Phuket police hunt driver after tourist killed crossing road

2 hours ago, Korat Kiwi said:

Pedestrian crossings don't mean diddly squat. I certainly don't trust them.

After a few close shaves using pedestrian crossings in Bkk I share this view

A sad loss of life and I hope the culprit is caught

RIP

I noticed here anyone who is operating anything just pushing it through. People with shopping carts at markets, get out of my way “I”’m coming. Amazing, isn’t it. 🤣

probably from one of those European countries that operate on belief pedestrians have the right of way, whereas here it is the size of your locomotion that determines right of way. Feet are on the very bottom rung

It occurred very late night/early morning. The driver probably wasn't expecting a pedestrian and the pedestrian probably wasn't expecting a car to bear down on her that quickly. It's difficult to judge speed and distance at night. The one thing I'll say about crosswalks is they're usually lighted, giving the driver a fighting chance of seeing a pedestrian (if said driver is paying attention).

23 minutes ago, OneManShow said:

I noticed here anyone who is operating anything just pushing it through. People with shopping carts at markets, get out of my way “I”’m coming. Amazing, isn’t it. 🤣

Not just here. In my home country middle-aged women and mothers took no prisoners in barging their way around the supermarket.

3 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

The most dangerous part of Thailand is simply crossing the road! The attitude here is car-friendly not people-friendly.

Chinese tourists are constantly walking out in the roadways without looking, it’s any wonder that more of them don’t get nailed.

2 hours ago, Korat Kiwi said:

Pedestrian crossings don't mean diddly squat. I certainly don't trust them.

No mention of a pedestrian crossing. CCTV might provide further information of victim's death.

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

No mention of a pedestrian crossing. CCTV might provide further information of victim's death.

Speed reading again were you?

21 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

police are now examining CCTV footage to identify and prosecute the person responsible.

4 hours ago, Moonlover said:

I don't put any faith in pedestrian crossings anywhere. Not even in my home country, the UK. Especially since the advent of mobile phones. Even 'handsfree' use is distracting.

And here they are very dangerous at night because of the widespread use of dark windshield coatings.

I refuse to drive my daughter's car at night because of the dark windscreen. She refuses to listen to my nagging and says it's normal for Thailand.

...Maybe Speed Bumps Should Be Incorporated...Installed Just Before The Pedestrian Crossings...(?)

7 hours ago, Korat Kiwi said:

Pedestrian crossings don't mean diddly squat. I certainly don't trust them.

I almost found that out the hard way one time. I wasn't thinking about it too much, and I actually thought that several lanes of cars and busses all stopped at the light at a crosswalk meant that traffic was actually stopped. And yet one guy on a motorcycle apparently thought that stopping for the light was optional, and he buzzed right between a bus and a car and came within an inch or so of running me over. That probably would have been the end of me, as he was really moving.

Sometimes when I stop for people who are trying to cross I see they look confused and not sure what to do. Some frozen and looking and some perhaps hard to believe.

I understand them perfectly, because one in thousand perhaps stops for people to cross.

Pedestrian crossing in Thailand means "Look both ways, calculate your odds, and run for your life"

12 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Dangerous.

Someone will run up the back of you one day, or, the pedestrian will walk out because you have stopped, and then get hit in lane 2 because you have obstructed their view.

Really ?!!! we must never stop at ped cross ?

what you referring to is not always the scenario.

6 hours ago, boloaf said:

I refuse to drive my daughter's car at night because of the dark windscreen. She refuses to listen to my nagging and says it's normal for Thailand.

I've had that discussion as well, but now I just blame my vision. I tell them it doesn't adjust to the dark as well as it it used to. It's less confrontational. (and possibly true as well)

9 hours ago, novacova said:

Chinese tourists are constantly walking out in the roadways without looking, it’s any wonder that more of them don’t get nailed.

I believe that Chinese tourists are programmed to expect traffic to drive on the right and thus look the wrong way.

1 hour ago, KhunHeineken said:

Dangerous.

Someone will run up the back of you one day, or, the pedestrian will walk out because you have stopped, and then get hit in lane 2 because you have obstructed their view.

Same could happen when you stop at a red traffic light. Are you going to ignore those too?

5 hours ago, SOTIRIOS said:

...Maybe Speed Bumps Should Be Incorporated...Installed Just Before The Pedestrian Crossings...(?)

Nah, that's too sensible

I suspect 4:45 am has a bearing on the actions of all involved.

This is a main thoroughfare/highway going to and from the airport where at that time with little to no traffic, drivers will easily do 120kph. What was she doing crossing that road then?

RIP and condolences to family and friends, but am wondering what her blood alcohol level was.

8 hours ago, OneManShow said:

Sometimes when I stop for people who are trying to cross I see they look confused and not sure what to do. Some frozen and looking and some perhaps hard to believe.

I understand them perfectly, because one in thousand perhaps stops for people to cross.

It's just not safe to stop and allow people to cross.

Why?

Because, when you stop, you encourage pedestrians to cross the street.

Then, dozens of other cars behind you do not stop, and whizz past you.

Result: One more dead foreigner on the street.

These people should call a GRAB car if they want to cross a major street or avenue.

This is what I do.

And, I haven't been hit once.

I never cross major arteries on foot.

I am still alive.

It costs only a few Baht to call a GRAB.

18 hours ago, Moonlover said:

I don't put any faith in pedestrian crossings anywhere. Not even in my home country, the UK. Especially since the advent of mobile phones. Even 'handsfree' use is distracting.

And here they are very dangerous at night because of the widespread use of dark windshield coatings.

18 hours ago, Moonlover said:

And here they are very dangerous at night because of the widespread use of dark windshield coatings.

this is true, i refuse to drive the girlfriend's car at night because i simply can't see through the windscreen. very dangerous.

14 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Speed reading again were you?

There is cctv but it was not at a pedestrian crossing.

The problem is as usual, NO LAW ENFORCEMENT. The police don't care because they were not instructed to do so. The fines are a joke. In my country western country you could get the death penqalty in such cases. Conclusion this is a third world country, the priority rules are the bigger you are the most power you have. Thus first the big vans, than the smaller ones, than the big motorbikes and the smaller ones, even not worth to mention the cyclists. At the end of the row are the pedestrians. THIS IS A BANANA kingdom were the strongest are ruling

19 hours ago, OneManShow said:

I noticed here anyone who is operating anything just pushing it through. People with shopping carts at markets, get out of my way “I”’m coming. Amazing, isn’t it. 🤣

Come now, it isn't that bad! They are a bit pushy on say a motorcycle trying go get through a pedestrian crowd.....it is a bit me me me!

8 hours ago, Priorexpat said:

This is a main thoroughfare/highway going to and from the airport where at that time with little to no traffic, drivers will easily do 120kph. What was she doing crossing that road then?

17 hours ago, SOTIRIOS said:

...Maybe Speed Bumps Should Be Incorporated...Installed Just Before The Pedestrian Crossings...(?)

Speed humps on fast roads such as this are dangerous and would likely cause even more accidents. Especially in Thailand where there are so many motorcycles. A speed hump can easily cause the rider to loose control.