Bangkok Governor urges to resolve traffic issues, foster Discipline, and improve driving behavior to reduce accidents

The Governor of Bangkok attended the opening ceremony of the seminar "Safety Road in Southeast Asia: Issues and Prospects" on November 4, 2024, at the Alliance Française Bangkok, in the Pathumwan District. As Bangkok is a member of the "Friends of the Special Envoy for Road Safety Network" since 2023, the event also welcomed Mr. Jean Todt, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety. Mr. Todt discussed statistics indicating that Southeast Asia is the world’s second most-affected region for road accidents, after Africa. It is deeply unfortunate, he noted, that Thailand leads in this data. He pointed out that 40% of road accidents in Southeast Asia involve motorcycles and riders not wearing helmets. In response, the UN has set a goal to reduce the current 1.2 million annual global road fatalities by half by 2030. Although ambitious, this goal is achievable, according to Todt, through a comprehensive system that includes stricter speed limits, expanded public transport, public education, helmet usage, and more.

In his remarks, the Governor of Bangkok presented the city's plan to lower speed limits for drivers from 80 kilometers per hour to 60 kilometers per hour, aiming to reduce road accidents and fatalities. Despite a decrease in road deaths, the numbers remain high; from January to September 2023, there were 884 road deaths in Bangkok, which decreased to 596 during the same period in 2024. Eighty-two percent of these accidents involved motorcycles, and 50% were due to speeding. Additionally, Bangkok is actively developing a digital database for high-risk areas (BKK Risk Map), increasing and enhancing CCTV cameras, which captured 43,000 traffic violations in October alone, and identified 100 hazardous spots for motorists. The city has also ensured brighter, safer bus stops and upgraded 100,000 street lights to LED for better visibility, with a target of 200,000 LED lights in the next two years.

Other efforts include physical improvements, such as urgent crosswalk and traffic light upgrades, which have already been implemented in over 300 locations, as well as close collaboration with relevant agencies. However, government efforts alone are not sufficient, as a part of the issue stems from driver behavior, particularly discipline on the road. For example, motorcyclists should wear helmets, and vehicles must stop for pedestrians at crosswalks. Building a stronger traffic discipline among Bangkok residents is essential for making Bangkok a safe, livable city.

The Governor of Bangkok attended the opening ceremony of the seminar "Safety Road in Southeast Asia: Issues and Prospects" on November 4, 2024, at the Alliance Française Bangkok, in the Pathumwan District. As Bangkok is a member of the "Friends of the Special Envoy for Road Safety Network" since 2023,

Bangkok Governor urges to resolve traffic issues, foster Discipline, and improve driving behavior to reduce accidents