CHACHOENGSAO, Thailand – The Department of Highways has installed new safety warning equipment at a crash-prone intersection in Chachoengsao on July 16, just one day after a pickup truck slammed into a median and narrowly avoided colliding with a gas tanker. Officials from the Chachoengsao Highway District moved quickly to improve safety along the Bang Phra bypass road near the parallel-road intersection, installing solar-powered flashing warning lights, reflective flexible bollards, and raised reflective road studs to make the junction more visible to motorists, particularly at night.
The recent crash reignited concerns among local residents, who say the intersection has been the scene of frequent accidents for years. According to residents, vehicles traveling from Phanom Sarakham toward Chachoengsao often maintain high speeds after descending the Bang Pakong River bridge. Although road signs warn of the upcoming junction—where motorists can turn left toward Bang Pakong and Chonburi or continue straight toward central Chachoengsao and Minburi—drivers unfamiliar with the route are often caught off guard.
Many brake suddenly after realizing they are in the wrong lane, causing rear-end collisions or sending vehicles crashing into the central median. Residents said the lack of clear warning signals has long contributed to the problem. Locals welcomed the Highway Department’s swift response, saying they hope the new warning lights and reflective safety devices will reduce accidents and spare the community from the sound of screeching brakes and frequent crashes.
