Flashermac Posted August 18, 2016 Report Share Posted August 18, 2016 The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) has ordered traffic police to stop using automatic traffic lights in Bangkok and control them manually instead. MPB acting commissioner Sanit Mahathavorn said he ordered the ban on automated traffic signals, saying traffic police must use manual controls to ensure smooth traffic. Pol Lt Gen Sanit said traffic lights were not suitable in Bangkok where the number of vehicles in each direction differed. Therefore, automated traffic lights might not be consistent with traffic conditions, he said. "Officers who still use the automated traffic light countdown system will face a penalty of three days' confinement at police headquarters. ... http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1064412/sanit-puts-traffic-lights-back-on-manual Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelgianBoy Posted August 18, 2016 Report Share Posted August 18, 2016 LOL the simple idioty of it........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted August 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2016 I had the fun of sitting about 20 minutes this afternoon, waiting for the policeman to decide to change the light for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coss Posted August 18, 2016 Report Share Posted August 18, 2016 One wonders why they purchased the automated system in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bust Posted August 19, 2016 Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 PNG did one better while I was there. Spent $3m on breath testing units then realized they don't have blood alcohol level while driving laws. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted August 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 One wonders why they purchased the automated system in the first place. Allegedly, the police were furious when a Bangkok governor (I forget which one) ordered the automated system. They flat out refused to use it for a while, saying it suggested they couldn't do their job properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted August 19, 2016 Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 Hi, "saying it suggested they couldn't do their job properly." Which would probably be a fair assessment. Sanuk! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YimSiam Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 Brilliant move. Looking forward to more such innovation, and the chaos to follow! More reason to stick with death-defying motocy rides... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted August 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2016 Up until the late 1980s, the city police were brilliant at directing traffic. Traffic cops at the intersections and wongwians always kept the traffic moving swiftly, and it was a New Year's tradition for drivers to give gifts to the traffic police ... bottles of whisky, cartons of cigarettes, baskets of food, clothing for their children, or at least new calendars. (They'd take it all back to the station to divide up.) But that was before Bangkok's traffic became horrendous. Nowadays you seldom see a policeman on the street. They will be flipping switches in an a/c booth, sometimes reading newspapers or watching TV to pass the time (and ignoring the traffic backed up on the road). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekong Posted August 21, 2016 Report Share Posted August 21, 2016 or at least new calendars. (They'd take it all back to the station to divide up.) Wouldn't a box of dates be easier? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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