A road safety programme has been launched to promote the use of bicycles as a means of transport in tribute to the ophthalmologist who was run over by a motorcycle at a zebra crossing in Bangkok early this year.
The campaign was opened on Sept 1 with parents of the late doctor, Waraluck Supawatjariyakul, unveiling billboards trumpeting the "Rabbit Crossing" project across Bangkok. Rabbit translates into Thai as kratai which is also Dr Waraluck's nickname.
The project aims to heighten public awareness about the danger of accidents at pedestrian crossings.
Dr Waraluck, who worked at the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University, was struck down by a policeman driving a Ducati motorcycle at a crossing on Phaya Thai Road in Ratchathewi district on Jan 21.
The digital billboards containing the road safety message are operated by media production company, Plan B.
Ratchanee Supawatjariyakul, Dr Waraluck's mother, said the campaign was also intended to raise awareness about the need for traffic discipline especially at pedestrian crossings. The project has been adopted by several schools in and outside Bangkok.
Signs will be erected to remind motorists to slow, stop and avoid overtaking other vehicles at pedestrian crossings. "Don't let public safety be forgotten," she said.
Ms Ratchanee said traffic discipline is rarely enforced at crossings. In some places, zebra crossings are painted on the road surface with no signs to warn motorists to be cautious about upcoming busy spots where pedestrians gather to cross the road.
"We don't want our daughter to have died in vain," she said.
Dr Anirut Supawatjariyakul, Dr Waraluck's father, said the political will was lacking in taking the pedestrian crossing safety campaign to a wider level.
Dr Chamaiporn Santikan, head of a project on motorcycle safety, said motorcycles are the biggest cause of road deaths and injuries, making up 84% of total accidents.
