429 The role of local agencies in preventing and correcting road safety issues: a case study of The Bangkok metropolitan administration (BMA)

<h3></h3> This abstract will provide an overview of the road safety initiatives implemented in Bangkok. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is one of 7,850 local agencies throughout Thailand. It has established a safe transportation infrastructure, serving nearly 10 million people. BMA has utilized iRAP’s star rating tools to improve road safety within its area of responsibility. Since the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Road Safety grant in 2016, BMA has collaborated closely with iRAP and ThaiRAP to create safer roads in Bangkok. In 2023, the BMA assessed over 900 kilometers of road network using the iRAP’s standard. The organization has successfully identified high-risk areas that threaten road users through this initiative. A total of 174 risk spots were identified, and action was taken to fix them. Regarding vulnerable road users, BMA has enhanced the safety of 500 pedestrian crossings by illustrating and marking the crosswalks, including signalized crosswalks, and flashing warning signs. Additionally, the BMA has established a new standard for sidewalks to enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety by improving the quality of sidewalks. Enforcing a speed limit of 80 km/h, even in urban areas, is a significant issue contributing to the risk of collisions in Bangkok. To ensure safer speeds on community roads and secondary streets, the BMA has implemented reduced speed limits on strategic routes. Based on the results of past operations, it is evident that the BMA has implemented road safety procedures that adhere to road assessment standards. The primary objective of these measures is to monitor, improve, and address the risks associated with road accidents. This approach is an effective tool for prevention, working in conjunction with identifying and correcting vulnerabilities pinpointed through accident statistics, aiming to minimize the losses incurred on the roads. With such success, the BMA will serve as a model local agency to aid in the development of preventive and corrective solutions for collision issues in the areas of other local agencies nationwide.