Even though the concrete
barriers are out there to keep people from cutting across dangerous
traffic, many motorcycle drivers just ignore them and instead make
u-turns around them.
Phasakorn Channgam
Pattaya officials met to brainstorm how to fix road problems and
improve traffic safety but ended up just bickering over three Third Road
barriers.
Anupong Phutanawarat of the Department of Peace and Stability
Maintenance chaired the Oct. 10 meeting with police and city council
members.
Councilman Sanit Boonmachai suggested that one way to improve traffic on
Third Road would be to remove three barriers blocking cross traffic at
sois Sophon, Korphai, Bongkot.
Sanit said the barriers are made of cement and create more traffic
problems than they solve. He said signs would suffice.
Anupong disagreed, claiming the barriers prevent accidents by slowing
speeding motorbikes. He said the obstacles make people more cautious.
And they are made of cement, he said, to prevent people from moving
them, as happened with water-filled plastic barriers.
The meeting ended with no change in the barrier policy. However, they
likely will be repainted to be more obvious and officials will monitor
accidents in their proximity for three months, then reevaluate.
