farangs, but 500 baht is more than a day's pay for a working Thai.

 

How about taking away licence for 6 months - oh wait, many have no licence or would not think twice about driving when banned.

 

Confiscate the vehicle for 6 months - now that a much harsher financial penalty. Not sure the police code would legally allow that.

Make the penalty 50,000 baht per incident and watch the number of incidents drop very very quickly.

2 minutes ago, simoh1490 said:

Make the penalty 50,000 baht per incident and watch the number of incidents drop very very quickly.

 

I very much doubt it.  Every Thai and many farangs think ' it will never happen to me' sort of mentality.

 

Stricter enforcement is the answer - but the BiB are far too lazy to do that. How often do see them chasing after a traffic offender ? It's just easy road stops for then and off for lunch after an hour.

17 hours ago, LivinginKata said:

 

I very much doubt it.  Every Thai and many farangs think ' it will never happen to me' sort of mentality.

 

Stricter enforcement is the answer - but the BiB are far too lazy to do that. How often do see them chasing after a traffic offender ? It's just easy road stops for then and off for lunch after an hour.

Agree, you need to look at both the penalty and the chance of getting caught.

Increasing the penalties will have little consequences because police are not doing their job.

 

Maybe put speeding camera's and camera's at every traffic light up and keep sending people the 200 baht fines every day. 

At some point, maybe after a week or 2, they will notice that going through a red light is an automatic fine of 200 baht and therefore not worth the 60 seconds you save with it.

In recent years they've announced, with much fanfare, the provision of red light, helmet enforcement and speeding cameras in various locations around the Island.

You don't hear anything about these cameras actually being used to fine miscreants.

As usual it seems to be more about getting funding for the initial purchase.

 

(What ever happened to the money for the film museum, or the huge Surin park project that now seems to have turned into a proposal for a gateway on the beach road?)