'First-car scheme snarls traffic' | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

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'First-car scheme snarls traffic'

The government's tax rebate for first-time car buyers has become one of the main causes of worsening traffic congestion in Bangkok, according to survey results released on Saturday by Nida Poll.

Pollsters at the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) based the conclusion on interviews with 1,500 people, aged 18 up, from all education levels and occupations in Bangkok’s 50 districts, from Jan 17-19.

When asked about the root causes of traffic jams, 65.73% of the respondents pointed to the substantial increase in the number of new cars, boosted by the first-car programme.

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Your comments

  • DutchAjarn

    ThailandPost : 9

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    Discussion 25 : 27 Jan 2013 at 08.1425

    It is nice to ask the Bangkok people what - according to them - is the reason for the traffic jams but that does not mean that their answers reflect the real truth. Some of the REAL reasons for traffic jams (according to scientific research) are: the use of the car (for Thai the car is holy and a prestige object; so if you have one you should use it as much as possible), reckless driving (very common in Bangkok), accidents, the organization of the traffic (U-turns only exist in Thailand as far as i know) and also the capacity of the roads.

  • koolbreez

    ThailandPost : 639

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    Discussion 24 : 27 Jan 2013 at 05.3424

    Roadway usage is a big problem. How many major roads have outer lanes closed off for parking, loading, and unloading, and vending. That is a problem all over the city, then all the side sois that the main roads empty onto are clogged up with the same problems. If the police force would quit renting out the streets to make a profit...

    Creating more mass transit will not lessen the conjestion on the roads. It will give those without transport the ability to travel farther for work,but those people with cars will still drive to work. And........car pooling will never be a thought. Too much "face" involved to even consider car pooling to wor

  • Mr.T

    Discussion 23 : 27 Jan 2013 at 04.1123

    I could remember somebody said "I will solve Bangkok traffics within 3 months" lol. By encourage people to buy more cars with the tax rebate scam sorry scheme. More cars on the road = more traffics, and I am sorry many Thais can't drive properly
    from iPhone application.

  • drsmith

    ThailandPost : 1,591

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    Discussion 22 : 26 Jan 2013 at 22.2222

    If there is money to be made, Thai's would sell 20,000,000 cars and stuff them all into Bangkok making traffic gridlock 24/7 without giving one thought to the fact the city was only designed for 1,400,000 cars. Just an example of another govt decision catering to those making the money at the expense of the entire nation gridlocked in traffic. Where is the common sense most five years would have? Even a 5 year old knows not to fill the glass with milk until it is overflowing but not the government and their car scheme.

  • jwatch

    ThailandPost : 761

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    Discussion 21 : 26 Jan 2013 at 22.1121

    come on...there's nothing this government does that is wrong

  • jwatch

    ThailandPost : 761

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    Discussion 20 : 26 Jan 2013 at 22.0120

    awwwww

  • The Dark Side

    ThailandPost : 632

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    Discussion 19 : 26 Jan 2013 at 20.3519

    How about teaching Thai idiot drivers how to drive. Then you can eliminate 95% of all the ridiculous u-turns necessary to negotiate going from point A to point B when drivers follow the rules of traffic lights. When this happens you will decrease the amount of time and distance that your vehicle is on the road.
    For pollution, fire all of the boys in brown and get a real police force that enforces the laws. You can then eliminate 99.99% of all the speed bumps that you now have to drive over resulting in the constant stop and go stop and go which wastes lots of fuel!
    Time for Thai's to step up and be something more then 'Developing.'

  • santa

    ThailandPost : 21

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    Discussion 18 : 26 Jan 2013 at 19.5818

    then why isn't the people running for Bangkok Governor having any policy to fix this?

  • patchar

    ThailandPost : 417

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    Discussion 17 : 26 Jan 2013 at 19.4417

    and to think that this policy will continue over the years for the new graduates and employed young generations.. as long as those people who formualted this policy are still in the position.

  • djay

    ThailandPost : 248

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    Discussion 16 : 26 Jan 2013 at 19.1616

    Just guessing, but I have to imagine that they take in the equivalient of several million dollars a day in tolls. Wonder where that money goes.

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