Multiple Collisions at 20 Pedestrian Crossings in Bangkok Raise Alarm

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of ThaiRath 

 

A concerning pattern of repeated incidents at 20 pedestrian crossings in Bangkok has come to light, with the majority of these dangerous locations situated near schools and hospitals. The problem was highlighted following a recent incident where a South Korean tourist, aged 68, was injured after being hit by a motorcycle at one such crossing, which had previously witnessed the tragic death of Dr. Waralak Supawatcharirakul, a renowned ophthalmologist, in 2022.

 

The collision took place near the Phumiratchakarn Hospital in the city’s central district. Dr. Supawatcharirakul was fatally struck by a motorcycle while crossing the road. The same crossing has now been the site of further collisions, raising questions about the safety of such locations and the ongoing issue of motorcycle-related incidents in Thailand.

 

Dr. Chamaiphan Santikarn, a former advisor on injury prevention and disability at the World Health Organization (WHO) for Southeast Asia, expressed concern over the lack of solutions to this ongoing issue. She pointed out that despite clear traffic signals being in place at these crossings, collisions continue to occur due to the absence of proper warning systems or speed-reduction measures.

 

In an interview, Dr. Santikarn noted that many drivers, particularly taxi drivers, reported that they were often unaware of pedestrian crossings until it was too late. “There is a lack of traffic signs or devices to alert drivers to slow down,” she explained. She recommended the installation of speed-reducing devices such as Optical Speed Bars (OSB) or rumble strips, which have been proven effective in slowing down traffic in high-risk areas.

 

Rumble strips, for example, are known to reduce accidents in two-lane roads by up to 64% and prevent vehicles from veering off the road by 36%, according to research. Dr. Santikarn emphasised that it is not difficult to implement these measures, citing successful examples from other countries, where such interventions have resulted in an immediate reduction in crashes.

 

Dr. Sasitid Chuchanom, a researcher with the project to drive Thailand towards motorcycle safety, highlighted the example of China’s ELLUMIN Intelligent Pedestrian System. This system enhances pedestrian crossings with additional lighting, sensors, and sound alerts to warn drivers when pedestrians are crossing. Similarly, South Korea has installed Smart Crosswalks equipped with sensors that detect pedestrians, particularly those distracted by their phones, and alert approaching vehicles with flashing lights and sounds.

 

According to recent data from CCTV surveillance, 20 locations across Bangkok continue to see frequent collisions and violations of pedestrian crossing signals. These include crossings near schools and hospitals, such as Bangkok Intercare Hospital, Yothinburana School, Phumiratchakarn Kidney Disease Institute, Chulalongkorn Hospital, and several others across the city.

 

Researchers from the motorcycle safety project plan to collaborate with Dr. Anirut and Mrs. Ratchanee Supawatjariyakul, the parents of Dr. Supawatcharirakul, the Crossing Project team, the media, the Bangkok governor, and other relevant authorities to conduct a thorough survey and investigation of the problems. Together, they aim to recommend and implement effective preventive measures, to provide long-term solutions to improve pedestrian safety at these dangerous crossings.

 

-- 2025-02-09

 

[hotsun]

In thailand, having a big vehicle means you can do whatever you want. A lowly pedestrian has no rights and are at the mercy of thai drivers

[JimHuaHin]

Maybe Thais need a big attitude adjustment and the road rules enforced - when that will happen, nobody knows, but unlikely in my life time.

[lordgrinz]

6 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

She pointed out that despite clear traffic signals being in place at these crossings, collisions continue to occur due to the absence of proper warning systems or speed-reduction measures.

 

No, the reason for the collisions is the lack of proper driver training, lack of proper driver testing, and the complete lack of ANY enforcement.

[fredwiggy]

2 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

No, the reason for the collisions is the lack of proper driver training, lack of proper driver testing, and the complete lack of ANY enforcement.

Add to those, the lack of concern for others lives, including their own and of their children, the attitude that you can drive any way you want as long as you get there as fast as possible, and the fact that here cars have more rights than pedestrians.

[bkk6060]

I have a crosswalk with a light near where I live.  Noone stops. Selfish, inattentive, uneducated.   A big problem I see is lack of consequences.   Western countries have laws such as involuntarily vehicular manslaughter if someone is killed.  Here, they seem to chalk to up to just being an accident or reckless driving which is not a major offense.  It is all terrible really and probably will never change and just get worse with all the tourists and people traveling now.

[Emdog]

"..concern over the lack of solutions to this ongoing issue. " Here's a solution: ENFORCE TRAFFIC LAWS! Station a cop at those crosswalks and his salary would be covered by noon if tickets were given... and fines collected

[lordgrinz]

6 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

I have a crosswalk with a light near where I live.  Noone stops.

 

Got you beat, we have multiple crosswalks at STOP signs here, and even though the stop signs and stop lines are in the School zone, nobody even slows down while blowing through them ...in fact, they are actually speeding through them....it's pure insanity!

[lordgrinz]

7 minutes ago, Emdog said:

"..concern over the lack of solutions to this ongoing issue. " Here's a solution: ENFORCE TRAFFIC LAWS! Station a cop at those crosswalks and his salary would be covered by noon if tickets were given... and fines collected.

 

Correction: his salary would be covered by the first ticket, by noon he could fund his own police department.

[petedk]

6 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Dr. Santikarn noted that many drivers, particularly taxi drivers, reported that they were often unaware of pedestrian crossings until it was too late

 

Not true. Most taxi drivers know these particular places like the back of their hands. They know exactly when to drag their seatbelts on and off as well.

 

Many motorcyclists, taxi and private car drivers know the crossings are there, but simply don't want to stop as they know they won't be punished.

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, petedk said:

 

Not true. Most taxi drivers know these particular places like the back of their hands. They know exactly when to drag their seatbelts on and off as well.

 

Many motorcyclists, taxi and private car drivers know the crossings are there, but simply don't want to stop as they know they won't be punished.

 

Not to mention, if Dr Santikarn asked the same people the same question next week, they would answer the same.

[henryford1958]

Don't they understand yet, Thais don't stop at crossings. They are dangerous and should be removed.

[CallumWK]

6 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

In an interview, Dr. Santikarn noted that many drivers, particularly taxi drivers, reported that they were often unaware of pedestrian crossings until it was too late.

 

How they can not be aware. Must be that they are blind if they don't see those wide white lines painted on the road.

 

7 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

“There is a lack of traffic signs or devices to alert drivers to slow down,” she explained.

 

Yeah, that would be a good idea, to build a device in the car similar to a F1 car, that automatically slows them down when they reach the pits/zebra

[sandbox]

The single thing all drivers on Thai roads know is, if you stop in the middle of the road in moving traffic, someone will drive into the back of you.

 

[Antti]

There is certainly a lot room for improvement in this department. Thais have a fairly low average IQ (91, IIRC) so pedestrian safety and traffic safety in general will probably never reach 1st world levels but that doesn't mean a lot cannot be done. Even Vietnam is IMO much better in this regard which is really telling.

[Yagoda]

When I lived in Phra Kanong to get to the BTS I had to cross Rama 4 where it turns into Sukhumvit. If you know what I am talking about, you would know why old ladies would grab my arm to take me across the street.

[dddave]

A good friend was killed crossing with the walk lite on Traphaya Road, Pattaya 2 years ago. Incidentally, the driver was a Brit, not Thai.  A Russian man was killed last week crossing Jomtien 2nd Rd at a crosswalk, ironically by another Russian on a motorcycle so let's not put all the blame on Thai's.  There's a crosswalk with a traffic light outside my building on Jomtien 2nd Rd and motorbikes and cars blow through that red light every single cycle.  

 

Many years ago when my home state of Massachusetts started to enforce crosswalk rules, also dramatically raising the fines from a few dollars to $200 when that was still serious money.  It didn't have much effect until they started placing large cones at crosswalks with signs that read : "CROSSWALK VIOLATION $200 FINE"   That got attention and drivers actually started stopping.

[lordgrinz]

28 minutes ago, sandbox said:

The single thing all drivers on Thai roads know is, if you stop in the middle of the road in moving traffic, someone will drive into the back of you.

 

 

False.....just slow down progressively before the STOP sign or red light. 

[lordgrinz]

20 minutes ago, Antti said:

There is certainly a lot room for improvement in this department. Thais have a fairly low average IQ (91, IIRC) so pedestrian safety and traffic safety in general will probably never reach 1st world levels but that doesn't mean a lot cannot be done. Even Vietnam is IMO much better in this regard which is really telling.

 

Actually, it's lower, more like 88. 

[dddave]

9 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

When I lived in Phra Kanong to get to the BTS I had to cross Rama 4 where it turns into Sukhumvit. If you know what I am talking about, you would know why old ladies would grab my arm to take me across the street.

Agreed.  I used to live in Phra Khanong and do know exactly what you are talking about.  I used to walk down Rama-4 and cross near the bus stop as I didn't have to worry about the constant stream of traffic turning onto Rama-4 from Sukhumvit.

[Katatonica]

1 hour ago, henryford1958 said:

Don't they understand yet, Thais don't stop at crossings. They are dangerous and should be removed.

A security guard manning a zebra crossing was killed in Karon, Phuket no so long ago whilst helping hotel guests across the road. That was a Russian on a 'big bike' though.

[actonion]

Unaware  of Pedestrian Crossings??.... huge  Red and White Stripes painted on the Road and they 're still unaware?,  go get your eyes tested,   put your Telephone away,  and  import some Qualified Driving Instuctors / Driving Test Examiners, this will never happen because Thai's know everything, and cant be told, because the people doing the job now have not got a clue  as to what they are doing

[carlyai]

1 hour ago, Emdog said:

"..concern over the lack of solutions to this ongoing issue. " Here's a solution: ENFORCE TRAFFIC LAWS! Station a cop at those crosswalks and his salary would be covered by noon if tickets were given... and fines collected

Easy solution: vehicles have right of way at pedestrian crossings. 

Anyone been here for awhile knows you wait until there are no cars to cross. Or go to the nearest overhead bridge crossing.

 

[Katatonica]

39 minutes ago, sandbox said:

The single thing all drivers on Thai roads know is, if you stop in the middle of the road in moving traffic, someone will drive into the back of you.

 

Even if you stop, the motorbikes will not stop flying past on your inside.

[actonion]

41 minutes ago, sandbox said:

The single thing all drivers on Thai roads know is, if you stop in the middle of the road in moving traffic, someone will drive into the back of you.

 

A Taxi driver told me exactly that,  especially  if riding a Motorbike home in the early hours, Do not stop at  A  Red  traffic light, if you do,  chances are very high u will be rear ended...

[greeneking]

1 hour ago, Emdog said:

"..concern over the lack of solutions to this ongoing issue. " Here's a solution: ENFORCE TRAFFIC LAWS! Station a cop at those crosswalks and his salary would be covered by noon if tickets were given... and fines collected

Instead of being punished by being sent to an 'inactive post' send them to use pedestrian crossings.

[lordgrinz]

22 minutes ago, actonion said:

A Taxi driver told me exactly that,  especially  if riding a Motorbike home in the early hours, Do not stop at  A  Red  traffic light, if you do,  chances are very high u will be rear ended...

 

I got a solution, remove all STOP signs and red lights, let Darwin fix the problem. Remove speed limits too, after a few years the herd should be thinned thoroughly.

[actonion]

26 minutes ago, greeneking said:

Instead of being punished by being sent to an 'inactive post' send them to use pedestrian crossings.

Problem is,..    the  Police Farce  being Thai they drive the same as the rest of these idiots, My Thai brother inlaw a Policman,   listens to me complaining  about traffic laws, and accidents, & cant understand why...So,  no hope...

[John Drake]

4 hours ago, sandbox said:

The single thing all drivers on Thai roads know is, if you stop in the middle of the road in moving traffic, someone will drive into the back of you.

 

 

Taxi drivers do stop all the time in crowded conditions to pick up passengers.

[Confuscious]

I live in Spain since a few months and there are no crossings in Spain.
Only "Roundabouts" with almost 0 accidents.
If you stand near a Zebra crossing, cars and motorcyles will STOP for you.
 

Learn the Spanish drivers the same attitude "I am FREE and I don't give a hoot about traffic rules" and you will get the same mayhem as in Thailand within a week.

 

The difference is that before you are allowed to drive on any road in Spain, you need to get a proper driving education and a proper mindset. Not a Thai mindset.

Also, if you get involved in an accident with a pedestrian you will lose your driving license for a few months, you  will fined very high fine and your car might be impounded.
If the pedestrian is hurt very bad or the pedestrian die, you will be in for a few years in jail and lose your driving license for 5 or 10 years.
No "OR" like in Thailand.

If Thailand want to make their road safer, they will need to start with creating a separate police department that will have a car/motorbike and patrol the roads 24/24. That department would fund itself with the fines in no time.
No "10 puh-ups" because you are only 12 years old.
Schools need to start at a young age to teach the traffic rules and make sure that the students adhere to this.
Judges need to start giving hefty fines and proper jail terms for people that don't want to adapt to the traffic rules.
The whole traffic fines need to be adapted to the current age and multiplied by 100.

But, that will never happen in "The Land Of The FREE".