Traffic Congestion: Academic Statistics and Contributing Factors

This article presents an academic and statistical analysis of the key factors contributing to traffic congestion on major roads and highways in Thailand, based on empirical data from governmental and international research, including King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), the Department of Highways (DOH), and the Permanent International Association of Road Congresses (PIARC). The analysis identifies the most significant contributing behaviors as parallel heavy trucks across multiple lanes (≈50%), trucks driving in the rightmost lane (≈40%), parallel driving in middle/right lanes (≈35%), and driving below the speed limit (≈30%). These behaviors generate “Bottleneck Effects” and “Traffic Wall Effects,” significantly increasing vehicle density and reducing average speeds. The study recommends an integrated approach combining law enforcement, road discipline campaigns, and infrastructure improvements to enhance the efficiency of the transport network.