Cops in Bangkok to undergo “traffic awareness” project – controlling traffic “both science and art”, says top cop

Police in Bangkok – especially those that operate the lights – are to take part in a traffic awareness project to help them be more proactive and understand the problems motorists face. Part of the plan is to have them sit frustrated in traffic like the average motorist.

Region 9 commander Jiraphat Phoomijit presenting the initiative said: “There is a perception among the public that wherever there are police there is bad traffic, reported Sanook.

“The reality is that controlling the traffic is both science and an art. You cannot be doing it just watching a screen or reading the newspaper”. He was pictured taking in officers’ mobile phones before training began Monday.

Jiraphat pointed to the monotony of a traffic cops job and wants them to be trained to be more proactive in their assessment of situations as they develop – and how to solve them.

With this in mind traffic cops are to experience first hand what most Bangkokians experience daily – they will be driven around various accident black spots and get stuck in traffic for up to three hours a day. This will help them realize the problems, it is hoped.

They will also be studying traffic plans and theories developed internationally.

They will learn about not leaving lights on red for too long at any intersection – a source of much of the grumbling from motorists directed to police sitting in their booths.

Four minutes is the maximum that should be allowed, it was stated.

The project is set to run all this week until next Monday and will involve traffic police from all Region 9 stations.

Sanook

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