Phuket taxi driver hits foreign man on airport zebra crossing

[Tazmo]

“Safety” sadly is not uppermost in the minds of the Government or the people in Thailand.

Tourists should be warned of that but some like those who hire motorcycles would ride without helmets! As one example.

parents drive kids on their motorcycles without any protection! I know poverty is a factor but to put your child’s life at risk speaks volumes and should alert us to the fact that any industry or workplace does not implement and monitor health and safety.

all should be educated, drivers and pedestrians. I won’t step on a zebra unless the driver looks like stopping! We are responsible for taking our own safety into consideration. Having said that prosecution for the driver for failing to stop, should be automatic!

[john donson]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

There must be a deterrent, there must be a reason for people to stop beyond courtesy, beyond respect, beyond doing it because it's the right thing to do. There has to be a threat of huge fines, or prison time, or confiscation of the vehicle. Somebody needs to step up and take charge and take care of this problem, or it will simply continue for decades into the future. 

 

nah the rich like to be above the law... red bull killer...

[john donson]

maybe there should be signs, that this sign means nothing...cross at your own risk... welcome to TH

[Judum]

1 hour ago, jesimps said:

In the UK if a pedestrian is stood waiting to cross, you must by law stop for them. In Thailand, you should cross anywhere BUT a zebra crossing, because even if someone stops for you, pound to a penny that another vehicle will ignore the light and pass him. 

 

2 hours ago, rubyjuan said:

Imagine If a foreign driver hit a Thai?  

 

1 minute ago, Tazmo said:

“Safety” sadly is not uppermost in the minds of the Government or the people in Thailand.

Tourists should be warned of that but some like those who hire motorcycles would ride without helmets! As one example.

parents drive kids on their motorcycles without any protection! I know poverty is a factor but to put your child’s life at risk speaks volumes and should alert us to the fact that any industry or workplace does not implement and monitor health and safety.

all should be educated, drivers and pedestrians. I won’t step on a zebra unless the driver looks like stopping! We are responsible for taking our own safety into consideration. Having said that prosecution for the driver for failing to stop, should be automatic!

I've often thought about all the things you say , my conclusion is they are not afraid to die as rebirth seems a good idea 

[ChrisKC]

And the great irony of this is that all drivers anywhere are themselves pedestrians when not in their vehicle. 

 

Perhaps we are talking Jekyll and Hyde syndrome here. 

[brianthainess]

Do they have a pedestrian crossing, on the Thai driving test where they have to stop ?

Rhetorical question I think.

[brianthainess]

So it was a taxi that hit the pedestrian not the driver.

[Judum]

Just now, brianthainess said:

Do they have a pedestrian crossing, on the Thai driving test where they have to stop ?

Rhetorical question I think.

 

Just now, brianthainess said:

Do they have a pedestrian crossing, on the Thai driving test where they have to stop ?

Rhetorical question I think.

Only if it's a question to pass the test online in test centre zebra crossing are few and far between so to go past one on a driving test would be unlucky 

[lordgrinz]

I've made it a habit of kicking car doors when they try to drive through the Zebra crossing with me in it, that and smacking their mirrors seems to get their attention. So, I am doing my part, I pity the Thai who actually gathers the courage to exit his car and confront me, I call it self-defense.

[lordgrinz]

4 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

So it was a taxi that hit the pedestrian not the driver.

 

Brake failure, it's just a misunderstanding.

[brianthainess]

1 minute ago, Judum said:

 

Only if it's a question to pass the test online in test centre zebra crossing are few and far between so to go past one on a driving test would be unlucky 

I Was talking of the Thai driving test at the LTO, they don't even go on the road, only a driving school will take you on the road, NOT the at the Land Transport Office. Seem you don't know how the 'tests' are done here.

[lordgrinz]

3 minutes ago, Judum said:

 so to go past one on a driving test would be unlucky 

 

What driving test?! The "driving test" in the parking lot of the DLT is a joke.

[brianthainess]

I was wondering what would be the 'Legal' standpoint here on Koh Chang would be, where not one crossing on the whole island has a sign to say there is a crossing, just some faded white paint barely visible, especially in the rain.

 

[brianthainess]

3 hours ago, Judum said:

Feel very sorry for the pedestrian involved and driver should be jailed without a doubt and pay compensation for the man's emotional loss and pain , I'm a driver myself and like to remind citizens that you cross the road when the vehicle stops for you,  otherwise this happens pedestrians have right of way when on the crossing, in uk some crazy laws came about where citizens think they are superman or woman forcing drivers to stop even buses they need to be educated pedestrians need to be educated again or should not be so disrespectful by forcing drivers to stop 

The UK law for a vehicle to stop is one foot on the crossing and wait for traffic to stop.

[Dr B]

2 hours ago, steven100 said:

before crossing any road,  I was always taught to look right, then left, then right again .....  and if it's clear then hurry across. 

 

did the pedestrian rush out when traffic was flowing  ?

did the taxi rush through and didn't see him on the crossing  ?

Did you take the time to look at the photograph in the OP?

[lordgrinz]

Just now, brianthainess said:

The UK law for a vehicle to stop is one foot on the crossing and wait for traffic to stop.

 

I can be in the middle of the road here, and Thai's won't stop.

[Judum]

17 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

I Was talking of the Thai driving test at the LTO, they don't even go on the road, only a driving school will take you on the road, NOT the at the Land Transport Office. Seem you don't know how the 'tests' are done here.

I passed my test in 2005 in Thailand chonburi,  I'm sure they took Me out on the road , 50 50 sure, but motorbikes no just stayed on premises 

[catch104]

13 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Above is the reaction from citizens of the country! Still they can´t fix the problem. Totally useless authorities and leaders in this country.

Why would the self-serving elite bother thinknig of solving such peasant's problem. Walking??? that’s for the lower class.
And please, it’s not just taxis.  Luxury cars will gleefully speed up at the sight of a mere peasant daring to cross the road 30 meters ahead.
How dare they disrupt me...
By the way, zebra is a very rare species, you don't see many of them in Thailand....

[catch104]

13 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Above is the reaction from citizens of the country! Still they can´t fix the problem. Totally useless authorities and leaders in this country.

Why would the self-serving elite bother thinknig of solving such peasant's problem. Walking??? that’s for the lower class.
And please, it’s not just taxis.  Luxury cars will gleefully speed up at the sight of a mere peasant daring to cross the road 30 meters ahead.
How dare they disrupt me...
By the way, zebra is a very rare species, you don't see many of them in Thailand....

[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, jesimps said:

In the UK if a pedestrian is stood waiting to cross, you must by law stop for them. In Thailand, you should cross anywhere BUT a zebra crossing, because even if someone stops for you, pound to a penny that another vehicle will ignore the light and pass him. 

They must have one foot on the crossing legally, not just standing there. but most would stop. 

[brianthainess]

4 minutes ago, Judum said:

I passed my test in 2005 in Thailand chonburi,  I'm sure they took Me out on the road , 50 50 sure, but motorbikes no just stayed on premises 

You must have gone to a School, the LTO NEVER go on a real road even with a car.

[lordgrinz]

8 minutes ago, catch104 said:

Why would the self-serving elite bother thinknig of solving such peasant's problem. Walking??? that’s for the lower class.
And please, it’s not just taxis.  Luxury cars will gleefully speed up at the sight of a mere peasant daring to cross the road 30 meters ahead.
How dare they disrupt me...
By the way, zebra is a very rare species, you don't see many of them in Thailand....

 

I put a nice dent in the side of a black BMW suv with my daughters school bags wheels once while 2/3's of the way across a Zebra crossing, they learn, they just learn the hard way 😉

[mancub]

3 hours ago, steven100 said:

 

Welcome to Phuket ....   we hope you'll enjoy our warm hospitality and wonderful taxis service. 😂

.......and now go "fund" yourself  😁

[Judum]

9 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

You must have gone to a School, the LTO NEVER go on a real road even with a car.

I think they might of done really can't remember strange I drove my own car there was not with driving school I'm surprised can't remember I was really happy got my Thai drivers licence so could be legally legal in all manners 

[Judum]

59 minutes ago, recom273 said:

The whole system is messed up, just by painting a few lines down, can’t make people stop. It’s probably not true in this instance, but zebras have no place on a 6 lane major route to a city center. They are for low traffic / speed restricted areas, otherwise pelican crossings with control light should be used. These are also ignored.
 

I have experienced young people just walking out into the road, and expecting the drivers to stop - the right of way is not for the pedestrian. If the driver can stop in a safe manner, then they are obliged to, often here there is an idiot rider or driver sitting behind, the speeds on some roads do not allow for safe stopping.

 

When I was at school in the UK, we were taught how to use zebras, you don’t just walk out onto the crossing as I have seen local kids here do. 

This country needs a system of education and enforcement or nothing will change, however we should be careful what we wish for, does anyone want 5km/h speed limits in residential areas in Thailand. 

So true we'll done but I would say UK needs to pass a law for citizens who create crashes accidents via carelessly not give a damn a d just stepping out and arguing,  but here they will soon do something about it

[lordgrinz]

1 minute ago, Judum said:

I think they might of done really can't remember strange I drove my own car there was not with driving school I'm surprised can't remember I was really happy got my Thai drivers licence so could be legally legal in all manners 

 

I would say most of us just transferred our foreign drivers license to Thai Drivers licenses, I did so for both my USA Vehicle license and Motorcycle license. Though I had extensive drivers training already back home, including the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) courses. I also read up thoroughly on the Thai Traffic Act, which isn't much different from laws back home, but you'll find Thai drivers have very little understanding of their own laws/rules (ignorance is bliss I guess).

[phetphet]

Very few Thais are taught to drive correctly. Just jump in a friend's car for a quick spin around the block and shown what's what.

Not spatial awareness, manoeuvring, rules of the road, or when to give way. Add to that the total lack of police enforcement, the me, me , me attitude, and small dick big pick up truck way of thinking and you see what we get.

Add in one more for the taxi and minibus drivers, i.e. The fear of missing a fare (flight or boat arrivals) and you get the crazy rush to either pick up points.

 

The amount of Thais on motorbikes that  pull out without ever looking to see if anything is coming has got me wondering if their Buddhist belief in reincarnation has taken away any fear of death. 

[brianthainess]

2 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

t you'll find Thai drivers have very little understanding of their own laws/rules (ignorance is bliss I guess).

I think they do understand most laws, but they know the RTP don't do their job, so carry on regardless, Thais do not like being told what to do, each individual thinks they know better than anyone else, and the fines here are pathetic, a huge % of the population have illigal weapons/guns. Same with any crime here plead guilty and get a 50% discount on any jail time, so that's just 10 years for murder minus time off for good behavior.

 The whole law system is just BS.  IMO

[Judum]

1 minute ago, brianthainess said:

I think they do understand most laws, but they know the RTP don't do their job, so carry on regardless, Thais do not like being told what to do, each individual thinks they know better than anyone else, and the fines here are pathetic, a huge % of the population have illigal weapons/guns. Same with any crime here plead guilty and get a 50% discount on any jail time, so that's just 10 years for murder minus time off for good behavior.

 The whole law system is just BS.  IMO

I live in England I suppose depends what part of uk you live but I feel safer in Thailand always have done apart from being scratched by lady boys no priblems

[scorecard]

4 hours ago, Judum said:

Feel very sorry for the pedestrian involved and driver should be jailed without a doubt and pay compensation for the man's emotional loss and pain , I'm a driver myself and like to remind citizens that you cross the road when the vehicle stops for you,  otherwise this happens pedestrians have right of way when on the crossing, in uk some crazy laws came about where citizens think they are superman or woman forcing drivers to stop even buses they need to be educated pedestrians need to be educated again or should not be so disrespectful by forcing drivers to stop 

 

The last two lines confuse the situation (educated pedestrians need to be educated again or should not be so disrespectful by forcing drivers to stop) , this is not what is required by Thai law and in most other countries.

 

Thailand is the same as 99% - 100% of countries; drivers must stop and all drivers on the roads know when there's a zebra crossing coming up (signs on the side of the road and overhead signs). 

 

Pedestrians need to cross roads and pedestrians have rights to cross with safety, and drivers must respect pedestrians rights. 

 

Just 2 examples; Japan and Australia, there's cctv everywhere, if you don't stop you will be tracked down and the punishments are severe, very big fines and automatic loss of license. I'm aware of one Brit guy driving in Osaka, Japan and drunk (had a license acceptable in Japan). He was held and deported the next day, never allowed to enter Japan again. He was from my company.

 

The company received an order to within 48 hrs gather all foreign employees (about 30 engineers) for a lecture in English about driving laws in Japan.

 

After the lecture the Japanese CEO spoke (good English), he was furious that the name of the company had appeared in the news along with the details of a foreigner caught drunk driving. He ordered that all foreigners have US$100 deducted from their next pay and paid to a charity. 

 

My own Japanese staff gathered together and asked me to promise that I would never drive after drinking and they gave me a list of my staff members (about 10) and photos and mobile numbers. I was asked to promise I would call someone on the list if I had more than one drink.

 

I did socialise with my staff and the other foreigners but I never had even 1 drink after that. 

 

In Australia traffic fines are very severe, I'm aware of a lady being stopped for erratic driving, she was drunk, she was fined heavily and license suspended for 6 months.

 

Later, she was with her husband, husband stopped at a mini mart but had to walk a short distance to the shop. The road had a strong slant. This was about 3 months into the wives license suspension.

 

Suddenly many of the parked cars departed so the wife moved herself over to the drivers seat, released the hand brake and let the car roll down the hill twenty+ metres.

 

A police cruiser with hi-tech spotted the car number plate and the police stopped and  asked for her license and quickly discovered her license was suspended.

 

An hour later she was in front of a magistrate who said 'you can spend the remaining 3 months of your suspension in jail plus an extra 30 days in jail'.