Thailand's Transport Department reported yesterday
they expect traffic in Bangkok and surrounding areas to worsen this year . Great news for the millions of people who already spend up to four hours a day sitting in Bangkok's world-famous traffic jams. The main reason is an expected increase in the number
of cars bought, which leaves me asking what's wrong with your average Thai that they'd rather spend hours sitting in traffic in a car they "own" than minutes on the sky train or underground?
Traffic
is so bad in Bangkok now many Thais, if they start work at 8am, will leave home at 6am and arrive at work an hour early, rather than leave at 6:30 am and arrive at work late. Getting home is a nightmare, in almost every area of the city, as traffic begins
to back up before 3pm and by 6pm is at an absolute standstill.
With increased traffic also comes increased pollution. Bangkok is already one of the world's most polluted cities, (another thing
Thai governments have said they'd "fix" but little has been done). In fact, if you spend enough time in Bangkok don't be surprised if you develop breathing problems, asthma, allergies -- any number of pollution-related medical problems.
Soon after being elected in July, 2011, Yingluck, announced a tax rebate for first-time car buyers. Why? To help automobile manufacturers (namely the Japanese, one of Thailand's biggest trading partners) sell more cars.
That this would worsen traffic on Bangkok's roads and make the city even more polluted....