Bangkok traffic lights ordered back on manual

All traffic police who continue to use automated traffic light countdown system to receive punishment of 3-days confinement.

BANGKOK

Bangkok traffic lights ordered back on manual

18/08/2016
Post Reporters

The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) has ordered traffic police to stop using automatic traffic lights in Bangkok and control them manually instead.

Because the number of vehicles traveling in each direction along roads in Bangkok is different, automated traffic lights are often not consistent with traffic conditions.

Traffic police must use manual controls to ensure smoothly flowing traffic and the avoidance of traffic congestion.

POLICE USE AUTOMATED LIGHTS TO FACE 3-DAY CONFINEMENT

"Officers who still use the automated traffic light countdown system will face a penalty of three days' confinement [at police headquarters]," he said.

Commanders and deputy commanders of the MPB's divisions 1-9, and also the chiefs and deputy chiefs of the 88 police stations in Bangkok have been instructed to inspect traffic conditions and ease traffic congestion in areas under their supervision.

MOVE TO CENTRALISED TRAFFIC POLICE DECISIONMAKING

The Traffic Police Division has now been authorised to instruct traffic police from each police station how to do their work effectively.

Previously, the division had no authority to do so.

MOTORIST MIXED REACTION

The new traffic light policy, however, was met with mixed reactions from motorists.

Pornwasa Naktham, 38, said she was not sure the new system of allowing traffic police to control lights would work.

"It may be fine if traffic police in all areas coordinate well but they are not doing so now," she said.

MANY INTERSECTIONS LACK TRAFFIC POLICE

Panu Yoddammoen, 48, said it was a good idea to force traffic police to control the traffic by themselves.

Currently, he said, several intersections lack traffic police, meaning the automatic system sometimes controls lights unsuitably.

WILL MANUAL TRAFFIC CONTROL PERFORMANCE BE TRACKED?

So who has the right ideasd about Bangkok traffic and how to control it?

Should motorists be given a say? (citizen empowerment) (see today's commentary "consult public before passing laws"  here)

Motorists are the ones who experience traffic problems everyday.

How exactly does manual control of traffic lights help?

Exactly what tools do police have to help them measure or gauge traffic flow and do a better job than automated systems? 

At peak traffic congestion time during rush hour, when the roads are full of cars, what improvements in traffic flow are actually possible?

Is it possible to track the performance of automated vs. manual traffic light control?

Is it possible for traffic lights along major Bangkok streets suffering from traffic congestion to coordinate with each to make traffic flow better?

Is it possible to employ web-based apps providing information on traffic flow to better help traffic police do their job?

Are some traffic police stationed at traffic lights overworked, working very long shifts where they could not possibly do a good job? (see here).

Are some traffic police stationed at traffic lights sleeping on the job or watching TV?

These are some of the interesting questions that the new Bangkok traffic light policy raises.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1064412/sanit-puts-traffic-lights-back-on-manual

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