Thailand's modern "international" standard Zebra crossings: But will drivers actually stop?

[webfact]

Picture: Daily News

 

Daily News reported from Kalasin in the NE of Thailand where an upgraded Zebra Crossing has been installed. 

 

The Highways Department called it "international standard" after the improvements were made on the Siwalai - Samrongkiat Road, Route 2127.

 

Something needed to be done after a Bangkok eye doctor was mown down by a speeding cop earlier in the year. 

 

Picture: Daily News

 

But the question is, with all the improvements will motorists and bike riders actually bother to stop?

 

The crossing has lots of zigzag lines, something called a "refuge island" in the middle coned off, signage and better lighting and the area has been spruced up a bit. 

 

Drivers in Thailand still habitually ignore people waiting at Zebra crossings. 

 

Lack of training and lack of police enforcement have been blamed as two factors. 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-07-09

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

 

Picture: Daily News

Picture: Daily News

[Pouatchee]

en - o   --> NO

[steve187]

looks ok, just need some rule enforcement, which I'm not sure the Thai police are capable of

[pokerface1]

No it won't work as it's way to complicated. hang the expense build a bridge that will work

[actonion]

20 minutes ago, steve187 said:

looks ok, just need some rule enforcement, which I'm not sure the Thai police are capable of

Before they can enforce any  road law they must first have knowledge of the Highway code etc., which they dont have,  ...does any Thai have ??

[DILLIGAD]

7 year old child killed yesterday in BKK by a bus not stopping at a crossing

[actonion]

Yes lack of  law enforcement  simply because they  have zero knowledge of the Highway code, let alone knowledge how how to operate any motorised vehicle...

 

Those zig zag lines are there for a purpose, but im wondering if the Highways department knows the reason why they are there, they have  obviously copied the idea from other countries  ...

[recom273]

26 minutes ago, webfact said:

The Highways Department called it "international standard"

Yep, I would say that meets international standards, all we need to do is bring the driving standards up to international spec, then that leaves the RTP.

 

Depending upon the speed limits, why wasn't there a concrete island planted in the middle of the lines? 

 

With due respect, they also need to encourage pedestrians to observe international standards too, there are a few zebras around the local hospital, and even when I am the only one in the road at that time, I stop and the pedestrians will not cross, all you get is this underhand wave and this standoff where I refuse to move, they refuse to cross and in the end I give in and drive over the zebra. Can't say I blame them, but still.

[worgeordie]

They would only stop if gates came down , so people

were safe to cross ...... even then there would be some

that would try to get around , under or over the gates .....????

 

regards worgeordie

[petermik]

Many of the locals don`t understand what a red light actually means........

[KhunLA]

My ignorance is obviously shining, as I wouldn't know what the hell that was if approaching.   Did a paint can spill over on the back of a truck ?

 

Until reading AN, I (Yank from Philly, PA, USA), didn't realize, you are actually supposed to stop at crosswalks, and actually felt the person responsible for safety, was the one actually using & crossing the street.

 

Do understand, pedestrians have the right of way, but equate that to speed limit signs, which almost everyone ignores.

 

Back in USA, I never expect any vehicle to yield to me crossing the street.  Only exception is if in a school zone, as all yield there, no matter.

 

Looking at some oops vids of EU, UK, I now realize some people actually just enter the crosswalk, not even looking for traffic, expecting vehicles to stop.  A bit nuts in my world, but hey, what do I know.

 

Here, TH, don't think it's going to work.  Myself, and most Thais I encounter on the road, when I'm being courteous, won't cross if I'm slowing down for a crosswalk.  More times than not, look at me like I'm nuts when I do stop.  Others, won't cross, as probably, like myself, don't trust the vehicles coming up behind the courteous driver that did stop.

 

So if I'm standing at a crosswalk, I'm not crossing until all traffic has passed, with few exceptions.  If people actually started stopping, it would sort of cause an unnecessary traffic jam, and possibly more problems than solving.

 

Along with some of these crosswalks are in the silliest place, on blind curves, across 6 lanes of high speed traffic.  Just mind boggling.

 

When in Krung Thep, I cross at the corner, and on the green light.  Or if mid-block, all traffic has to have passed before I'm stepping off a curb.

 

Last time at Krung Thep recently, I was sort of paying attention, or trying to, with crosswalks, and most standing curbside, had no intentions of entering the crosswalk.  So didn't see the point in stopping.  A few I did stop, and most were surprised, some crossed, apprehensively, others looked behind me, and gave it a pass, as traffic was approaching.  Actually felt a little stupid being courteous, as most didn't expect it.

[proton]

3 minutes ago, petermik said:

Many of the locals don`t understand what a red light actually means........

My Mrs has been driving for 10 years, says has no time to read traffic signs, wont stop at a zebra for fear the car behind will run into her and sometimes asks me if she has to stop when a light is red. Apart from that she is quite careful!

[overherebc]

19 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

They would only stop if gates came down , so people

were safe to cross ...... even then there would be some

that would try to get around , under or over the gates .....????

 

regards worgeordie

That is the only way.  Thai drivers don't need to learn anything. They believe they know it all already.

[ezzra]

Most Thai drivers will not stop and ignore even if a real zebra will be crossing the road at a zebra crossing...

[scorecard]

"Lack of training and lack of police enforcement have been blamed as two factors."

 

It's more than that, right back to basics. 

 

It's been researched before, a large % of Thai drivers hve no knowledge / no understanding what the repeated white lines across the road mean.

 

Here's an example: 25 years ago a lot of new road work completed in Pattaya to upgrade various roads falling apart.  All supervised (design and construction) done by a very young Thai engineer.

 

Residents asked why repeated white lines were being painted in numerous locations including within 20 metres of every intersection, all directions.

 

His response 'It's what they do in most other counties so I want our new roads to look international. Pressed if there was any further meaning with the repeated white lines, his response NO, just to look good/look international.

 

Many times, when I've had extended Thai family members in the car, I've stopped at zebra crossings to let pedestrians start walking and get right acros the road. Instant negative/very negative comments from the folks in my car, insisting to keep moving.

 

Many times when this has happened my Thai adult son has tried to explain 'it's the law of Thailand', they refuse to listen let alone acknowledge what he's telling them.

 

It's like many things basic education / knowledge of the basics, the building blocks of road safety / good driving behaviors needs to be taught at high school, perhaps 10 hours or more every semester. Taught by trained officers, not by school teachers. And with well produced handout books, perhaps 5 to 10 pges per subject and with many photographs and simple but focused drawings. Attendance compulsory.

[bristolgeoff]

They try hard,but they know it will never work.A previous comment is right build a bridge over the road and they will use it.A zebra crossing,why should we stop what is it for.put up a bridge then people can use it and we don,t have to slow down on a road built for transport

[ourmanflint]

It's never going to be enough. Add Belisha beacons so drivers are aware of the crossing from a good distance and change the law to make it an offence not to stop if someone wants to cross the road

[ignis]

3 hours ago, ezzra said:

Most Thai drivers will not stop and ignore even if a real zebra will be crossing the road at a zebra crossing...

If you or a Thai driver stops then the motorbikes will pass on both sides, a few People have been mowed down on a Zebra crossing and some killed from motorbikes

[GroveHillWanderer]

Here in Hua Hin, they've actually installed a couple of what are known as "Pelican crossings" in the UK - Pedestrian, Light-Controlled, crossings.

 

Basically, it's a zebra crossing with a push-button controlled set of lights. 

 

Many local drivers still drive straight through them even when the light is red.

[foreverlomsak]

4 hours ago, pokerface1 said:

No it won't work as it's way to complicated. hang the expense build a bridge that will work

It will have to be for the cars as the majority pedestrians only use bridges for shade from the sun

[ikke1959]

They were drunk when they drew the lines on the road??? It is very unpractically and nobody will stop or even be aware that that there is a zebra crossing... Educate kids in primary school, for education license and enforce the stopping by policemen.... Much better than this kind of rubbish

[Classic Ray]

1 hour ago, ourmanflint said:

It's never going to be enough. Add Belisha beacons so drivers are aware of the crossing from a good distance and change the law to make it an offence not to stop if someone wants to cross the road

I agree plus could have traffic lights with cameras, needed to stop drivers ignoring them. Also could extend use of red flags (originally from Japan) to establish pedestrian precedence, in holders each end of the crossing.

[Guderian]

I'd never trust drivers here to stop, even if the crossings have traffic lights. Better to cross the road as you always have done, with eyes open in the front and back of your head, at least you know exactly what to expect then, crossings are no better than a roulette wheel.

[Dirk Z]

6 hours ago, steve187 said:

looks ok, just need some rule enforcement, which I'm not sure the Thai police are capable of

In many - mainly European - countries cars will stop even when you are just approaching the crossing. No police about. It is a matter of education and decency. Thais are normally polite and modest, but unfortunately turn into selfish savages when driving a vehicle.

Camera's would help for those crossings that have lights. But only if they have consequences....

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, bristolgeoff said:

They try hard,but they know it will never work.A previous comment is right build a bridge over the road and they will use it.A zebra crossing,why should we stop what is it for.put up a bridge then people can use it and we don,t have to slow down on a road built for transport

And plenty of pedestrians will be too lazy to climb the steps up to the overhead walkway, they will continue to run between the traffic. 

[overherebc]

26 minutes ago, Dirk Z said:

In many - mainly European - countries cars will stop even when you are just approaching the crossing. No police about. It is a matter of education and decency. Thais are normally polite and modest, but unfortunately turn into selfish savages when driving a vehicle.

Camera's would help for those crossings that have lights. But only if they have consequences....

And, the consequences should be severe..

Cops visit the house with a photo of the 'crime', sign to say will pay in 7 days. Don't pay? send a truck to pick up the car, 7 more days and still don't pay?  Auction the car or crush it.

And, I don't care who your father is????????.

[cdnhawk]

Lack of training? How about lack of common sense, lack of respect for others, lack of patience?

[scorecard]

27 minutes ago, Dirk Z said:

In many - mainly European - countries cars will stop even when you are just approaching the crossing. No police about. It is a matter of education and decency. Thais are normally polite and modest, but unfortunately turn into selfish savages when driving a vehicle.

Camera's would help for those crossings that have lights. But only if they have consequences....

Same in Australia, 99% of drivers take zebra crossing laws very seriously, if a driver is caught the fines are very severe, 2nd time and license suspended for an extended period. 

 

One year back I was in Australia. I took my village bus to a big shopping complex, bus driver stopped for pedestrians but a car went through luckily missing a couple of pedestrians.

 

The village bus driver is a retired airline pilot. As soon as the pedestrians had all passed he followed the errant car and asked a bus passenger to take several pgotos of the errant car, them bus driver safely passed the errant car with many bus passengers taking photos of the errant driver.

 

Back at the village the bus driver asked all the passengers who had pgotos to quickly send them to him. He quickly packaged all the photos and sent them to the police.

 

The case was picked up by the media, the errant driver lost his license for 1 year and fined A$2,500-, it turned out the errant car driver was on a second offence for the same thing.   

[overherebc]

I asked a Thai I worked beside who was going to uk on holiday if he was going to rent a car there.

Oh no, he said, can't do that because you have to obey all the laws and that makes it too difficult.

[Reposed]

The zig-zag lines are to guide the driver in confusing the pedestrian, who will surely be trying to jump out of the way....

 

Increases odds of impact by a good 50%!