German Tourists Hit by Songthaew While Using Zebra Crossing in Khao Lak

[arick]

She doesn't even look for cars 

[MalcolmB]

  On 4/17/2025 at 5:14 AM, richard_smith237 said:

no-one knows them, cares about them or adheres to any of them even when they are widely known....

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Rubbish.

The driver in the car that took the video clearly stopped for the pedestrians.

[LALes]

You gotta look 6 ways in Thailand before crossing a street and never take anything for

granted like motorists will stop for pedestrians.  Keep a sharp lookout at all times.

[MalcolmB]

  On 4/17/2025 at 5:23 AM, richard_smith237 said:

Thats because the reckless drivers are 'enabled' by the lack of enforcement and lack of penalties - it contributes towards the uncivilised road attitudes.

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It doesn’t help when some people or their friends are let off because they know a policeman.

[newbee2022]

  On 4/16/2025 at 10:04 PM, Georgealbert said:

 

Picture courtesy of Amarin from dash-cam.

 

A foreign tourist family was seriously injured after being struck by a local songthaew, while crossing a zebra crossing in Khao Lak, Phang Nga, raising serious concerns over pedestrian safety in tourist destinations.

 

The incident occurred at approximately 15:00, on 15 April along Phetkasem Road in Ban Bang Niang, Moo 5, Khuek Khak Subdistrict, Takua Pa District, Phang Nga province. Dashcam footage from a nearby vehicle captured the moment a German family, a father, mother, and their young child in a stroller, attempted to cross the road at a designated pedestrian crossing.

 

 

While vehicles in the right lane slowed down and stopped to allow the family to cross safely, 

witnesses reported that a local songthaew travelling in the left lane at moderate speed failed to stop in time and struck the couple forcefully. The child in the stroller fortunately escaped injury, but both parents sustained injuries and were rushed to Khao Lak Medical Centre before being transferred to Bangkok Hospital Phuket for further treatment.

 

Caution video below shows the collision.

The incident has sparked renewed concern about road safety for pedestrians, especially foreign tourists, in the Khao Lak area.

 

Mr. Lertsak Ponklin, President of the Phang Nga Tourism Business Association, expressed frustration, stating that repeated warnings and requests have been made to government authorities to address the frequent collisions occurring at this particular crossing. “Despite numerous meetings and promises of improvement, serious incidents like this continue to happen,” he said.

 

He urged the authorities to enforce traffic laws more strictly and implement additional safety measures to prevent further tragedies, particularly in high-traffic tourist zones.

 

 

-- 2025-04-17

 

 

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Horrible accident. 

But except promises like "implement additional safety measures"  nothing else will happen.

Every Tourist should be advised to read about safety standards in Thailand.

And a policeman should be there at dangerous crossings the whole day.

(Dreaming)

[richard_smith237]

  On 4/17/2025 at 6:28 AM, MalcolmB said:

  On 4/17/2025 at 5:14 AM, richard_smith237 said:

no-one knows them, cares about them or adheres to any of them even when they are widely known....

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Rubbish.

The driver in the car that took the video clearly stopped for the pedestrians.

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Ok... 'some drivers do know the law'...   Most don't bother with the laws and 'many' don't even know the law, thats the point.

 

I bet if you ask drivers if they have to stop at a pedestrian crossing when someone is trying to cross that many / most won't know the law.

 

 

Of course, with your unhinged bias that Thai's can do no wrong you will argue that because it contracts your daft delusions.

...  some drivers here perhaps do know the laws and just don't bother with them...  but there are many who are wholly ignorant and their only learning is that passed onto them from those around them... 

 

 

 

 

[kuzmabruk]

  On 4/16/2025 at 10:04 PM, Georgealbert said:

renewed concern about road safety for pedestrians

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Ban pedestrians.  The only solution for Thailand.  In other countries we just enact and enforce laws, but that doesn’t work here.  

[Beerzy65]

  On 4/16/2025 at 10:14 PM, sammieuk1 said:

Dear German tourists that's not a zebra crossing it's a killing zone 🤔

 

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I call the zebra crossings the killing fields of Thailand. 

[Packer]

Brakes failed. Water bottle jammed down the accelerator. 

 

 

6 lanes, should have a pedestrian bridge.

[leonard beaven]

Just out of interest,and noting that Thais drive on the left,What was the vehicle filming this horrible accident,doing on the outside lane????

[CecilM]

I know a lot of Germans who would think it's their right, cross without looking, and expect drivers to stop. 

[richard_smith237]

  On 4/17/2025 at 6:39 AM, Packer said:

Brakes failed. Water bottle jammed down the accelerator. 

 

 

6 lanes, should have a pedestrian bridge.

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Perhaps... but that doesn't excuse poor selfish driving.

 

The pedestrians should have paid more attention.... but that doesn't excuse poor selfish driving.

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

  On 4/17/2025 at 6:40 AM, leonard beaven said:

Just out of interest,and noting that Thais drive on the left,What was the vehicle filming this horrible accident,doing on the outside lane????

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Avoiding the motorcycles that frequently pull out from side lanes without looking... 

 

But, as you point out - there are multiple 'hidden' facets that lead to this incident - one of them being that the 'cam car' in the outside lane blocked the vision of bother the pedestrians and the driver of the Songthaew of each other.

 

 

[NorthernRyland]

  On 4/17/2025 at 12:34 AM, Gottfrid said:

They are supposed to be better as they work on the roads every single day

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On the contrary professional drivers of all types are by far the worst offenders out there. Their mindset is if I drive for work I can break all the rules because money is at stake and it's my job. Minivans are probably the top of the list but delivery trucks are up there too.

[NorthernRyland]

  On 4/17/2025 at 6:06 AM, watchcat said:

Perhaps they didn't realise they were not in germany anymore different rules here.

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You expect every random tourist in the world to know using a zebra crossing will get you killed unless you proceed with extreme caution? Maybe Thailand should enforce their own road rules instead and try to help save lives.

[tandor]

wake up the sleeping Traffic Police and force them to 'man' pedestrian crossings, OR install railway crossing style 'boom-gates'.

[Grumpy one]

Thai logic   Zebra Crossings are for Zebra's and motor bikes, not pedestrians

[TheFishman1]

I used to cross on a zebra crosswalk but the car is never stopped for you so what’s the purpose TIT

[OneManShow]

  On 4/16/2025 at 10:04 PM, Georgealbert said:

The incident has sparked renewed concern about road safety for pedestrians, especially foreign tourists, in the Khao Lak area.

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We hear this almost everyday.

Anything has changed ? Nooooooooo

Anything will change ? Noooooooo

They love it the way it is. 

 

[harryviking]

Again people act like they are sheep walking straight out in the road, stripes or no stripes, forgetting that Thai drivers have no clue what these stripes mean! They think it is "streets art"!!😆

[Jimjim1]

  On 4/17/2025 at 12:34 AM, Gottfrid said:

when other vehicles slow down and stop, the songthaew driver should as well.

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I have said many times that there is little or no correlation between the left and right side of the brain here, how many times have we waited to cross a road and a car driver slows and stops to allow us to do it but as we step out a idiot on a motorbike swerves around the car and heads straight for you and going so fast that he / she could not stop in a month of Sundays.

I give up with these clowns, they are so used to ignoring any and all aspects of the law, common sense is as distant as Mars with road sense even further or non existent.

The cops will not police it because they are just as ignorant and stupid as the rest of the population

[Ralf001]

  On 4/17/2025 at 3:39 AM, save the frogs said:

 

However, some cars will give way to pedestrians.

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Last time I did that on a zebra crossing I got rear ended.

Took months to get the car repaired.

[Ralf001]

  On 4/17/2025 at 3:55 AM, lordgrinz said:

So attempted murder charges incoming? They need to send a message, because Thai's just aren't getting it.

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Attempted Murder..... Bwahahahahahahaha.

 

 

[Aussie999]

  On 4/17/2025 at 3:19 AM, KhunLA said:

 

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Not sure what you trying to say, 50kph is 31mph

[watchcat]

  On 4/17/2025 at 6:50 AM, NorthernRyland said:

You expect every random tourist in the world to know using a zebra crossing will get you killed unless you proceed with extreme caution?

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No I'm not a random tourist but I think one should proceed with extreme caution.

[watchcat]

  On 4/17/2025 at 7:23 AM, Aussie999 said:

Not sure what you trying to say, 50kph is 31mph

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It's just a recommendation about the speed nothing else.

[cynic1]

Seriously, Thailand drivers are as skilled as  a 6 year old in Australia mentality. Until they raise the bar. I suggest they remove all zebra crossings without traffic lights. Those crossings with traffic lights they add speed bumps with BIG warning signs stating they are there. The bumps lowers when the lights go green. f cars etc go through on a red light it  F''' k's  up any vehicle that drives through at 30kms plus. It will save lives. But then again RTP and authorities don't give a sh...t.

[BusyB]

 

Poor sods thought they could use a zebra crossing like they do back home ...

[Purdey]

Every zebra crossing should have a barrier. No one will get hit then.

 

 

[Ralf001]

  On 4/17/2025 at 7:42 AM, Purdey said:

Every zebra crossing should have a barrier. No one will get hit then.

 

 

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they do not work on rail crossings so why would they on zebra's ?