Samak Lueduanghad, Director of the Highways Department Phuket office, announced the order for ramped-up warnings at all roadworks sites yesterday (July 24).
“Signs to warn motorists must be installed one kilometre, 500 metres and 300m before each roadworks site,” he said. “All safety equipment, such as barricades and lights must be in place and ready to use before construction starts.”
Mr Samak explained that order follows an investigation into the crash of the BMW in front of Phuket International Hospital on July 18. (See story here.)
“Before the accident, our officials inspected the area and confirmed that all required safety equipment was in place. However, some of it may not have been functioning at the time of the accident,” Mr Samak said.
“After the accident, we ordered the construction company to install more warning lights, but Vichit police later informed us that some of the lights were not working properly and some did not come on at all.”
In December last year, 7-year-old Molly Anne Bailey died after the pickup truck she was travelling in crashed into a huge hole in Srisoonthorn, in central Phuket, that had not been marked with effective warnings. (See story here.)
In March, her parents voiced their anger over the lack of preventative action taken y Srisoonthorn Municipality. (See story here.)
As recently as late April, a Chinese man was injured in Patong after driving his car into a ditch at the side of the road which has been made to install new drains (See story here.)