Despite being regularly hit by motorcyclists and risking his health on a daily basis, Quartermaster Kawee Prateepsen loves his career as a traffic police officer so much that he’s been helping Bangkok’s traffic flow for over two decades. He tells us why he still enjoys it after all these year.

BK: Why did you become a traffic police officer?
Kawee Prateepsen: It’s all about passion, I guess. I joined the traffic police when I was 18 and I have been doing it for 25 years. I have now been working in the Silom neighborhood for almost 20 years.

BK: Tell us about your daily routine?
KP: We usually arrive at the station around 5:30am for roll call but the real work starts at 6:30am when the commuter traffic from outside Bangkok starts to pour in. Here in Silom, the traffic  usually eases down after 9am so at least we get to relax a bit before the roads get crowded again around 11:30am. During my break, I always have to stand by at the checkpoints. Just to watch out for drivers who might be breaking the traffic rules.

BK: Do you have any health problems due to the daily exposure to pollution?
KP: Of course. We have to breathe in polluted air every day with only this mask for protection. Most traffic police officers suffer from high-levels of lead in their blood. Also, working out on the streets, you are more prone to accidents. Sometimes reckless motorcycle drivers just don’t see you. I’ve been hit many times… maybe I am unlucky.

BK: Anything Else?
KP: Working in a loud environment, we can develop hearing problems. It means we can be unaware that we are using a loud voice when we talk to you. Please don’t think that we are threatening or yelling.

BK: How do you respond to the negative way that traffic police are portrayed?
KP: I try not to let it stress me out because we are already under a lot of stress on duty. It’s important to understand that other people on the streets are also edgy and stressed so we all have to control ourselves.

BK: What do you like most about your job?
KP: Sometimes I get bored and I know I am putting my health on the line. But like I said, I really have a passion for the job. It requires teamwork and we support each other. Compared to other types of police officers, it’s the job that’s closest to the people. We are the first people they see when they start their day.