Deputy PM vows stricter punishments for traffic violators following fatal crosswalk accident

Following the deadly crosswalk accident where a police officer struck a pedestrian with his Ducati motorcycle, Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan ordered harsher legal punishments for traffic violators in a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, although it has not yet been announced exactly what the punishments will be. He also called for providing info online about violators’ histories and past offences and recording their behaviours. Lastly, he called for safe crosswalk measures and educating people about safe road crossings.

Prawit plans for stopping lines and warning signs to be implemented ahead of crosswalks. There will also be pedestrian lights for when pedestrians are crossing. A pedestrian education curriculum will be developed and brought to education institutions for all ages, along with teaching materials. The deputy PM urged authorities to take these steps as soon as possible.

This news comes after cars and motorbikes hit and killed two pedestrians recently. The most publicised case involved a motorbike hitting and killing an eye doctor at a zebra crossing in Phaya Thai. Another case involved a truck driver hitting and killing a Myanmar national in Samut Prakan last week. The hit swung the victim 10 metres, and she died after emergency services brought her to the hospital. Since these incidents, a conversation has exploded in Thailand about pedestrian safety.

In 2017, Thailand had the highest rate of deaths from road accidents in the world, according to World Atlas. The average road traffic death rate that year was 36.2 per 100,000 population

Source: The Pattaya News