A group of activists campaigning for better quality of life, about 30 of them former victims of road accidents, today (Wednesday) gathered in front of Government House to submit a petition letter, addressed to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, urging the government to take steps to ensure safety for pedestrians using zebra crossings following a recent high-profile accident that left a pedestrian dead.
The group, holding up placards urging for safety at zebra crossings, proposed some measures in their petition letter. The measures include strict enforcement of traffic laws, for instances, by treating a fatal accident which occurs on zebra crossing as a murder; setting speed limits in urban areas at no more than 30 km per hour; increasing fines for road accidents and making zebra crossing much safer.
The group also proposed the government to express condolences to family of the dead victim known as “Doctor Kratai” who was an eye specialist at Chulalongkorn University. The 33-year-old doctor was hit by a big bike ridden at high speed by a crowd control police officer, as she was crossing a road on zebra crossing in Bangkok’s Phaya Thai district on January 21st. The perpetrator has surrendered himself to the police.
The young doctor’s death also provoked public outrage and demand for strict enforcement of traffic laws, particularly concerning the widespread disrespect of pedestrians’ right to use zebra crossings by motorists and motorcyclists in Bangkok and other provinces.
The Royal Thai Police is proposing amendment to a land traffic law to increase the fine amount for violating traffic signs including zebra crossings from 1,000 baht to 4,000 baht.
Source: Thai PBS World
