The campaign was opened on Sept 1 with parents of the late doctor, Waraluck Supawatjariyakul, unveiling billboards trumpeting the “Rabbit Crossing” project across Bangkok. Rabbit translates into Thai as kratai which is also Dr Waraluck’s nickname.
A road safety programme has been launched to promote the use of bicycles as a means of transport in tribute to the ophthalmologist who was run over by a motorcycle at a zebra crossing in Bangkok early this year.
Dr Waraluck, who worked at the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University, was struck down by a policeman driving a Ducati motorcycle at a crossing on Phaya Thai Road in Ratchathewi district on Jan 21.
Ratchanee Supawatjariyakul, Dr Waraluck’s mother, said the campaign was also intended to raise awareness about the need for traffic discipline especially at pedestrian crossings.
Signs will be erected to remind motorists to slow, stop and avoid overtaking other vehicles at pedestrian crossings.
Ms Ratchanee said traffic discipline is rarely enforced at crossings. In some places, zebra crossings are painted on the road surface with no signs to warn motorists to be cautious where pedestrians gather to cross the road.
“We don’t want our daughter to have died in vain,” she said.
Dr Chamaiporn Santikan, head of a project on motorcycle safety, said motorcycles are the biggest cause of road deaths and injuries, making up 84% of total accidents.
Credit Bangkok Post
