DLT increases fines for motorists who fail to stop at zebra crossings

The Department of Land Transport (DLT) increased the fine for motorists failing to stop at a zebra crossing from 1,000 baht to 4,000 baht. The DLT will also deduct one point from an offender’s driving license.

A survey conducted last year by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, and the Thai Roads Foundation, revealed that almost 90% of vehicles in Bangkok do not stop at zebra crossings.

Over 90% of the vehicles failed to stop at the zebra crossing in front of Bhumirajanagarindra Kidney Institute Hospital. The spot is where a police officer, Norawich Buadok, crashed his Ducati motorcycle into an eye doctor, Waraluck Supawatjariyakul, and killed her.

The accident was supposed to raise awareness among Thai motorists but a series of injuries and deaths at the zebra crossing continued to be reported in the media. So, locals and several organisations requested the government to introduce more severe traffic penalties on offending motorists.

The DLT then introduced a new traffic law to reduce accidents on zebra crossings which came into immediate effect.

Under the former law, motorists who failed to stop at a crossing would face a fine of up to 1,000 baht. Now the fine is 4,000 baht.

Vehicles are expected to stop at least 3 metres before a crosswalk. Motorists who stop on a crossing face a fine of up to 500 baht.

The points deduction system will be operated in this case too. If motorists fail to stop at crossings, one point will be deducted from their driving license.

Every driver has a total of 12 points. If they run out of points, their driving licenses will be suspended for 90 days. If their licenses are suspended more than three times within three years, they face a suspension of more than 90 days. Their licenses will be revoked if their points keep being deducted within one year after the suspension.