A street safety programme continues to be launched to promote the usage of bicycles as a means of transport in homage to the ophthalmologist who was run over by a motorcycle at a zebra crossing in Bangkok earlier this year.
The campaign had been opened on Sept 1 with mothers and fathers of the late doctor, Waraluck Supawatjariyakul, unveiling billboards trumpeting the “Rabbit Crossing” project across Bangkok. Bunny translates into Thai because kratai which is also Dr Waraluck’s nickname.
The project aims in order to heighten public recognition about the danger of accidents at people crossings.
Dr Waraluck, which worked at the Teachers of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University, was struck down with a policeman driving a Ducati motorcycle at a crossing on Phaya Thai Road within Ratchathewi district on Jan 21.
The electronic billboards containing the street safety message are operated by media production company, Program B.
Ratchanee Supawatjariyakul, Dr Waraluck’s mother, said the campaign seemed to be intended to raise attention about the need for traffic discipline especially from pedestrian crossings. The project has been adopted by several schools in and outside Bangkok.
Signs will be built to remind road users to slow, stop and avoid overtaking some other vehicles at people crossings. “Don’t let public safety end up being forgotten, ” she said.
Ms Ratchanee stated traffic discipline is usually rarely enforced in crossings. In some places, zebra crossings are coated on the road surface with no signs to alert motorists to be cautious about upcoming busy places where pedestrians gather to cross the road.
“We don’t want our daughter to have passed away in vain, inch she said.
Dr Anirut Supawatjariyakul, Dr Waraluck’s father, said the particular political will had been lacking in taking the people crossing safety strategy to a wider level.
Dr Chamaiporn Santikan, mind of a project on motorcycle safety, stated motorcycles are the greatest cause of road deaths and injuries, creating 84% of total accidents.