Thailand Traffic Law - Who Has Right-of-Way?

[Banana7]

At an intersection, when the vehicle traffic light shows a green arrow straight ahead and  green arrow for a right turn, and there are no pedestrian signals, or pedestrian signals are not lit, does a pedestrian have the right-of-way, traveling in the direction indicated by the green arrow straight ahead? Do right turning vehicles have to yield to the pedestrian crossing the roadway in the direction of the straight ahead green arrow?

[sammieuk1]

You have no right of way anywhere road or pavement if you want to stay alive????

[CanuckThai]

Are you Thai or "other"...  All "others" must yield (wallets, land, vehicles, common sense, etc, etc)

[camble]

Right-of-way goes to the largest vehicle 

[4evermaat]

Generally you try to avoid hitting pedestrians.  But YMMV.  Or rather, the PMMV [Pedestrian's Mileage May Vary]

 

I've seen so many no-look turns and mindless overtakings, I've lost count.  Impulsive nature plus general apathy about traffic related deaths (chalking it up to fate).  My personal favorite just recently:

 

 

This one related to pedestrian:

 

 

I've listed several other notable clips here.

 

 

 

 

Pay attention to how many people stop and help in a lot of these cases...even the ones who witness the accident.   Just the way it is sometimes.

 

 

Edited November 25, 2018 by 4evermaat

[Katia]

Okay, so you're wondering if you're entitled to turn into the path of a pedestrian who's crossing the street you want to turn onto?  Did I interpret all of that green-arrow stuff correctly?

[stevenl]

Yes, pedestrian has right of way.

[Banana7]

On 11/26/2018 at 2:45 AM, Katia said:

Okay, so you're wondering if you're entitled to turn into the path of a pedestrian who's crossing the street you want to turn onto?  Did I interpret all of that green-arrow stuff correctly?

Yes, you are correct.

[Katia]

Regardless of whether there is a light there or not, whether the light is functional or not, I still imagine the pedestrian would be considered to "have the light" and hence has right of way.  If there was a car coming that way rather than a person walking, would it even be a question?  Regardless of the law, I wouldn't cut off a pedestrian.

[farang62]

Kind of universal The pedestrian has the Right of Way!

 

[NE1]

Section 22 of the Land Traffic act 1979. ( The Latest I could find )

States. Green Arrow:- " The driver shall drive according to the direction of the Green arrow , but shall be careful to give way to crossing pedestrians or other vehicles ".  Failure to comply 1,000 baht fine.

[thailand49]

I agree with #11 but here in Thailand driving for a number of years I rarely see it happen.  I try to stop all the time for pedestrians since here in Pattaya I rarely see crosswalks and even when I do no one seems to stop so if I need I look behind first so when I slow down or stop I don't get rear-ended. It isn't as simple as who has the right of way here.

[reargunnerph3]

On ‎11‎/‎25‎/‎2018 at 11:13 PM, camble said:

Right-of-way goes to the largest vehicle 

Cement truck & overloaded semi trailer with bad brakes then overloaded truck with bad brakes then tourist bus with no brakes then speeding overloaded pickup? Pedestrians have no right of way even on a pedestrian crossing. That's why Thais ride bikes on the foot path.

[Lacessit]

You're kidding, right? No-one has right of way in Thailand. Whatever traffic laws exist are more honoured in the breach than in the observance.

[Emster23]

19 hours ago, stevenl said:

Yes, pedestrian has right of way.

Maybe in some traffic law book no one has read. I wince when I see European tourists crossing roads here, assuming 1. they have right of way and 2. Thai drivers will stop

Perhaps should be called "dead to rights"...

[Danthai]

If your new in Thailand you will realize that there us no observed traffic rules. Thais drive anyway and how they want. Pass on hills, curves, double yellow line. Don't stop at side roads. Don't use turn signals or turn on car lights when they should. Swing left to make a right turn. Go through red lights I only post this for anyone new driving in Thailand. It took a year of driving 20 years ago to try to make sense of their driving. And heaven forbid your in a traffic circle. Most Thais do not know who has right of way in a traffic circle. Everyone, please be very careful this coming holiday session.

[chicowoodduck]

TIT= This Is Thailand.....just make up the rules as you go! ????

Edited November 28, 2018 by chicowoodduck
Spelling

[timkeen08]

The rule for right of way I go by in Thailand is that right of way goes to anyone but me.  It's saved my but quite a few times.

[sencelebi]

Almost in every country pedestrians have the right away. if there is a traffic light for them or not. Except on highways.

[Lucky mike]

Biggest !

[beavenlen]

me me me 

[connda]

The correct answer is: no one knows the correct answer. 

 

And that is one of the reasons for the carnage in Thailand.  Ill defined traffic laws that are unknown to most and followed by by few who may actually know them.  The whole concept of right-of-way fits into that category.  I doubt that a handful of citizen, including cops, understand Thai traffic laws pertaining to right-of-way.

[timkeen08]

11 minutes ago, sencelebi said:

Almost in every country pedestrians have the right away. if there is a traffic light for them or not. Except on highways.

 We know everyone in Thailand knows and follows the traffic laws and rules, right?  I look out for my own self rather than relying on what rules and laws state, especially in Thailand.

[sammieuk1]

Get it wrong and it will be your last rites of way????

[seancbk]

In Bangkok I simply walk out into traffic if I want to cross say Sukhumvit Road or any other large roads (Sukhumvit 71, Ekkamai Road, Sukhumvit 55 etc).

The cars slow down or stop when they see you.  Of course you do have to be reasonably smart and pick the right moment, but I've been doing it 10 years without incident.  

You see tourists waiting to cross on Sukhumvit near to Suk soi 33 where there is a crossing (but without any lights).  They stand there waiting for the traffic to stop and I just walk out into it.

[digger70]

Whoever gets there first Takes right of way .Works for thais  ????

[Suitcase]

52 minutes ago, sencelebi said:

Almost in every country pedestrians have the right away. if there is a traffic light for them or not. Except on highways.

I think you are dead wrong in your quote that in most countries pedestrians have the right of way.

The traffic manuals say “no one has the right of way.”

In a car you are to give right of way to a pedestrian.

Big difference

 

[NE1]

I think in America there is the Jaywalking law that states you cannot walk out into moving traffic.

[Miami007]

3 hours ago, NE1 said:

Section 22 of the Land Traffic act 1979. ( The Latest I could find )

States. Green Arrow:- " The driver shall drive according to the direction of the Green arrow , but shall be careful to give way to crossing pedestrians or other vehicles ".  Failure to comply 1,000 baht fine.

If I had 1 baht for every time a car was not giving way to me as a pedestrian during my last trip to Bangkok (2 weeks) I would be rich....

[seancbk]

18 minutes ago, NE1 said:

I think in America there is the Jaywalking law that states you cannot walk out into moving traffic.

 

Good job we are not in America then.   What would you do on a crosswalk with no lights and where cars won't stop unless you walk out?