Traffic in Bangkok is a total nightmare, but it was still surprising to find out that traffic jams in Bangkok waste about THB97 million worth of fuel a day on average. That’s THB35 billion a year, according to the chairman of a National Reform Steering Assembly sub-panel.
The traffic problem is one that should be addressed immediately since it deeply affects the people living in Thailand, as well as the environment. It also leads to huge economic losses.
Seree Suwanpanont, the chairman of the sub-committee overseeing road safety, blames the inadequate road structure and rapid increase in the number of cars for the THB97 million waste.
As of this moment, the number of cars registered in Bangkok and surrounding provinces is greatly larger than the number of vehicles that the existing road systems can properly accommodate. The existing road systems can accommodate 1.5 million vehicles, while there are about 9 million registered vehicles.
Suggestions as to what should be done about the traffic congestion have been made, but also rejected due to the fact that other laws would be required the possible solutions..
For now, the Defense Minister, Prawit Wongsuwon, has instructed Pol Lt Gen Sanit Mahathavorn, who is the acting commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, to increase the number of traffic police in all areas. National police chief Pol. Gen. Chakthip Chaijinda has ordered riot-control police to serve as temporary traffic police in many Bangkok areas. This is to help with the flow in traffic.
Commuters have been asked as to cooperate by using public transportation instead of private cars.
Urgent reforms aimed at traffic congestion and road safety problems have been proposed to be put on the national agenda, reported Bangkok Post.
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