Stories tagged with driving
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Ban on cell phone driving
The Thai Traffic Police Office declared that the NLA (National Legislative Assembly) had passed the 8th draft of the land transport act, paving the way for a new law to be imposed banning the use of a hand-held mobile communication device while driving.
Thailand’s move to outlaw using a mobile phone while driving is due to take effect on May 8 and is hoped to help curb worsening road traffic accident statistics in the country.
As with other countries that observe a similar law, individuals will still be able to use mobile phones while driving, albeit ones that are connected up to a hands-free device.
The law specifically details that mobile communication devices must not be held, or even touched, while driving.
Those who are caught using a cell phone while driving after May 8 can expect to be stopped and fined between 400 and 1,000 baht.
Road blocks will periodically be set up to catch perpetrators as with current road blocks for speeding motorists, tax/insurance violators, and for other offences.
More on driving in Thailand
Posted by: Andrew on 18 Feb 2008, 15:52 -
Chalong Circle may be history
Motorists may be able to breathe a sigh of relief if the Provincial Highways Office goes ahead with its proposed removal of southern Phuket’s famous landmark roundabout, Chalong Circle.
The director of the provincial office of the Highways Department, Saroj Suwinchai, says that the idea is to relieve traffic congestion by installing traffic lights at the five-way junction.
The traffic lights would replace the busy roundabout to control the four main roads to: Kata-Karon (Patak road), the bypass road (Chao Fa East road), Phuket City (Chao Fa West road) and to Rawai (Wiset road).
That would only leave the smaller Chalong Pier road, where oncoming traffic will be forced to head south along Wiset road before U-turning and heading back toward the lights.
Permission to remove the fountain in the centre of Chalong Circe must be sought from the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), however, before any work could be carried out.
The chief of OrBorJor’s civil works department, Prasong Manokarn, has said that removing the fountain will be easy although the OrBorJor council will need to approve at their next meeting.
If the plan to remove Chalong Circle goes ahead, it can only mean good things for the south of Phuket as it gets extremely congested during rush hours and accidents are very common.
Getting around Phuket and road safety
Posted by: Andrew on 22 Jan 2008, 08:30 -
Travel warnings in Northern Thailand
Travelers to Thailand are currently experiencing the country’s monsoon-like rains which have resulted in the flooding of several areas around Thailand, making travel in some areas difficult and even dangerous.
In the Hot district of Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand, 30 houses have been destroyed by floods in the past few days. Travelers should note that the highway between Chiang Mai and Mae Sariang is partially under water in some places. The highway is popular with tourists on motorcycles.
In addition, Hot, Omkoi, Doi Tao, and Mae Chaem districts are being warned to prepare for possible landslides if the rainfall continues.
The Bangkok-bound lane of the Friendship highway in Sung Noen district was closed for some time after water levels on the road exceeded 50 centimeters in some areas.
Mae Hong Son, another popular tourist destination in the north, has closed one of its key bridges after fast moving water in the rain-swollen river damaged a foundation pole.
Those still in Bangkok should be advised that the popular day trip to Ayutthaya may also be affected by the heavy rainfall. Wat Maheyong, a historic site in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district, is in danger of being flooded by the swollen waters of the nearby Pa Sak river.
Shuttle boat service in the Saen Saeb canal in Bangkok had to be suspended for a day due to the high water level in the canal but the service has since resumed.
Irrigation officials are working to prevent more flooding to Bangkok but safety and caution on the highways is advised at this time.
Posted by: Jen on 14 Oct 2007, 12:21