The Culture Ministry and the head of Thailand’s Anti Drink Drive foundation think they have come up with the perfect way to change Thai driving behaviour and make motorists stop for pedestrians at zebra crossings.
Take a picture with your smart phone when you spot someone stop for you. Then send it to the ministry or the foundation and they will find a way to reward the motorist.
Dr Thaejing Siripanich the secretary of the foundation was bigging up a joint campaign that kicks off today entitled “Zebra Crossings – Are they Safe?”
The good doctor, whose name literally means “it’s really true”, thinks that sending in pictures of motorists obeying the law will encourage good driving behaviour.
The campaign will also be carrying out surveys in Bangkok and nationwide to check whether there is proper signage in place before zebra crossings warning motorists that one is coming up.
If there isn’t proper signage they will endeavour to get that fixed.
Dr Thaejing said that motorists who don’t stop face fines of 1,000 baht.
It is worth noting that today is March 9th. April 1st is in a little over three weeks!
Times comment:-The authorities really don’t help themselves sometimes and once again they have held themselves open to ridicule. There is nothing wrong with giving pedestrians priority at crossings but “rewarding” drivers for obeying the rules is nonsense. As well as possible delays occurring as drivers “smile for the camera !”
(Source:-Daily News)