Chalong Police held a special meeting yesterday (Sept 6) to determine what action to take after receiving the urgent order from Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Teerapol Thipjaroen.
The move to prevent further deadly accidents at the site follows Chalong Mayor Samran Jindaphol yesterday posting videos of the accidents on social media, both which quickly went viral.
The first video shows the collision between a motorbike ridden by a foreign man wearing a helmet colliding into a white sedan exiting Soi Thanuthep by turning right onto Chao Fa East Rd at 10:35pm on Monday (Sept 5).
The second video shows a woman, also wearing a white helmet, colliding with another white sedan, this one a Toyota Vios, at 8.30am on Tuesday. The Vios was performing exactly the same manoeuvre that caused the fatal accident the night before: exiting Soi Thanuthep by turning right onto Chao Fa East Rd.
In response Chalong Police held a joint meeting yesterday with Chalong Municipality councillors and representatives from the Phuket Highways Office.
“We are considering having traffic lights installed at the intersection,” Chalong Traffic Police Chief Lt Col Suchat Singha told The Phuket News today.
“But before we confirm to do that, we will have a ‘No Right Turn’ sign posted at the exit of Soi Thanuthep as soon as possible and have Traffic Police officers will be posted there to ensure dirvers observe the sign.
“Any drivers found turning right onto Chao Fa East Rd at that intersection will face a fine of up to B1,000,” he said.
“People exiting Soi Thanuthep and wanting to head south on Chao Fa East RD must turn left and head north first and make a U-turn at Soi Koktanode. It is safer,” Col Suchat said.
If further action is needed, police will consider having speed bumps installed on Chao Fa East Rd to slow vehicles down before the intersection, he added.