The Ministry of Transport is reviving the "rubber barrier" policy, instructing the Department of Highways and the Department of Rural Roads to accelerate standard testing, aiming for real use by 2027. Research shows a 40% reduction in injuries, saving lives on the roads while supporting rubber prices and the grassroots economy.
Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, revealed after chairing a meeting to advance policies enhancing safety across the national transport network, alongside maintaining economic stability for grassroots communities, especially rubber farmers, that he intends to promote innovations and research on rubber products through standard testing to implement them on roads. This will set new standards for preventing and reducing losses from road accidents.
The reason for pushing this policy again is concern for the safety of road users, recognizing the potential of natural rubber innovations backed by clear research from leading institutes such as Prince of Songkla University. These innovations include rubber sheets covering concrete walls (RFB), natural rubber guide posts (RGP), and rubber-coated steel rails (RGC), which excel at absorbing impact by 25-45%, reducing injury severity by up to 35-40%. Importantly, their softness is friendly to motorcycle riders, effectively reducing roadside accident fatalities.
Mr. Phiphat further advised the Department of Highways and the Department of Rural Roads to collaborate in bringing these rubber innovations through standard testing in pilot areas to evaluate cost-effectiveness and performance according to advanced traffic engineering principles. Afterward, installations will expand to high-risk locations nationwide. They will also consider developing other products such as rubber speed bumps or anti-slip rubber sheets to cover all usage dimensions, aiming for implementation in 2027.
If the Department of Highways and Department of Rural Roads successfully pilot and widely implement these standards, it will create massive domestic demand for rubber. This will directly benefit rubber prices and improve the quality of life for networks of Thai rubber product farmer institutions, especially over 29 rubber cooperatives that have already invested in machinery, allowing them to continue progressing.
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