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

[connda]

21 minutes ago, connda said:

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.

By the way, if you watch the complete video, you see that most people just stroll across assuming cars will stop. But, there are some, especially a gal with a kid, who stopped with her kid as she saw something coming.  Right here, she stop with her kid and looks and waits.  Very smart.



Sorry, this isn't the UK or US or EU.  These accidents in cross-walks keep happening because people from those countries mistakenly believe that the traffic on Thai roads behaves the same way it does in their country.  Neither the traffic nor the legal systems is the same. 

Really - someone should publish a pamphlet on how not to get killed or in trouble here in Thailand due to ignorance of the local culture. laws, and general realities - like the reality that Thailand has one of the most dangerous system of roads on the planet..  

When it comes down to a 1500kg vehicle and a 75kg person - the vehicle wins every time.   And if it's a foreigner who gets hit, who takes care of their medical bill.  What's their recourse to civil lawsuits for pain and injury.  There isn't any. So the best precaution is like that mum with her kid - don't put yourself in the position to get hurt. The Thai government isn't going to make that family whole again either medically, emotionally, or financially. 

[Liverpool Lou]

31 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

33 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

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

 

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

Driving at a moderate speed (within the speed limit, presumably) is not "speeding" in the sense that you obviously want it to mean and the conditions were good.   

[lordgrinz]

Just now, Liverpool Lou said:

Driving at a moderate speed (within the speed limit, presumably) is not "speeding" in the sense that you obviously want it to mean and the conditions were good.   

 

A vehicle was stopped in the right lane, caution would dictate slowing down, not barreling through without a care in the world. So I stand by my statement, driving too fast for conditions.

[Tiger1980]

I remember 20-30 yrs ago a German lady was killed on a zebra crossing in Ao Nang. Then for the next couple of months the police actually did there job and made sure vehicles stopped for the pedestrian on the crossing. Then it became too much of an effort and consequently the drivers reverted to their selfish driving style.

[connda]

7 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Just as mind boggling, walking across, pushing your wee one, ahead of you, into 6 lanes, and not paying attention, crosswalk or not.  

When I was out with my daughter when she was very young, and we crossed a road, my head was on a swivel.  Protecting my daughter was first-most in my mind.
How do you push a tram your child in it across a road like you're walking in the park?  It boggles the mind.

[WDSmart]

28 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

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.

Yes, I mistyped. I mean the car that hit them was in the left lane.. 

[connda]

7 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

They really should remove all zebra crossings in Thailand, they are supposed to be for safety but have the opposite result in Thailand.

 

They provide a false sense of security which in turn gets foreigners killed.

[Dan O]

5 hours ago, 300sd said:

There is a lot going on here.

Unfortunately for the family they pay a big price and they have my sympathy.

It is unfortunate that they failed to look “both” ways.

It's unfortunate that the guy in the fast lane stopped for them. He should know better! Thai drivers don't see this as a red light! Thai drivers mostly don't see a zebra crossing at all! Also a vehicle behind this “stopper” as a rule will swerve into the other lane to get by!

It's unfortunate that zebra crossings give many a false sense of security.

It's unfortunate that zebra crossings in this country don't work like other countries.

What they offer is a place to cross at your own risk.

You need to go back and look at the video. They waited on the center island and saw the car slow to a stop and then started to walk across. They most likely thought that based on the first car stopping it was ok to go. The truck doesn't appear to have been paying any attention or just didn't care like most thais and passed a stopped car at speed in the slow lane. 

[connda]

8 hours ago, KhunLA said:

 

They don't mean anything unless a cop can get you on a radar gun.  Other than that, they are meaningless. 

[richard_smith237]

 

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

5 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.

 

And what is the witnesses idea of a 'moderate speed'...    ???

 

We have a video - we are also 'witnesses' to the speed the Songthaew was being driven at and may even have a better idea than the 'so called witness'...

 

Look at things for yourself for a change, rather than blindly believing whatever is written in a news article. 

[connda]

4 hours ago, LALes said:

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.

Yeah, cross the road looking in the direction of oncoming traffic, then get hit from behind by a motorcycle going the wrong way.  That's the sort **** you have to contend with here in Thailand.  You have to take your safety into your own hands.  The state isn't going to do that for you unlike the West where an accident like that would most likely bankrupt the truck driver who hit them with legal costs, damages, civil lawsuits, medical claims, and possible prison time compounded with the loss of his job. 

What will happen to the Thai Songtaew driver here in Thailand?  Maybe he'll have the minimum insurance required - maybe. Or not.  If he doesn't, oh well, apologize to the victims with a wai and a basket of fruit.  Maybe the state scrapes together a few thousand THB and another fruit-basket. The Songtaew driver is no doubt back on the road.  Maybe he'll even see if the courts can get the Germans to pay for the damage to this truck.  Ya know - rich foreigners. 

For all of those who keep saying, "Well if this was in my country in the West....."  
Well - it's not.  This ain't the West.  It's Thailand.  TIT.  They'll be little, if any, punitive actions taken against the driver.  And what punitive actions are taken, if any, they will pale in comparison to those in the Western judicial system for an identical offense. 

And this story will disappear within 48 hours.  You'll probably never hear what happens because, well, we never do.  The suffering of victims isn't newsworthy here. So no need to follow-up. 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

5 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

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

 

5 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.

 

Wow — someone skipped their anti-pedantry meds today!

 

As I mentioned (and as others have pointed out), stopping in a car — especially unexpectedly — carries a genuine risk of being rear-ended. That’s not paranoia, it’s just reality. 

That said, I will always stop in a car.

 

When I’m on my motorcycle and I’m first at the crossing with pedestrians waiting, I don’t stop. Why? Because doing so puts me at significant risk. Drivers behind might not expect me to stop or even notice that I have — which could end very badly for me.

 

So no, your comments aren’t just flawed — they ignore the realities of motorcycling in traffic in Thailand.

 

And let’s be clear: I’m not endangering pedestrians. If they’re on the crossing, of course I stop. But if they’re just waiting? I’m not risking my life and will ride defensively instead.

 

That said, I agree with you on the hypocrisy front. It is breaking the law. But I value my safety and these are the compromises we have to make to remain safe.

 

 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

I do, but not drunk.

 

Rubbish - you drive when over the limit and when stoned...  You've admitted as much in other threads....  and thats why you have no choice but to side with the other idiots who DUI.

[richard_smith237]

55 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

2 hours 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.

 

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'... 

[connda]

27 minutes ago, Dan O said:

They most likely thought that based on the first car stopping it was ok to go

Which may end up being a deadly assumption.

[KhunLA]

39 minutes ago, connda said:

You believe those signs mean something?  They don't mean anything unless a cop can get you on a radar gun.  Other than that, they are meaningless. 

They do to me, most times.   I rarely go over 90 kph, and use the cruise control, so I don't.   When posted at 60 kph, on the main highway, usually through major town with market, then I'll do 60 kph.

 

Off the main, 60 & 30 kph .. nah, not so much, but drive very safe and aware of everything. 

 

When I'm in Krung Thep or congested area, where people may step off the kerb at anytime, or something come out of a side street about 1 meter before they even look ... yea, I'm in 'old man with hat & glasses mode'.  Surely frustrating the hell out of any folks behind me, trying to get home with that pizza still hot.

 

Oh well ... 

[Johno57]

7 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

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

I think it's amazing the driver even stopped...they usually take off and leave you to die..

[KhunLA]

40 minutes ago, connda said:

When I was out with my daughter when she was very young, and we crossed a road, my head was on a swivel.  Protecting my daughter was first-most in my mind.
How do you push a tram your child in it across a road like you're walking in the park?  It boggles the mind.

Another thing that escapes common sense, when parents are walking along the road, with child, hopefully holding their hand, why are they, the parents, not on the outside of the walkway or where ever, instead of the kid walking at the edge of traffic ...  

[Baba Naba]

8 hours ago, KhunLA said:

 

 50 kph = 31mph  🙄

[richard_smith237]

7 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Another thing that escapes common sense, when parents are walking along the road, with child, hopefully holding their hand, why are they, the parents, not on the outside of the walkway or where ever, instead of the kid walking at the edge of traffic ...  

 

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.

 

 

[KhunLA]

4 minutes ago, Baba Naba said:

 50 kph = 31mph  🙄

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 😎

[Krillin]

Thailand is incredibly unsafe. 

[Ratman]

be very careful crossing streets anywhere in the world 

[richard_smith237]

1 minute ago, Krillin said:

Thailand is incredibly unsafe. It is not a safe place to raise children. Yes, your wife might ask you to raise the children near her family. But her family happens to live in one of the most unsafe industrialized countries in the world. 

 

Everything (danger) is amplified when with young children... 

...  Its impossible to walk down most pavements with a stroller, thats where pavements exist.

...  Scolding boiling oil from street vendors, motorcycles, soi dogs etc...  (and thats just Bangkok)

 

 

 

[NorthernRyland]

5 hours ago, watchcat said:

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

 

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?

[BerndD]

6 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

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

No, the rules are the same. only they are not followed.

[BerndD]

The Germans are causing problems everywhere!

No.

 

 

Here it hits a German family.
Thai zebra crossings: either you drive through and risk running over pedestrians, or you stop and risk a rear-end collision. Fortunately, the Thais trust their own experience and use the zebra crossing extremely carefully. Foreigners, like the German family here, rely on the traffic rules. An almost fatal mistake.

[Mr Meeseeks]

9 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

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.

 

Far beyond Thai drivers to anticipate danger, unfortunately. They are just not competent to operate motor vehicles correctly.

[Mr Meeseeks]

2 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

A vehicle was stopped in the right lane, caution would dictate slowing down, not barreling through without a care in the world. So I stand by my statement, driving too fast for conditions.

 

Correct. A brief viewing of the video confirms that. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

46 minutes 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.