Thai police see role model in Seoul
A visit by Thai police to observe South Korea's Seoul Metropolitan Police traffic management, has encouraged local officers to consider adopting the South Korean model for Thai streets.
Traffic Police chief Pol MajGeneral Uthaiwan Kaewsaard said most Koreans respect the law and there are fewer than five road accidents a day in the capital. Half of Seoul’s 2,000 traffic police patrol the streets and traffic is monitored via CCTV cameras which cover 436 roads.
Each camera can turn 360 degrees, zoom and feed information to the centre. Seoul police can reach an accident scene within three minutes, he said. While radio reports traffic conditions, a map of city traffic with colourcode roads is also available to the public through TV, Internet and smart phones free of charge, he said.
Each private car's general period of use was only seven years, beyond which motorists must pay an additional tax for pollution prevention. Seoul sets a rotating timetable for when personal cars and taxis can be used, while also promoting public transport, so there are no severe traffic jams.
Children are taught to respect traffic laws and penalties for drunk driving are severe; a hefty fine and driver's licence seizure. A drunk driver causing another's death would be bankrupted by paying high nonnegotiable compensation.