At 10am yesterday (Feb16) at Phuket City Police Station, Governor Chockchai Dejamornthan together with the commander of the Phuket Provincial Police Maj Gen Teeraphol Thipjaroen and Vice President of the Phuket branch of the Thai Road Safety Network Mr Wiwat Sritamanot joined a press conference to launch the red light cameras provided by the Safer Roads Foundation.
Gov Chockchai said, “We want drivers to change their driving habits and reduce the amount of drivers who break traffic laws. This is especially the case when it comes to motorcycle riders not wearing helmets. We want to make Phuket 100% helmet wearing.
“Moreover, the new red light cameras will also be part of out Phuket Smart City campaign,” he said.
“In six months time we will also have technology which will allow us to check vehicle licence plates and driver’s faces as they pass through the Phuket Checkpoint. We are also to receive a budget of B131 million to help us expand Phuket Checkpoint to eight lanes and this will be finished in October,” he said.
Maj Gen Teerapol added, “Between 1997-2007 there were approximately 200 people dying on Phuket’s roads per year, and the number of road injuries was 4,952.55 per 100,000 of the population.
“Between 2008-2015 the number of deaths was reduced to around 100 per year,” he said.
“Running red lights is the main cause of accidents, but unfortunately there are not enough police officers to catch all of the law breakers so we want to reduce accidents by using these red light cameras we received from the Safer Road Foundation,” he added.
The junctions where the red light cameras have been installed are: Khao Lan on Thepkrasattri Rd in Srisoonthorn, Chao Fa Tawan Tok – Khwang Rd in Wichit, Sri Gor in Kathu, Kamala and Gormaratat in Phuket Town.
Please see The Phuket News’ front page story from September 2016 regarding the installation of the red light cameras here.