Pedestrian crossings ‘need to be safer’

PUBLISHED: 17 Feb 2025 at 05: 08

Pedestrians cross the street on a zebra crossing. Research shows that 20 high-risk crossings are in front of schools and hospitals. Nutthawat Wichieanbut — On a horse passing, commuters cross the street. Study shows that 20 high-risk bridges are in front of schools and hospitals. Nutthawat Wichieanbut

As most highway fatalities have been discovered to occur outside of schools and hospitals, befed up safety measures at Bangkok commuter bridges are being urged.

Following a current collision where a bicycle struck a 68-year-old North Korean holiday at a pedestrian passing outside the Kidney Institute Hospital on Phaya Thai Road in Ratchathewi area, Chamaipan Santikarn, director of ThaiHealth’s Social Mobilisation for Motorcycle Safety Project, made the call.

It was the same spot two years ago when an ophthalmologist was fatally struck by a motorist while crossing the street.

Ms Chamaipan said the fact that the two incidents occurred in the same spot, despite there being a distinct prevent lighting, reflects Thailand’s failure to address road crash protection.

” Accident protection is not hard. Government agencies may play a vital part in this issue”, she said.

In many countries, she said, rumbling pieces are installed ahead of pedestrian bridges to instantly slow vehicles down, which can help avoid accidents.

She said that the ELLUMIN Intelligent Pedestrian System, which uses illuminated symptoms, bright cameras, and good alerts when pedestrians are waiting to traverse, improves the efficiency of pedestrian crossings in China.

South Korea, in contrast, has installed a smart crosswalk system that features crossing lights on the ground for people who are walking on their phones or when buses obstruct their view of traditional lights.

Before crossing, they are notified by audio guidance, and they can see illuminated crossing signs installed nighttime even from a distance.

In addition to safety measures, she said, there are sensors and cameras that can capture license plates of vehicles that violate crosswalk regulations.

In Bangkok, according to recent data from CCTV cameras at pedestrian crossings, 20 high-risk locations are located in front of schools and hospitals.

These include: Bangkok Intercare School, Yothinburana School, Kidney Institute Hospital, Buengthonglang High School, Rattanakosinsompoch Bangkhunthian School and Big C on Itsaraphap Road.