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

[300sd]

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

The driver of the cam car in the right lane should also have not stopped and broken the law ?

 

Its such attitudes and behavior that enables drivers to continue driving in this manner contributing to Thailands terrible road accident and fatality stats.

 

 

I get the point you are trying to make - its made by many - but its an uncivilised attitude that will never lead to any improvement in 'road attitudes'

 

I read posters on here suggesting they never stop at a pedestrian crossing as it offers the 'crosser' the impression of safety (that its now safe to cross) and another driver / rider will blow through the crossing hitting them.

 

When first at a crossing, I 'try not to stop' when on my motorcycle for fear the vehicle behind will not stop and hit me, but in the car I follow the law and stop - its up to the pedestrians to also cross with safety in mind and look out - all of the videos I've seen where pedestrians are hit on a crossing have crossed without looking for traffic, which I find a somewhat shocking lack of self-preservation given Thailands driving standards. 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Nice of you to follow the law with your car, while waiting for other road lunatics to smarten up! That's very noble of you. I hope you make a difference. I on the other hand will continue to break the law and not stop at zebra crossings for exactly the reason we see in the “stoppers” video. Let me know when things change and I'll be more then pleased to abide. Bye, bye.

[richard_smith237]

Just now, 300sd said:

Nice of you to follow the law with your car, while waiting for other road lunatics to smarten up! That's very noble of you. I hope you make a difference. I on the other hand will continue to break the law and not stop at zebra crossings for exactly the reason we see in the “stoppers” video. Let me know when things change and I'll be more then pleased to abide. Bye, bye.

Things are changing slowly.

 

But, as you say, of ppl won’t stop for the same reason you don’t- some areas are more civilised than others.

 

Hope you don’t hit anyone thinking

you were protecting them.

 

[WDSmart]

Of course, that is horrible. The video shows that the driver who hit them was in a lane to the right of a car that had stopped for them. I assume that is why the driver didn't see them. Anyway, when crossing the street, I am very careful. I usually try to wait until there are no cars at all. In a situation like this, I would hesitate after walking past the first car and look to the left (and right) to see if any other cars were coming.

[rwill]

They should just get rid of crosswalks so no one mistakenly thinks they are safe crossing the road.

[quake]

Usual selfish Thai driver.

What's new. nothing.

Hope they quickly recover.

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

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.

These very rare incidents can happen..... [sarcasm]

[Watawattana]

10 hours ago, Georgealbert 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.

What a great idea!  I bet nobody has ever thought of that before!  I'm sure the 'authorities' will get right on it... 

[trainman34014]

Public Service Drivers are among the worst in Thailand when they should (bar the Police) be the best.   Public Service Vehicles are also often in poor condotion, Bald Tyres, Non-Working Brake Light(s), broken Rear Lamp Lenses etc etc.

 

Never mind say the Thai's; carry on as if nothing has happened and look the other way.  Tourists are just seen as walking ATM's or are 'in the way' of Thai Drivers !

[Captor]

5 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

It's not the pedestrian crossing they respect.

However, some cars will give way to pedestrians. The key is you need to make sure they're slowing down, make eye contact, and let them give you permission to cross. 

 

And it's probably best that these zebra crossings be removed altogether. 

Cannot make eye contact with the tinted windows.

[Ralf001]

3 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Well, if he was drunk maybe he could have phoned a friend

richard_smith237 has a friend for him to call.

If drunk driving that is.

[terryofcrete]

4 hours ago, Don Giovanni said:

They never will.

 

Thick as bricks most of em.

 

The Don.

Only way to unthick the brick is to make an example of the thick brick driver ...interesting to see what happens next.... probably no prosecution...TIT. 

[Don Giovanni]

10 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

richard_smith237 has a friend for him to call.

If drunk driving that is.

You drink and drive, don't you ralf?

 

The Don.

[Zapitapi]

maybe the driver texted his gf and did not look ..sorry for the tourists

[OldmanJ]

Stronger fines and possible prison for offenders who persist in this behavior daily.Many don't understand what is required at all zebra crossing on the roads.SLOW DOWN AND WATCH FOR PEOPLE.

[Hardcastle P]

13 hours ago, 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

 

 

The only safe way is to make them pelican crossings using traffic lights

[lordgrinz]

The more I think about this, there is just no excuse for hitting a mother and father pushing a baby carriage across a Zebra crossing. Especially with another vehicle stopped right in front of the well marked Zebra crossing, and with lights above the Zebra crossing showing this as a pedestrian zone (safety zone), thus requiring drivers to be extra careful.

[Liverpool Lou]

6 hours ago, actonion said:

Should be 30 mph its a built up area, buildings  street lights, pedestrians

"30mph"?  What?

[Liverpool Lou]

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 - the driver of the Songthaew was clearly at fault for speeding

The songthaew was being driven a moderate speed, according to witnesses.

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

The songthaew was being driven a moderate speed, according to witnesses.

 

Driving too fast for conditions, i.e. speeding.

[Liverpool Lou]

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Pedestrians on a crossing in Thailand do have right of way.

 

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

When first at a crossing, I 'try not to stop' when on my motorcycle

Such hypocrisy.  "I break the law and endanger pedestrians crossing but it's ok because I have a fear of something hitting me"!  Jesus...   You're just the same, then, as the drivers who are regularly pilloried here by yourself and other posters for not stopping.   Your "fears" are irrelevant when it comes to your breaking the law.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

...  some drivers here perhaps do know the laws and just don't bother with them...

You being a perfect example, as you admitted.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, 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????

Is there a law that prohibits cars from doing that?

[connda]

This is were home-country acculturation ("Here in Germany, all vehicles must stop for pedestrians so we can stroll across the cross-walk and not even look because the cars will stop for sure!") will get you killed in Thailand.  ("A cross-walk!  Off we go without even looking left or right because in our country 'all vehicles must stop for pedest***')

BAM!!!!!

 

One thing I learned in kindergarten that still applies to today.
"When crossing a road at a cross-walk, look left, look right, look left and right again, and stay attentive while crossing for oncoming vehicles."

Obviously they don't teach that in kindergarten anymore. Short lived vacation it seems. Hope the kid didn't get hurt.

[Liverpool Lou]

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

When first at a crossing, I 'try not to stop' when on my motorcycle for fear the vehicle behind will not stop and hit me

 

3 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

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

Good that you recognise that.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, tandor said:

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

How many bleeding traffic police officers do you think that there are?!

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, Don Giovanni said:

You drink and drive, don't you ralf?

 

The Don.

 

I do, but not drunk.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, WDSmart said:

 The video shows that the driver who hit them was in a lane to the right of a car that had stopped for them. I assume that is why the driver didn't see them.

No, it does not.   The video in this thread shows the camera car stopped in the right lane and the songthaew that hit them in the lane to that car's left.

[lordgrinz]

5 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No, it does not.   The video in this thread shows the camera car stopped in the right lane and the songthaew that hit them in the lane to that car's left.

 

Not to mention, anyone with any brains would slow down wondering why a car is stopped in the fast lane right in front of a Zebra crossing.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, Captor said:

Cannot make eye contact with the tinted windows.

Not many windscreens are tinted so heavily that the driver cannot be seen from the outside.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, terryofcrete said:

interesting to see what happens next.... probably no prosecution...

What is that "probability" based on?