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

[lavender19]

That road through Koh Lak is a death trap. Many accidents there

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

2 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

Thailand needs to hand out travel warnings to people then. Imagine them trying to make it a family friendly tourist destination with the caveat, oh by the way if you don't inch across crosswalks with extreme caution you may get killed because that's just how people are here. Seems like a pretty damn important issue for them address does it not?

 

That's a tough sell. They never admit their own failings, and will lie through gritted teeth in denial.

 

Embassies and consular services need to be very vocal about the dangers of travelling to Thailand.

 

Thailand doesn't need to hand them out - our own countries could put this advise in their travel advisory, but who really reads those ??...    So, any warnings or advisories are likely to go unnoticed.

 

If Embassies start getting very vocal, they will damage ties they have built and a major part of their mission is to develop ties with Thailand.

 

 

That said - this is a 'pretty damn important issue for Thailand to address' [road safety] - but as you mentioned, getting those in positions of authority and power to admit failings is a pretty tough sell.

 

A cultural shift is required, and perhaps thats part of the issue, for the safety culture in many Western nations results in people becoming desensitised and somewhat ignorant to the risks overseas - perhaps thats something we should take care of with the education in our home countries now that the world is so much smaller and the vast majority of folk will travel overseas - educate people that elsewhere its different.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[still kicking]

14 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

Judging by the way they just casually sauntered on to the crossing, the tourists thought they were still in Berlin and rules MUST BE OBEYED.

 

I usually find that even a little pre-trip reading about your vacation spot generally alerts you to potential dangers and modes of recommended behaviour to ensure survival.  i.e when travelling in Africa, don't try to pet a wild lion, swim with the crocodiles, or ride a hippo.

 

In LOS, don't cross the road unless there are no vehicles in sight for 100 metres in both directions, and never on a crossing. Never buy grilled pork from a country stall that doesn't have an ice cooler and the closest refrigerator is 30klm away, obey the three-day rule, never argue with an angry taxi driver or bar bouncer, don't wear gold chains, and avoid conflicts with Ladyboys at 3am. 

 

 

What a nonsense 

[MalcolmB]

6 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

richard_smith237 has a friend for him to call.

If drunk driving that is.

We should get his phone number for the next time we get caught doing something illegal endangering the public.

[actonion]

14 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"30mph"?  What?

30 MPH ....should  be the speed limit in a built up area, or 50kph if u like

[hotsun]

Thailand is very lucky that child survived. Their international reputation really couldnt recover from that

[actonion]

Just now, actonion said:

23 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

Judging by the way they just casually sauntered on to the crossing, the tourists thought they were still in Berlin and rules MUST BE OBEYED.

 

I usually find that even a little pre-trip reading about your vacation spot generally alerts you to potential dangers and modes of recommended behaviour to ensure survival.  i.e when travelling in Africa, don't try to pet a wild lion, swim with the crocodiles, or ride a hippo.

 

In LOS, don't cross the road unless there are no vehicles in sight for 100 metres in both directions, and never on a crossing. Never buy grilled pork from a country stall that doesn't have an ice cooler and the closest refrigerator is 30klm away, obey the three-day rule, never argue with an angry taxi driver or bar bouncer, don't wear gold chains, and avoid conflicts with Ladyboys at 3am. 

 

 

Expand  

Sauntering across the road,?   looked like a normal walking pace to me, what u want  them to do run?. you know so much about Thailand u should get a job with their health and safety commmittee

[Zack61]

This has 500 baht written all over it. 

[Zack61]

10 minutes ago, actonion said:

30 MPH ....should  be the speed limit in a built up area, or 50kph if u like

I prefer 50kph

[actonion]

1 minute ago, Zack61 said:

I prefer 50kph

6 of 1 half dozen of the other, nit picking 

[BerndD]

I expect the following police report shortly: The driver of the Songthaew is not to blame. The Germans, including the toddler, were heavily intoxicated. The result was this serious accident.

[tandor]

15 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

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

how about the pedestrian crossings at schools and congested areas in their District.

[BangkokReady]

22 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Yes, the songthaew driver should have slowed down when the out side vehicle slowed down, but that rarely happens here.

I think that the outside vehicle hid the pedestrians from view until it was too late.

 

That would take way too much thinking and paying attention.  I can't imagine most Thai drivers driving along slowing when they come near junctions, slowing when they see another car stop, gradually peeping out to make sure that roads are clear, anticipating things like that.  Most just drive as fast as they can then swerve around and overtake, rather than even considering slowing down.

[Dan O]

14 hours ago, connda said:

Which may end up being a deadly assumption.

It may be a deadly assumption true but the truth is most foreign tourist have no idea of the traffic issue if its their first time here. You see a cross walk with signs and in some cases light, you wait see a driver slow to a stop and there is nothing that says its not ok to walk. With speed of the truck driver and the position of the stopped car the tourist may not have even seen him coming.

 

Thai's passing a stopped car at any intersection or crosswalk or even red traffic light is never deterred and little to no punishment ever happens for a violation, accident or even death. The news never follows up on these cases so the evaporate just like the law enforcement. Thailand is absolutely vacant of spatial thinking and consequences of their actions, especially when they driver any vehicle. They think in the now and what they want to do at the moment and never about what might happen or that other drivers aren't mind readers to their intent. 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, Dan O said:

It may be a deadly assumption true but the truth is most foreign tourist have no idea of the traffic issue if its their first time here. You see a cross walk with signs and in some cases light, you wait see a driver slow to a stop and there is nothing that says its not ok to walk. With speed of the truck driver and the position of the stopped car the tourist may not have even seen him coming.

 

Thai's passing a stopped car at any intersection or crosswalk or even red traffic light is never deterred and little to no punishment ever happens for a violation, accident or even death. The news never follows up on these cases so the evaporate just like the law enforcement. Thailand is absolutely vacant of spatial thinking and consequences of their actions, especially when they driver any vehicle. They think in the now and what they want to do at the moment and never about what might happen or that other drivers aren't mind readers to their intent. 

 

Valid points - Particularly this: [With speed of the truck driver and the position of the stopped car the tourist may not have even seen him coming.]

 

Generally, when we see people crossing the road here, particularly when the view is obstructed, or when walking across through stationary traffic, many will 'lean out' to view whether its clear or not, checking for lane splitting motorcyclists or vehicles that will blow straight through before stepping out.

 

It seems madness to walk across any road, not check in both directions and not triple check for on coming traffic - its utter craziness when not doing so with a child - and for both mother and father to walk straight across like this blissfully ignorant to the risks shows an alarming level of disregard for self-preservation. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[fonzo]

To prevent deaths at zebra crossings, Thailand should abolish zebra crossings altogether.  They don't work here in Thailand.  That's been proven on many occassions

[JackGats]

22 hours ago, cynic1 said:

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.

Even those with traffic lights. Besides, the lights will work for a few weeks then go dead for lack of maintenance.

 

There's no money to be made in traffic light maintenance you see. Thai brain: "Are you giving me any money to maintain the lights? You're not? I won't do it then!"

[Captor]

19 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

A disconnect from reality - even with mild tint its usually so bright outside the reflection of the windscreen makes 'clear eye contact' unlikely for 'most if not nearly all vehicles'... 

Yes, and eye contact between drivers in 2 cars is impossible. If talking in general about the traffic in Thailand.

[lordgrinz]

4 hours ago, Dan O said:

Thai's passing a stopped car at any intersection or crosswalk or even red traffic light is never deterred and little to no punishment ever happens for a violation, accident or even death. The news never follows up on these cases so the evaporate just like the law enforcement. Thailand is absolutely vacant of spatial thinking and consequences of their actions, especially when they driver any vehicle. They think in the now and what they want to do at the moment and never about what might happen or that other drivers aren't mind readers to their intent. 

 

Which is why I have no respect for Thai culture and it's people, respect is earned, not given.

[Harrisfan]

I never cross the road without looking the whole time. Tourists are dumb for thinking home rules apply. Idiots in Italy do the same thing.

[Luuk Chaai]

On 4/17/2025 at 10:40 AM, Tropicalevo said:

 

Sorry .. I hijacked part of your post

 

Road  ( TOTAL ) awareness seems to be missing from most Thai drivers 

Old school driving instructors back in the UK and in the U.S.  used to teach us about being aware of what everyone is doing.

Do not watch the vehicle just in front of you - look beyond that one and you can work out what he will do before he does.

Also watch the back and sides as you go 

I try to pound this into my wife head as well .... but...... did I mention she is also Thai

 

 

 

[Baba Naba]

On 4/17/2025 at 6:55 PM, KhunLA said:

3rd person to point out the obvious, what I already know.  Living in USA & TH, I did that conversion long time ago, even before getting to TH.

 

My original reply was simply confirming what someone stated the speed should, since a developed area.

 

PLEASE ... nobody else needs to try to enlighten me about miles - kms conversion,  known how to for decades.  Same with F & C temps, and oz-lbs & gr-ml-liters, home chef & baker that I am 😎

AHHH!!! Now I see that this was not your comment "Should be 30 mph its a built up area, buildings  street lights, pedestrians" and the photo was just your reply to the ignorant statement. My bad. 

[Johno57]

On 4/17/2025 at 9:46 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

I see that so often its surprising... 

 

I see it with a lot of nannies walking kids around the Sukhumvit 55 to 31 area's...  and wonder why parents trust them taking their kids out (we had a live in nanny, she wasn't even allowed to take our son out on the balcony, let alone leave the house !).

 

Also when walking with the Wife (or any lady) always walk on the outside (side of the road) - thats just something I was taught growing up.

 

But... what really surprised me with this video - when crossing the road, how such a lack of self preservation was shown, and more so for a parent to show a lack of preservation for their child when crossing by not looking, not even hesitating.

 

 

The speed in which they were hit and the change of lanes at the last 50 yards contradics your theory....totally the drivers fault.. 

[richard_smith237]

6 minutes ago, Johno57 said:

On 4/17/2025 at 6:46 PM, richard_smith237 said:

But... what really surprised me with this video - when crossing the road, how such a lack of self preservation was shown, and more so for a parent to show a lack of preservation for their child when crossing by not looking, not even hesitating.

 

 

The speed in which they were hit and the change of lanes at the last 50 yards contradics your theory....totally the drivers fault.. 

 

What...  you mean the video is wrong and the pedestrians did actually look as they crossed ?

 

Its not a theory that the German pedestrians showed a lack of awareness and a lack of regard for their own well being - its clear from the video that they strolled across the crossing without looking.

 

I agree with you that the Songthaew driver is 100% at fault from a legal perspective. 

 

But, I the video also shows the pedestrians showed a high level of disregard for their own safety when crossing without paying any attention at all for any oncoming traffic 

 

----------------------

 

Where did the 'Songthaew change lanes' ?  - is there another video we haven't seen on this thread ?

 

Even, if the Songthaew it did approach at high speed and change lanes its would have been easy for the pedestrians to avoid impact had they looked and taken greater care.

 

 

 

 

[VocalNeal]

On 4/17/2025 at 5:14 AM, sammieuk1 said:

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

 

 

It is marked as a Zebra crossing but tourists must be told not to assume any right-of-way when using them. The most dangerous time is when one vehicle stops. Watching the video I don't see the tourists looking to their left before walking past the stopped vehicle. 

 

To paraphrase: Knowledge is knowing it is a zebra crossing, wisdom is looking both ways anyway

[Johno57]

On 4/20/2025 at 3:11 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

What...  you mean the video is wrong and the pedestrians did actually look as they crossed ?

 

Its not a theory that the German pedestrians showed a lack of awareness and a lack of regard for their own well being - its clear from the video that they strolled across the crossing without looking.

 

I agree with you that the Songthaew driver is 100% at fault from a legal perspective. 

 

But, I the video also shows the pedestrians showed a high level of disregard for their own safety when crossing without paying any attention at all for any oncoming traffic 

 

----------------------

 

Where did the 'Songthaew change lanes' ?  - is there another video we haven't seen on this thread ?

 

Even, if the Songthaew it did approach at high speed and change lanes its would have been easy for the pedestrians to avoid impact had they looked and taken greater care.

 

 

 

 

Give it a rest mate, any country in the world with a marked out crossing and traffic lights and at least one car stopped would preset as a safety zone 

The car just did not want to stop...

I remember the same,sort of accident last year where the driver said " I blew my horn but they didn't jump out of the way* so he ran them down...

Is this the mentality of most thai drivers? No fault of any pedestrians..