Video: Could new U-Turn design be the beginning of the end of road carnage in Thailand?

[Thian]

17 minutes ago, fakename said:

Whats going to happen, when a truck AND trailer, tries to make the turn, and gets Stuck! Of course he will end up just pushing through the barriers. Those barriers will be all flattened in no time. 

Last month i drove behind a VIP escorted vehicle and the BMW just drove over the barriers..they didn't break but just flipped back...

[Bangkok Barry]

There never seems to be any logic in where they place the U-turns. It's as if someone sticks a pin in a map and says, "Here." I know of one in Kalasin that was closed (then why build it in the first place, duh!) and they opened up another much closer to a bend so drivers can't see what is coming at them as they make the turn. Just insane.
 

Edited January 25, 2018 by Bangkok Barry

[gunderhill]

Its  still crap, how about staggering them so your  view of oncoming traffic  isn't  blocked by the folk trying to u turn the other way.

Actually  doubt anything they do will help as they simply  dont know how to drive or what "Give way" markings  mean, same with indicators, they seem to think it gives  you the right to just shove yer way in.

[selftaopath]

Did anyone else see the motorbike rider (at the bottom of the video) turning left and not staying in the designated U turn lane? lol Do Thais typically follow rules of the road or road courtesy?

[robblok]

1 hour ago, madmitch said:

The missus was very surprised at how well roundabouts work in the UK, where drivers are actually taught how to use them and generally respect the rules. Of course such a system is much safer and better for general traffic flow than any system involving u-turns, but without proper driver training they don't work, hence the u-turn culture.

I can't see roundabouts working here on the places i see U turns.. 

- often not enough room to construct one

- on the main highways it would slow traffic down too much.

- there are too many u turns to replace them all with roundabouts.. it would make it totally unworkable.

 

U turns like the new system are good, even better are the ones that go over the road and let cars enter on the slow lane (same goes for those going under the road)

[DILLIGAD]

I can't see roundabouts working here on the places i see U turns.. 
- often not enough room to construct one
- on the main highways it would slow traffic down too much.
- there are too many u turns to replace them all with roundabouts.. it would make it totally unworkable.
 
U turns like the new system are good, even better are the ones that go over the road and let cars enter on the slow lane (same goes for those going under the road)

I agree. Coming from the land that ‘invented’ roundabouts, they are only good if drivers understand who to ‘give way’ to. Where there is an ‘everyone for themselves’ attitude it’s a disaster waiting to happen IMO.


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[fxe1200]

A juggernaut would not make it around the corner. I would promote a solution with a magnetically controlled traffic light.

[MichaelJohn]

Isn't that just another lane to use for over/undertaking? 

[ChiangMaiLightning2143]

The bollards will not be maintained,  knocked down and disappear.

Motocy will go right through anyway in a few month back to normal ops

with sppeding vehicles across painted lines.

 

[Dmaxdan]

1 hour ago, madmitch said:

The missus was very surprised at how well roundabouts work in the UK, where drivers are actually taught how to use them and generally respect the rules. Of course such a system is much safer and better for general traffic flow than any system involving u-turns, but without proper driver training they don't work, hence the u-turn culture.

You have hit the nail on the head as to why there are no U-turns on British roads. Roundabouts slow everybody down so when accidents do occur they are at a low speed and only the vehicles are damaged.

 

 

 

 

[connda]

Thais will use neither the deceleration lane or the acceleration lanes.  Large trucks will still block the right lane and the deceleration lane as the pull into the median bypassing all the vehicles in the designed turn lane leaving the backs of their trucks hanging out on the highway as usual, and pull out in front of oncoming traffic completely ignoring the acceleration / merge lane. And cars and trucks will double and triple up in the median and simple pull out into traffic as usual. Drivers wanting to make a left hand turn 1/2 km up the road will still drive 90 degree straight across oncoming traffic instead of using the acceleration / merge lanes, just like they do now.

 

Why doesn't this moronic country engineer cloverleaf intersection designs and limited access highways like Western nations.  Even the new and improved U-turns are death traps.  The design isn't necessarily flawed, but Thai drivers will not drive within the design constraints.  So they will be just as lethal. 

Edited January 25, 2018 by connda

[seajae]

wont do a thing, thais simply refuse to follow the road rules, the arrows mean nothing and I have had 3 or 4 cars all lined up beside me at a u turn area because they lack patience and none want to wait for anyone else. Until the laws are enforced  and the police get off their bums and do their jobs the road deaths will just keep climbing

[petesc55]

They need the directional spikes in the pavement like they have in some parking garages.   Drive against the spikes, and your tires are toast.

[Classic Ray]

Physical preventive barriers are essential to stop Thai driving flexibility. Trouble is it costs money.

[Ceruhe]

This could have been a novel with a 1000 pages which one just wouldn't need to read and be able to simply say "no".

 

Consider also this design can only be implemented with new roads in mind and requires quite a lot more space, which in turn means it would happen in most of our cities as there is no space for that, including the ring roads for most part.

 

Overall a pretty bad band-aid all things considered how traffic works here :/

[300sd]

It will work when drivers learn how to merge! Good luck with that!

 

 

 

[mikebell]

Police patrols after dark would pull in millions in 'fines' for bikes with no lights; drunk drivers; speeders; red-light runners.  Unfortunately just as Thailand closes for business from noon till 1pm, so police finish work just as real crime starts up.  Have Thais never heard of working in shifts?

[evadgib]

[Rally123]

Roundabouts are the answer, but unfortunately Thais don't use them correctly. Hence why they took them out in Buriram adjacent to the Uni.

[gintis0604]

There should be NO U-turns but roundabouts.

U-turns are not allowed in many of European countries, because of the danger. 

[glasswort]

U turns are inherently dangerous no matter how the design is tweaked. What happens on a two lane road with hardly any central reservation to on which to form the new acceleration lane?

[robertson468]

3 hours ago, realfunster said:

It looks like an improvement to me. Better/safer flow back into traffic after the turn, I assume this will also reduce or eliminate the highly dangerous fast-lane u-turn queues.

 

Certainly more practical than the recent J-turn presented. 

 

Before even playing the video, I saw the cones protecting the turn in the screen-grab and thought that would be open to abuse, our motorbike riding friend didn’t disappoint !

I thought the same about motor bikes, the only solution is, instead of cones they could have a wall say about 2 to 3 foot high which would force the motor bikes (and cars) to stay within the parameters of the lane they have turned in to.

[newnative]

  They need to start by actually constructing a U turn LANE.  Lane, as in a separate lane that gets you OUT of the high speed traffic lane while you are waiting in line to turn.  Way too many on Sukumvit in greater Pattaya leave you in the traffic lane, or not off it enough, and vulnerable to a high-speed rear end collision. (Although I noticed that they seem to be working on some of the U turn lanes south of Pattaya, so maybe some progress.)

[CantSpell]

With concrete posts around the turning area maybe...

 

Orange plastic cones will be gone in a week and back to business... :)

[HOAX]

They got one in Udon as well, due to construction. Will it save lives? Yes, which is great, but so many cars shifting lanes at some point is will still cause accidents. Its a lack of creativity, thats what it is. Such a huge problem, and all its worth is just a few cones.


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[JonnyF]

The design is safer. Trouble is, locals will still use it to U turn the wrong way, untrained drivers will be unable to U-turn in the narrower turning circle, the bollards will be knocked over within days and left in the middle of the main carriageway, someone will setup a grilled pork stall on the central reservation etc.

 

It's a start, but driver training and real policing are the long term solutions. 

 

 

[impulse]

1 hour ago, connda said:

Why doesn't this moronic country engineer cloverleaf intersection designs and limited access highways like Western nations.  Even the new and improved U-turns are death traps.  The design isn't necessarily flawed, but Thai drivers will not drive within the design constraints.  So they will be just as lethal. 

 

Look up how much a cloverleaf intersection costs to build and you'll have your first answer.

 

You and I agree on your second point- if you're saying that enforcement of the design constraints (and traffic laws in general) is the most cost effective way forward.  Not just cost effective, but a great revenue generator.  And add a point system so that HiSo's with lots of dosh can't just laugh while they're paying the ridiculously cheap (200-1000 baht) traffic fines that are required to keep from bankrupting the masses who can't afford $300 tickets like back home.

 

Edited January 25, 2018 by metisdead
Please do not modify someone else's post in your quoted reply, either with font or color changes or wording.

[SunsetT]

Yes some improvement, but why have they made the pointed central reservation/island severely narrow down at its tip the wide hard shoulder on either side. The wide part will invite vehicles and motorbikes to cut inside vehicles, especially larger slower vehicles keeping in lane, and then be at serious risk of being hit or crushed when it narrows.

[AsianAtHeart]

3 hours ago, Thian said:

Thai have never learned how to make a sharp corner plus they drive vehicles which are too large for them.

It's sure possible to make a u-turn and not block the incoming lane if you know how to use the steeringwheel.

Actually, the problem is not so much the use of the steering wheel.  The problem is the failure to properly utilize the brake prior to the turn and then gently use the accelerator as they make the turn.  Many Western drivers don't get this either.  So many people do the opposite, and apply brakes throughout the turn--which results in a greater reduction of speed overall, and less efficient traffic flow.

 

However, I've seen many who keep their claim on their current lane and who move just halfway into the turn lane whilst slowing to a crawl for the turn--thus forcing traffic behind them to slow down along with them.  That might qualify as not knowing how to use the steering wheel.

[kenjinuk]

A similar turning system introduced on the Mitrapap road, Khon Kaen, near to the immigration office. Lots of orange zoning lines and orange bollards  but to my mind no better, turning lorries block the view in order to navigate the turn. The filter lane will bring slow cars and lorries to join the fast outside lane of a 4 lane highway.  When will someone discover that a roundabout works very well in most other countries to slow traffic and allow easier joining and crossing busy roads.