Pol Maj-General Jirapat Phumjit, deputy chief of the MPB who oversees traffic regulations in the city, said on Sunday that all precincts had been instructed to dispatch policemen from 5am to enable traffic flows towards city areas. The city’s Thesakij officials would also help alleviate jams in front of large schools.

Police had also prepared tools such as trucks and battery-charging wires to help solve the problem of broken-down cars, he added.

Jirapat said that in a recent meeting with schools and parents, police had requested children be dropped off at school before 7.30am, which meant they could leave their houses around 5am, to avoid congestion of commuters travelling to work a little later.

The schools were also asked to inform parents about recommended routes.

Police instructed companies involved in road construction or repair projects not to let their tools or machinery obstruct rush-hour traffic.