Traffic Pattaya Introduces Smart Crossings for Enhanced Safety

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This cutting-edge crossing features a push-button system that activates flashing lights, alerting oncoming traffic to slow down or stop. The aim is straightforward: reduce pedestrian accidents in high-traffic, tourist-frequented areas.

They need smart drivers not smart crossings...

plus... will they work under water ?

[Krabi King]

The mounted cameras also scan for visa overstay, I was told.

[bwanajohn]

Try to make eye contact with drivers...

Wave your hands and run 

[Sydebolle]

What a hopeless joke just lining pockets of those super corrupt pigs feasting on taxpayers money ......

This clip has been around for a while and proves the driving skills and adherence to the traffic laws by the chosen semi-divines in the land of the imbeciles 
 

 

[wavodavo]

16 hours ago, vangrop said:

Hopeless decoration as usual. Very dangerous because giving a false sense of security to pedestrians

So with the flashing lights  flashing the police are HOPING that drivers will stop. That means it's up to them to stop or not which is exactly what it always was.

[Grusa]

What, I wonder, is the difference between "hopefully stop" and "hopelessly stop"? Is it a failure to stop?

[ronster]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This cutting-edge crossing features a push-button system that activates flashing lights, alerting oncoming traffic to slow down or stop. The aim is straightforward: reduce pedestrian accidents in high-traffic, tourist-frequented areas

What year is it ?? 

Cutting edge ? I'm over 50 and pretty sure can remember these everywhere in UK as a kid 🙄🙈

[AustinRacing]

Couple of points:

1) green means go. Driver approaching from distance seeing green lights may equate them to green traffic lights. 
2) this will give more confidence to pedestrians especially tourists to cross but with no guarantee that drivers will obey making it more dangerous. 
3) rather than relying on hope it’s better to force drivers to stop. Boom gates (like train crossing) with flashing red lights or something like this is needed. 

[Aussie999]

15 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

This is a good comment, so many pedestrians holding amulet in hand, crossing the road hoping for the best. 

 

I see similar reckless foreigners crossing the road at times. 

 

Be ause most foreigners expect drivers to STOP as per their home country...AND Thai road rules....you just blame the victim 

[scorecard]

17 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Don't need Smart Crossings, you need Smart drivers, and that's not happening any time soon.

And pretty much the same was tried 20 years ago and nothing changed. The system installed 20 years ago incuded a push button on a pole right at that zebra marked crossing for pedestrian to push which activated normal 3 colour traffic lights on that spot but cars / vehicles ignored the orange and red lights.

 

Even worse, the push button ws installed top of the head height of a 6 foot plus man so it was too high for kids / school kids to reach.

 

At the time a journalist at the introductory press conference mentioned this to the Pattaya city engineer who designed the whole system. His response was 'yes the button is high so kids can't play with the system'.

 

Next journalist, 'but kids have to cross the road too especially going to / coming home from school', the engineers response 'it's OK, kids are young and fit they can run between the cars proceeding on that road'. 

 

The then new system achieved nothing, the police did nothing to aprehend vehices / drivers which ignored the red lights and it was all cancelled and the equipment all removed a few weeks later. 

[ross163103]

17 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Don't need Smart Crossings, you need Smart drivers, and that's not happening any time soon.

 

EXACTLY! I saw a farang down the other day bleeding from the head at one of the zebra crossings with lights!

The BIB aren't going to do it because they'd have to stand in the hot sun, but they need to be stationed at the crossings--or even 100 mtrs down the road, and fine drivers that run the lights. I ALWAYS look in my mirror when stopping at these crossings, too many drivers don't stop. It's easier for the BIB to stand outside the beach road station and pull over farangs on motorcycles, easy prey and easy money!

[Muhendis]

This'll stop em'. It's a three D image on a road in Iceland. 

 

https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/3d-zebra-crossing-thumbnail.jpg

[CallumWK]

34 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:

Couple of points:

1) green means go. Driver approaching from distance seeing green lights may equate them to green traffic lights. 

 

I assume those green lights in the road surface, turn to red flashing when pedestrian crossing light is green

[Mark1969]

58 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:

Couple of points:

1) green means go. Driver approaching from distance seeing green lights may equate them to green traffic lights. 
2) this will give more confidence to pedestrians especially tourists to cross but with no guarantee that drivers will obey making it more dangerous. 
3) rather than relying on hope it’s better to force drivers to stop. Boom gates (like train crossing) with flashing red lights or something like this is needed. 

 

You can't fix stupid...

[Andyfez]

Well seeing as Thai people even ignore barriers at railway crossings I suspect a few lights aren't going to make much difference.

[BeastOfBodmin]

18 hours ago, Will B Good said:

I was thinking maybe those steel posts that come up out of the ground would do it.

With spikes and rotating knives?

[Will B Good]

Just now, BeastOfBodmin said:

With spikes and rotating knives?

 

 

OH! Now you are talking.....love it.

[BeastOfBodmin]

17 hours ago, simon43 said:

I just wet my pants.........

With laughter or out of fear (imaging actually using one of these and trusting it)?

[BeastOfBodmin]

11 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

Way, way too law-and-orderly there Pilgrim. Just allow us to pull 'em outta the car, kneecap 'em, then torch their rides.

Umm, you're not playing GTA now mate 😉

[KannikaP]

18 hours ago, vangrop said:

Hopeless decoration as usual. Very dangerous because giving a false sense of security to pedestrians

But only to those crossing the THB1.5M crossing on 2nd road. The rest of us still get run over.....for free!

In UK we have Belisha Beacons, big orange flashing balls atop striped poles, the light being at head height, not on the road under your wheels.

[KannikaP]

17 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I promise you I won't mum in your couth. 

New one on me!

[Will B Good]

18 hours ago, vangrop said:

Hopeless decoration as usual. Very dangerous because giving a false sense of security to pedestrians

 

Never thought of that.....but spot on.

 

Tourists unfamiliar with Thailand's....'there are no rules'......would get a shock....particularly Germans, who as pedestrians in Germany, are only one step down from God.

 

[smedly]

18 hours ago, johng said:

What you really need is "smart  pedestrians" crossing a busy road...

follow the green cross code (Darth Vader)   

look left,  look right  wait for a clear space then continue to look right and left whilst quickly crossing the road...addendum for Thailand   look up and down and behind too...😛

what you really need is an effective police force that actually "enforces the law" - which is generally ignored by pretty much everyone, you cannot have laws without enforcement and Thailand is a prime example of that fact

[BeastOfBodmin]

"Show me the incentive and I'll show you the outcome" - Charlie Munger

 

I can't see it making any difference, except maybe for a few days as drivers adjust to the new flashing lights.

 

The issue is not "visibility" of traffic control lights/ signals, but the attitudes of the drivers. If you are going to jump a red, you are going to jump a red. You might have to relearn what is going on at a pedestrian crossing, but you're going to learn how to jump it "safely" and continue with the behaviour.

 

As a defensive measure, I'd like to propose an addendum to the safety cards and videos shown when boarding flights to Thailand to include a section on crossing the road. Or maybe a verbal announcements read out as the aeroplane approaches landing (the intercom announcements on approaching Malaysia werte quite scary)? Perhaps a quiz for non-Thais at immigration, to be completed while queuing at passport control? Considering the stupid questions asked at USA immigration, it doesn't seem too harsh.

[billd766]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Pictures courtesy of The Pattaya News

 

Pattaya has unveiled a groundbreaking traffic safety initiative that promises to improve road safety in the city. On Wednesday, 23 July, the city introduced an innovative pedestrian crossing system on Second Road near Soi 6, North Pattaya, designed to enhance safety for both locals and tourists.

 

This cutting-edge crossing features a push-button system that activates flashing lights, alerting oncoming traffic to slow down or stop. The aim is straightforward: reduce pedestrian accidents in high-traffic, tourist-frequented areas.

 

"Crossing the road used to be risky because cars wouldn’t stop," shared Sompong Phurimanak, a local vendor positioned near the new crossing. "Now, with these flashing lights, drivers will hopefully stop."

 

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with both residents and visitors noting improved visibility and enhanced safety. This is the first of several planned installations, with city officials aiming to roll out similar smart crossings on Beach Road and Walking Street. This is part of a larger initiative to create a safer, more pedestrian-friendly Pattaya.

 

“Our goal is to make Pattaya a safer and more walkable city,” stated a spokesperson from Pattaya City Hall. The focus is particularly on areas bustling with tourists and significant foot traffic.

 

Some residents have raised concerns about whether drivers will obey the new system consistently. In response, city officials have promised that traffic police will be deployed to enforce compliance and issue fines to those who don’t adhere to the rules.

 

This project is a key part of Pattaya’s broader effort to modernise infrastructure and implement smart city technologies. By enhancing pedestrian safety, officials hope to improve the overall visitor experience and establish a new benchmark for road safety in Thailand.

 

Costing approximately 1.5 million THB, the new system represents a significant investment in public safety and urban development. The initiative is a testament to Pattaya’s commitment to becoming a safer and more innovative city, underscoring the importance of embracing technological advancements for the benefit of its residents and visitors alike.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-25

 

 

It is a reasonable idea but IMHO it needs  15 cm thick steel plate with sharp blades pointed at the traffic about 20cm apart and at least 1 metre high, hydraulically raised across the whole width of the crossing to stop traffic from simply driving over the crossing and ignoring the pedestrians.

 

IF that works (and it should) then every crossing in the country needs to be modified. Training drivers means nothing. Police enforcement does nothing. It is long past the time to teach drivers the hard way.

 

If you hit the barrier the insurance company should not pay for the repairs.

[worgeordie]

Lots of drivers ,wont stop for a red light and speed through , green lights

in the road ,are not going to work ,the only thing to stop traffic at a zebra

crossing would be barriers to come down , even then motorbike riders would

try to go around or underneath ......

 

regards worgeordie

[Ralf001]

Time to fit a bull bar to my rig then !

[KannikaP]

Take the S off crossingS!

[KannikaP]

2 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

What a hopeless joke just lining pockets of those super corrupt pigs feasting on taxpayers money ......

This clip has been around for a while and proves the driving skills and adherence to the traffic laws by the chosen semi-divines in the land of the imbeciles 
 

 

At 1.36 a pick-up stops. because the light says 11 seconds left. Good man! ..but there are no people wanting to cross the road. 555

 

[black tabby12345]

Now, with these flashing lights, drivers will hopefully stop."

 

Translation:

With or without blinking light, Walkers are at the mercy of drivers.

 

They should place something else that causes fatality to those on wheels when they defy red light. 

Without it, overall driving manner won't really improve.