Wake up, smell the car fumes

Chiang Mai police will invite a university student who took a pillow and blanket to “sleep” in the middle of an intersection which is known to have the heaviest traffic in the province for a warning, according to a report on Sanook.

Norapat KamMart, who said on his Facebook he is a photography student at the Fine Arts Department at Chiang Mai University, uploaded the photo of himself “sleeping” on a zebra crossing while motorcycle drivers and the province’s iconic red song-taew waited in bemusement.

He captioned the photo with: “Found a new place to sleep for myself”. The student, however, clarified that the photo, along with other similar ones he pasted a link to, were part of his class assignment.

The photo was taken on Huay Kaew Road, in front of the Maya department store. The spot is known among locals as an intersection where people have to wait for ages for the lights to turn green, according to Sanook.

The photo has been shared more than 4,000 times and provoked discussion about how Chiang Mai’s traffic has become increasingly congested, on par with Bangkok’s.

After his photo was widely shared, Mr Norapat insisted he was not trying to parody or protest against the traffic snarl-up with his “sleeping at the traffic light” photo set.

Pol Col Thapanaphan Chairangsi, in charge of Chiang Mai traffic affairs, however, said Mr Norapat’s stunt was inappropriate as it could have posed a danger to the public. He said the student will be invited to visit police for a warning, according to the report.