Schools open, traffic jams

Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Maj-General Panu Kerdlarpphol said roads that linked Krung Thon Bridge and Taksin Bridge were the most congested between 6am and 8am.

Skytrain ignored

Cars were still bumper to bumper in Thon Buri's Wong Wian Yai despite the opening of the new Skytrain route over the Chao Phya river.

"Most parents didn't switch from driving their children to schools as parking lots at the new stations are not yet available. So the traffic was jammed in the area and along the Taksin Bridge-Sathon Road route," Panu said.

Other congested areas included Samsen and Sukhumvit, where several large schools are located.

"All in all, due to the absence of rain, the jams for the opening day of school were less heavy than last year," said Panu.

He added that traffic police, traffic volunteers and municipal officials were helping ease traffic all over the capital, especially in front of big schools.

Police were at schools to encourage parents to find alternatives to driving their kids to school or at least spend less time around the entrances.

Panu will board a helicopter this morning to pinpoint traffic hotspots and seek |solutions to the problem.