City gears up for school-traffic chaos next week
The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) is mobilising more than 70,000 traffic policemen, volunteers and city law-enforcement officials to facilitate traffic flow at the start of the new school semester.
For most schools in Bangkok, the upcoming semester will start in the coming week.
As a huge number of parents drive their children to schools, it is very likely that traffic jams will spread in the capital as soon as the school day begins.
Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Maj-General Utaiwan Kaeosa-ard, who oversees traffic affairs, said special attention would be given to main roads such as Samsen, Silom, Ploenchit, Sathorn and Charoenkrung.
“We have also focused on 26 schools that usually have traffic problems,” he said.
Bangkok Christian College, for example, had daily inflow of 4,000 cars in the morning alone, Utaiwan said. Such a huge number of vehicles had affected traffic flow on Sathorn and Charoenkrung roads.
Samsemwittayalai, Suankularb Wittayalai, St Joseph Convent and Mater Dei schools are among those with large traffic volume.
“These 26 schools affect traffic flows on 34 roads and 54 intersections,” Utaiwan said.
He said officials would do their best to prevent traffic congestion and road accidents.
However, he said relevant authorities would welcome comments and suggestions.
“If you have recommendations or complaints about traffic, call 1197 or contact us via www.trafficpolice.go.th,” Utaiwan said.
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