Presiding over the project re-launch at the traffic police command on Bangkok’s Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, Jirasan noted that many of the city’s road accidents stemmed from people running a red light, and so police have tried to arrest as many offenders as possible to discourage that behaviour.

As of July, city police had arrested 1,932 red-light runners, he said. The revamped system’s soft run from August 1-25, identified 22,260 violators (an average of 890 violators per day). Seventy per cent (15,728 violators) took place during daytime, with the remainder at night. The top three worst-hit sites during daytime were Ratchada-Rama 4 at 3,082 cases, Narinthorn (outbound) at 2,534 cases, and Taksin at 2,163 cases, while the top-three worst-hit sites at night were Ratchada-Rama 4 at 1,288 cases, Asoke-Phetchaburi (972 cases and Narinthorn (outbound) 939 cases.

Improved from the system in place since 2009, this updated version uses more high-tech operational system. It has been removed from seven camera-equipped intersections currently affected by major infrastructure construction to new locations, while 23 other spots remained the same, Jirasan said. The 30 intersections where red-light runners will be automatically detected and recorded both day and night include Phayathai, Urupong, Meng Jai, Asoke-Phetchaburi, Prachanukul, Ratchada-Lat Phrao, Nida, Prawet, Pho Kaew, Ratchada-Rama 4, and Sathorn.

Each intersection will be installed with 2-3 activated-around-the-clock high-definition and infrared-equipped cameras. Two warning signs – at 100 metres and 500 metres before motorists reached the camera’s focus point – will give drivers a chance to save themselves. Data could be stored for at least two months.

Both still and motion images of a law-breaking car will be sent to the traffic police control and command centre to check against the car registration number, vehicle model and colour, and then a traffic ticket will be issued and sent to the car’s owner within seven days.

Car owners could also retrospectively check the prior offences via the website http://www.trafficpolice.go.th by using the password attached in the footnote of the traffic ticket, with the information kept there for at least one year, Jirasan noted. The offence of running a red light is punishable by a maximum Bt1,000 fine, but the city police would impose a Bt500 fine, he added.