Phuket bans heavy trucks during weekday rush hours from Monday

PHUKET: Beginning on Monday, all vehicles with 10 or more wheels will be prohibited from using the resort area during rush hour traffic on weekends.

On Friday, Phuket deputy police chief Pol Col Passakorn Sonthikul announced the ban on all trucks with 10 tyres or more entering the city from 6am to 9am and 4pm to 7pm on weekends. On Monday, the new restraint will become effective.

The ban will not be enforced on vacation and public festivals, he added.

The new legislation is intended to alleviate traffic in Phuket, particularly between Phuket Airport and downtown.

Between the aircraft and Phuket, there are approximately 40 000 vehicles traveling through the area during the high season and about 10 000 during the low season.

According to the police, about 230 large vehicles from Phangna provide Phuket during the morning and evening rush time.

Any vehicles that were required to travel on the roads during the prohibited times were required to ask for permission in advance, according to Pol Col Passakorn, and the police will determine within 24 hours of receiving the demand.