VIDEO: New, improved and safer zebra crossing largely ignored by Bangkok motorists

[kidneyw]

6 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

Thailand really needs to invest in Pelican crossings, for those that don't know, they are crossings with lights to stop the traffic when a pedestrian presses a button, they stop the traffic for a short time span to allow people to cross safely that's the theory anyway.................

 

Not sure if even they would work here ???? 

They have a couple on Latkrabang road where I live. The traffic does stop, but you have to be nifty crossing, as drivers take off as soon as you have cleared their tunnel vision.

[Susco]

6 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

Thailand really needs to invest in Pelican crossings, for those that don't know, they are crossings with lights to stop the traffic when a pedestrian presses a button, they stop the traffic for a short time span to allow people to cross safely that's the theory anyway.................

 

Not sure if even they would work here ???? 

 

They installed loads of them in Pattaya, several years ago. If I recall corrrectly it was a 200 million baht investment.

 

After a few weeks they switched them all off.

 

There are also numerous pictures and videos on the web, which show police cars driving through the red lights

[impulse]

9 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

Thailand really needs to invest in Pelican crossings, for those that don't know, they are crossings with lights to stop the traffic when a pedestrian presses a button, they stop the traffic for a short time span to allow people to cross safely that's the theory anyway.................

 

Not sure if even they would work here ???? 

 

There are several in BKK Chinatown and they work fine.  I've never seen a driver run the red, in hundreds of visits to the area.

 

The zebra crossings, not so much.  Because all the zebra stripes do is to convey permission to cross without getting a jaywalking ticket.  They don't convey right of way.  The red light conveys the right of way in most of the world.  At least in most of the dozens of states and countries where I've ever lived.

 

I worked in Exchange Tower and know the Asoke intersection well.  Zebra stripes halfway around a corner are just an accident waiting to happen...a false sense of security for unwary pedestrians.  By the time motorists see the stripes, they're already committed to the turn. 

 

[BangkokBoyJohnny]

There is a small police hut with the cops just on the other side of the road but their main function it appears is to shake down Migrant workers even if they have correct visas....

[Jingthing]

A time to remember Bernard Trink's catchphrase -- Human nature ... Manure. 

[Stargeezr]

In Asia, the elevated crossover pedways are the way to go.  They are a lot safer and it does help the traffic flow as well.

  I realize that they are expensive, but only the lazy people would want to not use them, well the handicapped as well if there are not elevators

included with the design.  When I am in Bangkok, I use all the elevated systems that are available.

Geezer

[Damrongsak]

12 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

Thailand really needs to invest in Pelican crossings, for those that don't know, they are crossings with lights to stop the traffic when a pedestrian presses a button, they stop the traffic for a short time span to allow people to cross safely that's the theory anyway.................

 

Not sure if even they would work here ???? 

[Justgrazing]

15 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Thaivisa notes that the position of such a crossing is an accident waiting to happen. "Zebra crossings" are routinely ignored in Thailand and with this one in a tourist area visitors to Thailand - when they eventually return - may get the wrong idea. 

 

Which is why the chicken chose NOT to cross the road .. as there was Zebra crossing ..

[Paul Henry]

Having been to Cambodia and China a few times it was great to see police officers at many pedestrian crossings. In peak hour bumper to bumper traffic they would actually escort people across the road. Drivers stopped and I have not seen traffic ignore the crossings. Maybe Thailand should recruit a few police officers from China most other Thai imports come from there so a few thousand well trained police would be a great improvement.

[biggles45]

21 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

they stop the traffic for a short time span to allow people to cross safely

Pattaya spent millions of baht installing 42 sets of these lights some years ago. All motorbikes ignored them, some cars stopped it was a deadly littery to cross. Eventually authorities took them out as they said 'it slowed the traffic flow too much' 

 

I also recall when the BKK admin put containers with white flags at ped crossings for folks to wave to stop traffic. A couple of tourists, with more faith than good sense, used them..... and were run down by a big truck. The idea was cancelled! 

[HappyinNE]

What is needed is effective speed bumps.  For Thailand they need to insure that if you go through faster than 10 km/hour that you bounce your head off of the ceiling and or activate the collision balloons.

 

That is the only way to build pedestrian crossings in Thailand.  Yes I have seen the ones whit lights and people just run through those also.

[fondue zoo]

We had horns blaring behind us when we stopped to let someone cross at another location.

They then had to dance with half a dozen scooters that sped around us.

[overt2016]

The whole thing is bloody ridiculous.

There are numerous laws that are ignored

and the RTP are incompetent in enforcing them so get them of their backsides as it would be a top money order.