Fury after biker rams into girl on pavement
News of a young student who was on Monday knocked down by a sidewalkhogging motorbike has caused a public uproar over failing law enforcement.
The matter went viral after a Twitter user reported seeing a secondary schoolgirl being knocked down by a motorcycle by Soi Lat Phrao 69 on Lat Phrao Road.
The motorcyclist was later identified as Phuwadol Srisamrong, 23. He was initially charged with careless driving and causing injuries to another person.
The injured student is 16-year-old Kulnee Chanraweetura, who was hospitalised after the incident but is now safe.
Netizens caused an uproar over the incident, slamming the biker for lacking discipline and police for failing to enforce the law against those who ride motorcycles on footpaths.
Actress Panadda “Boom” Wongphudee, head of the Do Good Things Organisation, posted on her Facebook page: “A motorcycle hit a student on the footpath. Is it not true? Why do people still have to be aware [of vehicles] while they are on footpaths? Why do we never have serious law enforcement?”
Pol Col Krisana Patanacharoen, deputy spokesman of the Royal Thai Police Office, said yesterday the motorcyclist would be charged with a traffic violation and a violation of the sidewalk cleanliness law.
Driving a motorcycle along a footpath carries a maximum fine of 1,000 baht. The sidewalk cleanliness violation yields a maximum fine of 5,000 baht, he said.
Pol Col Krisana said police could not adequately ensure public safety from motorbikes on sidewalks because they do not have the manpower, especially during rush hours.
Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said City Hall’s thetsakit inspectors were also responsible for arresting motorcyclists riding on footpaths, under the pavement cleanliness law.
He said these motorcyclists have no regard for other people. But he said change must start in adjusting the attitudes of the motorcyclists.
Meanwhile, city inspectors will continue trying to keep the footpaths safe for the general public, he said.