Pattaya tries again to make drivers stop for pedestrians

[Rimmer]

Pattaya tries again to make drivers stop for pedestrians

 

PATTAYA:--Pattaya City Hall once again is trying to get drivers to heed pedestrian crossing signals and walks.

 

In a Jan. 3 statement, city hall said accidents largely are the fault of careless drivers who just blow through the red lights at crossing signals and don’t yield to tourists used to western road regulations that give pedestrians the right of way.

 

“All drivers should respect traffic rules by stopping at traffic signals … or slowing down upon arriving in community zones,” the statement said.

 

“Moreover, the drivers must observe warning signs and immediately slow down or stop the vehicle when seeing pedestrians crossing the street within 50-100 meters for safety.”

 

But city hall also warned pedestrians to do their part, only crossing when signals turn green and not to walk in the street, despite the sorry or nonexistent state of most Pattaya sidewalks.

 

It’s not the first time, of course, that authorities have tried to reign in reckless drivers, a campaign that began with the installation of 42 lights by former mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, brother of current mayor Sonthaya Kunplome.

 

See more: https://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattaya-tries-again-to-make-drivers-stop-for-pedestrians-283419

-- PATTAYA MAIL 2020-01-05--

[tinca tinca]

thais WILL NOT STOP for anyone crossing a zebra crossing... THEY HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED to the fact that people have the RIGHT to cross in safety....and is LAW to stop and let them cross....!!!

[sometime]

It should read

Pattaya tries again to make Thai drivers stop for pedestrians

[cyril sneer]

1 minute ago, tinca tinca said:

thais WILL NOT STOP for anyone crossing a zebra crossing... THEY HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED to the fact that people have the RIGHT to cross in safety....and is LAW to stop and let them cross....!!!

they would do the same even if educated

[DannyCarlton]

No mention of pedestrian crossings that aren't controlled by lights.

[RotBenz8888]

46 minutes ago, Rimmer said:

All drivers should respect traffic rules by stopping at traffic signals … or slowing down upon arriving in community zones,” the statement said.

 

“Moreover, the drivers must observe warning signs and immediately slow down or stop the vehicle when seeing pedestrians crossing the street within 50-100 meters for safety.”

They're talking to deaf ears.

[VBF]

1 hour ago, cyril sneer said:

they would do the same even if educated

[NanLaew]

The cars, buses and songtaews generally aren't the danger here. It's the 2-wheelers blowing down the gaps between stopped vehicles that need special ed.

[seajae]

hard when many of the road users are brain dead once they start driving/riding and can only see what they want to, happens everyday in Thailand

 

[richard_smith237]

More media lip service and arrogance from those in positions of decision making power who seem to think all it takes is an announcement and everyone falls into line....   the repetition of this fvckwittery is embarrassing....

[Bruce Aussie Chiang Mai]

Only one thing work, light goes red tyre spikes pop up. Next thing open a tyre store near pedestrian crossing.

????❤????????

[White Christmas13]

16 minutes ago, Bruce Aussie Chiang Mai said:

Only one thing work, light goes red tyre spikes pop up. Next thing open a tyre store near pedestrian crossing.

????❤????????

Good idea but what about the ones without lights?

[fruitman]

5 hours ago, DannyCarlton said:

No mention of pedestrian crossings that aren't controlled by lights.

At beachroad Jomtien they have lights with a push button but i bet they turned the button off...i've been waiting soo long there to get green but it never came...

[brokenbone]

5 hours ago, tinca tinca said:

thais WILL NOT STOP for anyone crossing a zebra crossing... THEY HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED to the fact that people have the RIGHT to cross in safety....and is LAW to stop and let them cross....!!!

nah...as the name suggest the zebra crossings are for zebras,

mere humans must still comply with the most fundamental

of all laws: smaller must give way to bigger, or else

Edited January 5, 2020 by brokenbone

[impulse]

1 hour ago, White Christmas13 said:

Good idea but what about the ones without lights?

 

In most of the places I've lived and traveled, zebra crossings simply mean it's legal for pedestrians to cross there.  They don't convey any right of way.  The red light does that.

 

Other places, like California, drivers do have to stop for pedestrians already in the crosswalk.

 

If you always had to yield to pedestrians in a zebra crossing, these cars would never move...

[scorecard]

7 hours ago, tinca tinca said:

thais WILL NOT STOP for anyone crossing a zebra crossing... THEY HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED to the fact that people have the RIGHT to cross in safety....and is LAW to stop and let them cross....!!!

Agree, many Thais, including educated folks don't know the law, including many aspects of many areas of law and includng the actual laws re pedestrian crossings. 

 

Several times european exchange students in my MBA courses have asked the Thai students about the laws re zebra crossings, typical Thai responses (these are not teenagers, mostly mid twenties and older, most working):

 

- 'There are no laws on this subject'

 

- 'The white marks are there to make the roads look professional but have no actual meaning.'

 

-'Simple, cars should always come first because of cultural 'rules' about more wealthy people'.

 

-'Cannot ask drivers to stop, that's not polite / too difficult to stop quickly.'

 

-'Have to stop but only for one person then the vehicles can proceed'.

 

and more

 

And the best one; one of the students called her uncle who is a senior cop, his response (on speakerphone) the Thai law says all vehicles must stop when people are walkng on the zebra crosing or are obviously about to start to walk on the crossing, and must wait until the pededstrians are all on the opposite footpath, but if I see people distrupting the traffic flow I will punish them.

Edited January 5, 2020 by scorecard

[jimmybcool]

For anyone reading this that has never been to Pattaya - PLEASE don't count on being safe in a crosswalk.  LOL

 

I recall when they first painted these.  There was one on Second road near Soi Diana.  I was waiting for the inevitable time when it would be safe to dash across the road and live while watching a tourist couple.  I really don't know where they were from but it was somewhere that takes zebra crossings very seriously as the man wanted to just stride out into the traffic.  I usually shut my mouth in such instances but I did speak kinda low to the lady who looked terrified "it isn't safe.  Wait for a gap".  

 

He didn't.  He did get across alive but almost caused a pile up.  One baht bus used it's only functional front left brake to come to a screeching halt.  She looked so relieved to be in the other side.  A minute later I crossed with no excitement.  

[balo]

You would probably risk your life if you only walked on green and trusted the drivers to stop.     

[DannyCarlton]

2 hours ago, impulse said:

In most of the places I've lived and traveled, zebra crossings simply mean it's legal for pedestrians to cross there.  They don't convey any right of way.  The red light does that.

 

Other places, like California, drivers do have to stop for pedestrians already in the crosswalk.

 

If you always had to yield to pedestrians in a zebra crossing, these cars would never move...

It's an absolute rule in the UK. If a pedestrian is stood at a zebra crossing, you must stop.

 

Cars still move.

[steven100]

good luck with that one ...

[BobBKK]

CCTV and 10,000 fine - done

[findlay13]

Hahaha.Good luck with that.The only thing they'll give way to is Bigger stuff.Bikes give way to cars,cars to trucks etc."ME first!"

 

[IvorBiggun2]

They need to put in a barrier system the same as a railway crossing. The pedestrian presses a button when wanting to cross and barriers drop down. Simps innit? As long as Thais remain selfish people, thinking only of themselves, nothing will change.

[RichardColeman]

I like this idea 

[UPDEHSOI]

6 hours ago, Bruce Aussie Chiang Mai said:

Only one thing work, light goes red tyre spikes pop up. Next thing open a tyre store near pedestrian crossing.

????❤????????

Saw this in Mexico ( not the tire store ) Worked like a charm. Also saw flexible spikes installed at about a 35 degree angle on one way streets. You drive one way...the correct way...no pronplen. You drive against the traffic, the improper way.....ZINNNG go yer tires.

[tifino]

They are only genuine about this; after they switch on the pedestrian lights again, and enforce them...  

  It' a good effect, put on one'side loudest parade ground voice; and roar at the 'Orrible little man'  because other traffic following makes it hard for them to brake and respond to your face... 

... did have one though - tried to do a sweeping u turn within the multi one way lanes... quite entertaining! 

 

[tifino]

5 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

I like this idea 

trouble is it blocks the crossing with their disabled hunk of... 

[bluesofa]

11 hours ago, tinca tinca said:

thais WILL NOT STOP for anyone crossing a zebra crossing... THEY HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED to the fact that people have the RIGHT to cross in safety....and is LAW to stop and let them cross....!!!

This has been claimed before regarding Thai traffic law and whether it states that drivers must give way to pedestrians at zebra crossings.

 

If you can find the section that clearly states this, I'd be interested to see it, as so far I haven't managed to find anything.

 

[soistalker]

You would first need to teach Thais compassion for humans. You would also need to put every Thai back in kindergarten so they can learn to share the road. For f^&is sake, the only things you need to do to get out of kindergarten are to be able to SHARE, and to snap Graham Crackers into equal pieces.

I'm sure Thais can be taught about the Graham Crackers....the sharing part? No way.

[Borzandy]

11 hours ago, DannyCarlton said:

No mention of pedestrian crossings that aren't controlled by lights.

Are you thinking pedestrians have another choice?