Saksayam vows daytime ban for lorries

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob has vowed to keep lorries off Bangkok’s roads during the day in a fresh bid to help reduce Bangkok’s notorious traffic jams.

Under the new proposal, lorries will only be allowed to ply Bangkok and parts of neighbouring provinces at night, Mr Saksayam said yesterday.

“I have to put this policy into practice no matter what,” Mr Saksayam insisted, giving the Department of Land Transport one month to work on the details and hold talks with truck operators.

Under the plan, access for trucks to the central urban zone — the area between the western Outer Ring Road and the eastern Outer Ring Road as well as parts of neighbouring Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan provinces — is limited to the four hours between midnight and 4am.

Outside this zone, trucks will be able to access the capital’s streets from 9pm to 6am.

The minister said he is also considering limits on large lorries carrying freight such as cement, fuel and rotten food.

The policy should reduce the number of large vehicles by 50,000 during the day, he said.

Mr Saksayam said he has ordered officials to study whether the new schedule will affect truck operators, but added it should not lead to additional costs.

“This initiative will not incur more costs for lorries or affect prices of goods. On the contrary, I believe the operators will save more because they can transport goods faster when there is less traffic,” said Mr Saksayam.