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| model road planned for vientiane |
| The first model road for traffic in the capital is to be created at the end of the year on the section of road that includes Lane Xang and Kaysone Phomvihane avenues. |
 The first model road for traffic in the capital is to be created at the end of the year on the section of road that includes Lane Xang and Kaysone Phomvihane avenues.
Vientiane traffic police will strictly enforce regulations on the road as an example for road users to follow when they drive throughout the capital.
Head of Advertisement Unit from Vientiane Traffic Police and Fire Fighting Division, Captain Sengthong Keuabounlap, yesterday said the division was preparing for discussions with other relevant organisations prior to creating the model road.
“On this model road, we want to fully enforce traffic regulations and ensure proper traffic management will be put along the road so road users will have to strictly obey the traffic rules,” he said.
He explained the road would be fully equipped with traffic signs, speed inspection areas, cameras, designated vehicle lanes and directional markings.
Parking areas would also be used to ensure vehicles were parked appropriately, he said.
“We chose this road because it will be the main road used for transporting athletes in the upcoming South East Asian Games that our country will host in 2009,” he said.
He stressed that although the police wanted to create the model road as soon as possible and had the agreement of the Public Security Ministry, they still needed a budget allocation.
The division plans to present the idea to the Public Works and Transport Ministry and the Vientiane Urban Development and Administration Authority to obtain their input on the plan, he said.
“As we have seen on highways overseas, we need to have standards and proper facilities on our roads to ensure the safety of road users and prevent accidents,” he said.
Police Captain Sengthong said the concept would be extended to another road if the first road proved to be successful in forcing road users to obey traffic regulations.
The model road is part of a project to reduce road accidents which was announced by the Chief of the Division, Lieutenant Colonel Khamphiew Vatthanaphone on Tuesday. The chief said drivers needed to be aware of pedestrians and other road users and encouraged them not to be selfish or ignore road regulations when driving, because this behaviour could lead to accidents.
“If all drivers strictly respect and follow traffic regulations, road accidents should not happen or if one occurs it will not be your fault,” he said.
According to a report from the Public Security Ministry's Traffic Police Department, the number of road accident nationwide was 288 in July with 42 people killed and 37 seriously injured.
As well as the human cost, more than 3.5 billion kip of damage to vehicles had occurred across the country.
Road accident reports from around the country showed the capital city had the highest number of accidents in July with 117. |
| Posted on Aug 28, 2008, Resource from Vientiane Times |
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