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Is turning left at the traffic lights illegal now?


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Posted

If you are driving along Sai Yuan road to the traffic lights and turn left towards Chalong many people turn left on Red,

There was a sign that did say turn left if clear, thats gone a while ago,

Twice this week as you turn left, the police are there and they pulled every car over that had come through the red lights,

The one day I was on the other side waiting to turn left into Sai Yuan watching what was happening and plus a few more doing that mad U-turn.

Saturday morning a policeman was parked at the side of 7/11 stopping mostly bikes jumping the lights to turn right into Sai Yuan.

When I got home I told my wife, later she had to go that way she stopped on red waiting, some guy banging on his horn for her to move, she didnt move

  • Like 2
Posted

In Phayao most of the traffic lights show arrows not circular lenses. So one assumes if there is no red arrow pointing left...

Posted
42 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

I've just quizzed Madam Moon on this. She actually did a course at a well known driving school in Udon Thani. She confirmed what I've always thought, that you may turn left against a red light if the road is clear.

 

Unless, that is, there is a sign prohibiting such a move! As I understand it, most Thais believe that to be the case so I can understand the driver's irritation at your wife's behaviour.

 

Maybe the policeman you observed was stopping cars for a completely different reason, or he was a newbie who didn't understand the rules. ????

 

They were as you turn left and they pulled the lot in, this main road is dual carriage way and you get people doing a U-turn right on the lights, dangerous!

At this junction there is no signs there, 

Posted

There are some signs regarding turning left, some are English, but I haven't clue about the only Thai signs...!

I figured that anything in blue color probably means it's ok to turn left when clear, but anything in red , or red border means it's not allowed...

If you guys have some photos of these signs and can read Thai, it will be great help to post them here please...

There are some English signs in tourist towns, but I was in Trang last month, and no signs in English there, very confusing with a car behind wanting to turn ....! 

  • Like 1
Posted

News to me, I was of the understanding that there were no illegal vehicle maneuvers in Thailand. I had best swot up on the highway code my licence runs out in 3 days time and I'm not looking forward to the strenuous test procedure.

Posted
2 hours ago, stevenl said:

For quite some time, at least one year plus, it is illegal there to turn left. Many still do it though.

Loads do it, I come that way home every night, I only noticed today they have changed the traffic lights it has a green arrow pointing left, from now on I will stop on Red and ignore people banging on their horn

  • Like 2
Posted
17 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Loads do it, I come that way home every night, I only noticed today they have changed the traffic lights it has a green arrow pointing left, from now on I will stop on Red and ignore people banging on their horn

Yes, so do I (with the car, with the bike I continue on red).

2 minutes ago, JAS21 said:

That is absolutely correct, but many including myself quite often ignore, when  it is safe to do so.....of course.

 

Yes, so do I (with the car, with the bike I continue on red).

Posted
4 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Yes, so do I (with the car, with the bike I continue on red).

Yes, so do I (with the car, with the bike I continue on red).

I suppose, now that Christmas is coming, I should not only look for a safe gap in the traffic but also a good look left to see if Mr. BIB is hiding, waiting to pounce....

  • Like 1
Posted
27 minutes ago, JAS21 said:

I suppose, now that Christmas is coming, I should not only look for a safe gap in the traffic but also a good look left to see if Mr. BIB is hiding, waiting to pounce....

The funny thing was the other day I did stop on red and I had the window open I could hear the whistles but I couldn't see them at first, I've no intentions of giving them 5 Baht let alone 500 Baht

  • Like 1
Posted
On 12/14/2020 at 9:16 AM, ChipButty said:

They were as you turn left and they pulled the lot in, this main road is dual carriage way and you get people doing a U-turn right on the lights, dangerous!

At this junction there is no signs there, 

The junction of Soi SaiYuan 1 and Vigit Rd - I think this is the area you’re referring to - is an authorised ‘U Turn’  junction for traffic traveling on Vigit, and the sign is clearly visible on both sides of the lights.

Posted

Doesn't seem to be any enforcement in Chiang Rai, some motorists turn on red, some don't. I've lost count of motorists doing U-turns when there's a sign forbidding it.

Aleister Crowley would have loved it here, his maxim " Do as thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law" is peculiarly apt for Thailand.

Posted
On 12/14/2020 at 8:28 AM, Moonlover said:

I've just quizzed Madam Moon on this. She actually did a course at a well known driving school in Udon Thani. She confirmed what I've always thought, that you may turn left against a red light if the road is clear.

 

Unless, that is, there is a sign prohibiting such a move! ........

 

This - and ONLY this - is the correct answer as far as I know.

 

Could everybody pretending otherwise please post a source / link for that ?

Posted
1 hour ago, Bogbrush said:

The junction of Soi SaiYuan 1 and Vigit Rd - I think this is the area you’re referring to - is an authorised ‘U Turn’  junction for traffic traveling on Vigit, and the sign is clearly visible on both sides of the lights.

No, since over one year already not any more. No signs, there for not authorised.

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