15 hours ago, falangUK said:

It's pretty hairy crossing in France not to mention they drive on the wrong side too 😉 

they often honk there horne just to make sure its working

16 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

In Thailand its customary to 'honk' at pedestrians crossing the road or other road users when say they exit a side road, to let them know you are there!

Maybe its different in France?

I've lived, worked, and driven in France.  It is customary to honk at pedestrians, at other cars, as well as anything else one is in the mood to.  I don't think it is really much different than Thailand, although the French feel obligated to stop whatever they are doing and argue with a stranger for 5-10 minutes before going on their way.  I think what happened here was that Nicolai did not expect the Thai to start throwing punches.

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

In this case - it was simply someone hitting a horn - its incredibly simple not to even raise an eyebrow to that and not react in any form or manner... 

I agree completely. Considering the fact that he was not crossing at a dedicated pedestrian crossing I think the more appropriate response would have been an apologetic wave and a smile whilst exiting the situation. 

Too many tourists and even long time expats (especially in Pattaya the land of the strange) expect Thai people and the culture to bend to THEM instead of realizing that they are guests in Thailand and need to go with the flow and make an effort to understand Thai people and culture.

 

1) Western driving rules DO NOT APPLY in Thailand. If you are a pedestrian you are not given right of way.

 

Thais are very very tolerant people, but if you put them over that high ledge than watch out for the complete reaction, all bottled up for awhile, to be let loose and it could be on YO AZZ man.

 

 

Odd French name

Although the article rightfully states that the Frenchman had the right-of-way on the zebra crossing, if an oncoming car honks at you or flashes its lights, it's best to stop, back up, and let it pass. And, of course, this should be done without slapping the car as it goes by. That's what I would do, anyway,,,

Some high emotions with a bad outcome for the French who caused the incident.

11 hours ago, StandardIssue said:

1) Western driving rules DO NOT APPLY in Thailand. If you are a pedestrian you are not given right of way.

 

But if you make eye contact with the driver, sometimes they will signal you to go ahead.

 

16 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

In Thailand its customary to 'honk' at pedestrians crossing the road or other road users when say they exit a side road, to let them know you are there!

 

 

 

No it isn't.

 

The horn is under-used in Thailand for fear of causing offense.

 

 

The horn is more frequently used in Cambodia and Vietnam to alert others to your presence.

52 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

Well, in Europe it suffices to put one foot onto the road and cars are - by law - forced to slow down or even stop. 

Not everywhere in Europe!

This altercation started as Nikolai attempted to cross a street outside a South Pattaya restaurant, not using a zebra crossing.

As if using a crossing would have made the slightest bit of difference.

6 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

Not everywhere in Europe!

 

 

Not ANYWHERE in Europe that I have seen... 😊

11 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

1 hour ago, Sydebolle said:

Well, in Europe it suffices to put one foot onto the road and cars are - by law - forced to slow down or even stop. 

Not everywhere in Europe!

It is everywhere in the USA...

Whether it's a zebra crossing or it's the middle of the street it doesn't really matter that much here in Thailand, as a lot of drivers don't respect the zebra crossing, though it is advisable to use them. However, it is the responsibility of the pedestrian to make sure they have a clear and open path free of traffic, before they cross the street randomly. Also if a Thai person yells at you or gets upset just pronam and 99 times out of 100 they just let it go. If you behave like an arrogant butthead it escalates, and this relates to so many situations in life. 

 

Don't be arrogant, because arrogance kills curiosity and passion. Arrogance is knowledge minus wisdom. Arrogance is blind to the stumbling block.

 

Arrogance is a roadblock on the highway of wisdom.

 

An arrogant person considers himself perfect. This is the chief harm of arrogance. It interferes with a person's main task in life - becoming a better person.

Leo Tolstoy

The story seems to assume that pedestrian crossings in Pattaya function normally and are the primary way the population crosses the road.

However 6 years of living there I saw nobody stops at them, buttons don't work, law enforcement don't care.  Crossing at a pedestrian / zebra crossing is little different to crossing without one as it introduces little safety.

Also since crossing the road without a zebra crossing in Pattaya is totally normal it is clear the entire premise of the story is BS and safety of the French man was not the Bolt drivers primary concern. 

Not sure what his problem o maby drunk 

10 minutes ago, sikishrory said:

The story seems to assume that pedestrian crossings in Pattaya function normally and are the primary way the population crosses the road.

However 6 years of living there I saw nobody stops at them, buttons don't work, law enforcement don't care.  Crossing at a pedestrian / zebra crossing is little different to crossing without one as it introduces little safety.

Also since crossing the road without a zebra crossing in Pattaya is totally normal it is clear the entire premise of the story is BS and safety of the French man was not the Bolt drivers primary concern. 

 

 

To support your point you only have to look at the Beach Road crossing right in front of the soi 9 police station.

Just now, Loyl said:

Not sure what his problem o maby drunk 

 

 

Pedestrian or driver?

The dumb ass hit the car not once but twice .... what a loser! Thinks he's judge and juror and took the law into his own hands in a foreign country. No sympathy for this narcissist baby adult. Thinks he can walk into the middle of road and take control. Okay, all you newbies to Thailand hit that red  thumbs down button. 

34 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

No it isn't.

 

The horn is under-used in Thailand for fear of causing offense.

 

 

The horn is more frequently used in Cambodia and Vietnam to alert others to your presence.

I am not arguing that in Cambodia and Vietnam it is used more. In India it is used constantly, but we are not talking about other countries?

In my experience in Thailand in general people do honk when overtaking a motorbike if it is in the middle of the road, or a pedestrian is crossing.

4 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

To support your point you only have to look at the Beach Road crossing right in front of the soi 9 police station.

Exactly. If one was functioning anywhere you would think it would be that one.

Cops could make millions if they actually enforced road laws. Must be nothing in it for them.

4 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

I am not arguing that in Cambodia and Vietnam it is used more. In India it is used constantly, but we are not talking about other countries?

In my experience in Thailand in general people do honk when overtaking a motorbike if it is in the middle of the road, or a pedestrian is crossing.

 

I am just saying that in my experience in Thailand over 20 years is different to yours.

 

Bangkok, Pattaya and maybe Chiang Mai excepted, there is a reluctance to use the horn. I have always put that down to Thai culture of gren jai and the fear of creating a 'situation'.

 

Just my experience.

What is the issue? The arrogant Frenchie got a painful lesson learnt.  Why did he go off on the Bolt driver, who was alerting him?  

 

Well done Mr. Thai man.  I wish there were more incidents like these in Pattaya.  Too many arrogant Farangs coming here lately, and it is time for some good old fashion beat down by the Thais.

 

Respect this culture and find out! the hard way if you do not!

 

Nikolai , Good By ... 

Come to Thailand... FAFO! 😁

4 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

A taxi in the centre most lane didn't, stead, sped through (appeared to accelerate and hit his horn)

Substitute "Uber" for taxi and I get where you're coming from. In my experience (mostly in Bangkok), Thai taxi drivers are decent drivers. I wouldn't like to be in a taxi that did that. Presumably "your" taxi didn't have passengers?

 

I wonder if the Frenchman was under the influence of alcohol?

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

However many years ago in my country they always said that in Thailand it is safer not to cross the street using a zebracrossing.

Safer not to cross the street in the first place.

25 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Whether it's a zebra crossing or it's the middle of the street it doesn't really matter that much here in Thailand, as a lot of drivers don't respect the zebra crossing, though it is advisable to use them. However, it is the responsibility of the pedestrian to make sure they have a clear and open path free of traffic, before they cross the street randomly. Also if a Thai person yells at you or gets upset just pronam and 99 times out of 100 they just let it go. If you behave like an arrogant butthead it escalates, and this relates to so many situations in life. 

 

Don't be arrogant, because arrogance kills curiosity and passion. Arrogance is knowledge minus wisdom. Arrogance is blind to the stumbling block.

 

Arrogance is a roadblock on the highway of wisdom.

 

An arrogant person considers himself perfect. This is the chief harm of arrogance. It interferes with a person's main task in life - becoming a better person.

Leo Tolstoy

reminds me of the old expressions:  win the battle, lose the war

 

or people who come to thailand and can't see the forest that is thais do things differently for the trees (they should do it my way)

 

add in a few beers mix in male egos and arrogance with a dash of stupid....generally not going to end well.

 

as the song said:  Just walk away renee...

10 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

Nikolai the "French National" should be used to cars honking horns - the Frogs invented it. Not so much in the former USSR but.

 

Then the French exported the practice to Vietnam, where the prescribed steering wheel grip is right hand at 2 o'clock, left hand poised over the centre column.  If they don't beep the horn at least once every five seconds, it's considered to be extremely poor driver behaviour. 

The modern car horn—especially the iconic “ahooga” sound—was pioneered by Miller Reese Hutchison in the early 1900s. Hutchison was an American inventor who also worked with Thomas Edison, and he created the Klaxon horn, which became the standard warning device on early automobiles like the Ford Model T

The horn was not invented by the French...ok.

20 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

I am not arguing that in Cambodia and Vietnam it is used more. In India it is used constantly, but we are not talking about other countries?

In my experience in Thailand in general people do honk when overtaking a motorbike if it is in the middle of the road, or a pedestrian is crossing.

The horn is a bit like the voice, it has its own language, a very gentle toot toot to let somebody know you're passing is very different than leaning on the horn, which is usually something that causes a great deal of offense here.