Skip to main content

Thailand tells drivers to speed up - and reduce accidents

Thailand's road authorities have revealed that nearly a third of accidents are caused by motorists driving too slowly in the fast lanes.
By Ben Spencer March 5, 2020 Read time: 1 min
A third of road accidents caused by drivers travelling too slow in fast lane (© Martinslezacek | Dreamstime.com)

In a Bangkok Post report, the department's director general Sarawut Songsivilai claims slow driving is second only to the 45% of accidents caused by cars veering off roads.

"If a motorist in an outer lane is driving slowly the driver behind will try to pass on the inside lane where his view of traffic in front will be obscured, which often leads to cars colliding,” he says.

"Proposed new speed limits for outer lanes will be clearly marked and are designed to lower the chances of sideswiping or rear-ending," Songsivilai adds.

The Transport Ministry is reportedly seeking to increase the speed limit on outer lanes from 80kph to 90kph for major roads and highways which have a minimum of four lanes.

 

Related Content

  • Machine vision makes progress in traffic applications
    June 2, 2014
    Machine Vision technology is easing the burden on hard-pressed control room staff and overloaded communications networks.
  • Parking provision dictates commuters’ modal choice
    March 16, 2016
    Researchers from two American Universities have found the provision of parking spaces can encourage automobile use and increase traffic congestion. It is well understood that increased automobile use is linked to congestion, environmental degradation and negative health and safety impacts. Trials of smart parking technology has shown a reduction in circulating traffic (looking for parking) can ease congestion and that the cost of parking can influence commuters’ modal choice. Now, researchers at the univers
  • Artificial intelligence changes Idemia’s image
    May 13, 2021
    Idemia pledges to make life safer for VRUs with new products based around existing technology, Jean-Paul Baldacci tells Adam Hill
  • Latvia calls for re-introduction of speed cameras
    November 18, 2013
    Latvia’s road traffic Safety directorate (CSDD) has called for the reintroduction of stationary and mobile speed cameras and higher penalties for exceeding the speed limit. CSDD representative Janis Golubev emphasised that the two main causes of death are violation of speed limits and the carelessness of pedestrians who do not use light-reflecting accessories. ‘Most of the road accidents are linked to speed limit violations,’ he said. He admits that ever since speed cameras disappeared from Latvia’s roa