Thailand to start nationwide campaigns next week to promote pedestrian safety on zebra crossings
The governors of all 76 provinces in Thailand are organizing a road safety awareness campaign under the theme ‘Campaign to Prevent Accidents on Crosswalks’ from February 21 to 25.
Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda has instructed the governors, in their capacity as head of the provincial road safety bureau, to launch motorists’ awareness campaigns to respect traffic laws and ensure pedestrian safety on zebra crossings.
Anupong said an accident on a pedestrian crossing in Bangkok that killed a female doctor prompted Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, chairman of the Road Safety Centre, to hold a meeting at which it was decided to launch nationwide road safety awareness campaigns.
The campaigns will aim to make motorists aware of potential loss of life if they break traffic rules, Anupong said.
During the campaign week, the traffic police will increase the arrests of traffic offenders, who will receive maximum fines.
The officials involved will also repaint road markings to make crosswalks clearer, and will put up road signs to warn motorists of the crosswalks, the interior minister added.
The campaigns will also tell motorists to reduce their speed on zebra crossings near schools, in communal areas and in front of hospitals.
“Above all, the campaigns will tell motorists to give way to pedestrians on zebra crossings,” Anupong said.
He said the security awareness campaigns will be repeated on the 21st of each month for now.
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