Emergency lane set for ambulances in Bangkok

BANGKOK, September 26 (TNA) - An emergency lane has been first set as a pilot project at the Victory Monument in Bangkok, a most traffic congested area in the heart of the city, to facilitate ambulances rushing to hospitals located in adjacent areas. National Legislative Assembly (NLA) Vice President Surachai Liengboonlertchai and Deputy National Police Chief Police General Pongsapat Pongcharoen jointly launched the two-kilometer emergency lane on Monday, from Din Daeng Expressway to Rajavithi Hospital. The emergency lane can be recognized by a red dash line with the white cross sign on the red circle. When an ambulance arrives, private cars and public buses must leave the emergency lane for the ambulance to reach the Rajavithi Hospital within eight minutes in order to help save patients’ lives. Police General Pongsapat told reporters that the emergency lane will also facilitate ambulances taking patients to other nearby four hospitals near the Victory Monument. According to the deputy national police chief, traffic police officers will be trained to facilitate motorists in the congested area. Besides, more surveys will be conducted in other traffic congested areas where hospitals are located in order to also set the similar emergency lanes. "The emergency lane at the Victory Monument is a measure launched for cooperation from motorists on the voluntary basis with no legal punishment", said the NLA vice president. (TNA)