Campaign targets motorbike accidents

The police, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and non-governmental organisations yesterday jointly launched a public campaign aimed at strengthening the enforcement of traffic regulations, especially on motorcycle drivers, to curb road accidents.

The parties plan to scale up the campaign from Monday.

A vast majority of road accidents in Thailand involve motorcycles, an estimated 80% of which have resulted in deaths, said Dr Taejing Siripanich, secretary-general of the Don't Drive Drunk Foundation.

Since January, 10,926 people have been killed in this way, including 686 in Bangkok alone, he said.

The campaign is focused on urban roads, and communities and areas near schools and other types of educational institutions, said Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat, a deputy national police chief speaking in his capacity as head of the Royal Thai Police's traffic administration centre.

Some food delivery companies are also taking part in the campaign, he said.

Driving intentionally in the wrong lane, one of the most common offences among motorcyclists, can result in a maximum fine of 500 baht while running a red light can cost motorcyclists up to 1,000 baht in fines, he said.

Driving on the pavement may result in a fine of between 400 baht and 1,000 baht for violating the Traffic Act, as well as an additional fine of at most 5,000 baht for breaking the law on city cleanliness and tidiness, he said.

Reckless drivers can be fined from 400 baht to 1,000 baht.

Motorcyclists who break traffic regulations and cause damage to other parties in a road accident can also face an additional charge.

This carries a maximum jail sentence of three months, plus a fine of between 2,000 baht and 10,000 baht, he said.

Motorists are also urged to take part in this campaign by submitting to police or the Don't Drive Drunk Foundation video clips of traffic violations recorded by their car cameras, he noted.