Ending traffic woes just tip of the iceberg

Lat Phrao Road, which used to have horrendous traffic, now has begun three years of even worse traffic, so that the Yellow Line monorail can be built. (File photo)

Should Bangkok's traffic gridlock serve as a test case to see who deserves our vote come the next election?

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha briefly touched on the capital's infamous Gordian Knot last week when he was quoted in news reports as saying he wanted all traffic-related agencies to work together and produce tangible changes in three months.

It was a bold statement. With the number of cars and motorcycles eight times greater than what is considered suitable for the city's road surface, and increasing at the rate of 700 new cars and 400 motorbikes a day, traffic jams are one problem that no politician, elected or otherwise, have ever solved.