5-4-3-2-1-blastoff!

PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Highways Office (PPHO) has installed “count-down” traffic lights at three points on Thepkrasattri Rd.

The Chief of the PPHO, Wanchai Wattanasiri, said the installation of the new lights – which show how many seconds are left before the signal changes – is aimed at cutting the number of accidents resulting from people running red lights.

The new lights, costing a total of 660,000 baht, have been installed at the Wor Kor intersection just north of Phuket City, the Thalang intersection and the turnoff to the airport.

“If this system is effective in reducing the number of accidents, we will install it in many other parts of Phuket,” K. Wanchai said.

Phuket City Municipality also has plans to install count-down lights in the city. Wanlop Wangdan, Deputy Chief of Public Works, told the Gazette that the first will be erected soon at the Phang Nga Rd-Montri Rd intersection. The plan is to install the new system at 10 places around the city by the end of the year.