Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post
Police are stepping up efforts to crack down on dangerous and reckless driving, using an electronic camera system.
Read the following story from the Bangkok Post to learn more about the new technology.
INTELLIGENT EYE
Dubbed “Intelligent Ja Choei,” the new camera system looks out for cars which illegally change lanes and issues tickets to violators, according to the Traffic Police Division.
Though it takes its name from the old Ja Choei, or Sergeant Indifferent dummies set up at intersections to deter traffic violations, the new system aims to influence motorists more directly.
The first intelligent camera has been installed at the Suthisan intersection in Bangkok.
Developed with the support of the Thailand Research Fund, the system takes photos of cars as they cut into other lanes, analyses their makes, checks their registration numbers and issues tickets, said Pol Lt Col Panupong Panudulkitti from the Traffic Police Division.
SYSTEMATIC CONTROL
The camera records cars before, during and after they cut into another lane. The data is then sent to a control centre to match the cars with the owners, whose details are in a database. Violators receive the ticket by post.
The system is designed to recognise up to 15 car makes, and classify 12 colours and different car types.
However, police will need to check whether a motorist, found guilty by the system, did break the law or if the system mistakenly issued a ticket, Panupong said.
During a trial which started in March, Intelligent Ja Choei logged up to 500-800 wrongdoings a day. Violators will be told to pay fines within 30 days or face summonses. Failure to report to authorities will result in car registration suspensions.
Exercises
Read the story. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words.
1. The first intelligent camera has been installed at the ___________ intersection in Bangkok
2. Violators shall pay fines within ______ days or face summonses.
3. Violators receive the ticket by ___¬¬¬___¬¬¬_.
4. The new camera system looks out for cars which illegally change__________.
Vocabulary
- violator (n): a person who refuses to obey a law
dummy (n): a model of a person, used especially when making clothes or for showing them in a shop window
wrongdoing (n): illegal or dishonest behaviour
summons (n): an order to appear in court
