File photo for reference only

 

Pattaya's roads are rife with chaos as drivers openly flout traffic laws without fear of repercussions. With speeding motorcycles, illegal U-turns, and songthaews parked haphazardly, the streets have become a battleground of lawless driving. Enforcement by the local police seems merely symbolic, as fines are often inconsistent or negligently imposed.

 

This deep-rooted problem transcends mere driver recklessness, highlighting a significant gap in system enforcement. While police presence is noted, their impact appears negligible, leading to a public perception of indifference or inefficacy. Consequently, traffic laws feel more symbolic than substantial, fostering widespread disregard.

 

Such negligence fuels a perilous environment not just for drivers, but for pedestrians, residents, and tourists alike. The risks extend beyond inconvenience to potential accidents and heightened congestion. Although road safety campaigns exist, their effect remains minimal without strict enforcement, threatening Pattaya's allure as a tourist haven.

 

Real change hinges on comprehensive enforcement and a robust penalty structure, alongside a cultural shift towards respecting traffic laws. Until these elements are established, Pattaya's streets will continue as an arena of unpredictable driving, where safety is constantly compromised.

 

Key Takeaways:

 

• Pattaya's traffic issues persist due to poor law enforcement.
• Motorists feel unrestrained by rules, risking accidents without fear.
• Improved law adherence is needed to restore road safety and order.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Pattaya Mail 2025-10-06

 

 

So what's new, always been like that    😂

Classic. Flouting traffic laws is a passtime nation wide as is the lack of enforcement. This is the way it is and this is the way it will continue to be. TIT.

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

the streets have become a battleground of lawless driving

???? Really ????

Been like this for at least 20 years that I know of.

Nothing to see, just move along.

It's noticable that less and less people are wearing helmets, for a while i thought that had improved.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Pattaya's roads are rife with chaos

So true. 

 

I fly to Roi Et every month, I hire a car, do a lot of driving, the road users there are so different. They obey the road rules, don't run red lights, wear their helmets, very respectful. 

 

Pattaya Road users, so many run lights, no helmets etc and foreigners are just as bad, it's like monkey see monkey do 

 

Saw this foreigner on soi Buakhou yesterday, on his mobility scooter getting pushed around like a Thai guy on his Honda Wave looking for petrol 

 

 

So where are the alleged 650 BIB's in Pattaya when we need them?

1 minute ago, Mason45 said:

So where are the alleged 650 BIB's in Pattaya when we need them?

The thing I've noticed since I moved to Thailand 25 years ago is, in farang countries the cops follow you, whereas in Thailand you go to them with their cosy road side tent. Why are there so many heaviiy loaded trucks waiting for the cops to go back to their station for lunch?

I would replace the word "Pattaya" in the main Title and rather put the word "Thai..."

Yes, the police have been doing this for 25 years or more.

They have set the standards for all to follow.

23 minutes ago, Sigmund said:

I would replace the word "Pattaya" in the main Title and rather put the word "Thai..."

 

Wrong...  Just like SAFETY FIRST mentions, many foreigners here seem to try to fit in and copy the Thai's with the 'anything goes' attitude - we can see that on this forum with the amount of people who admit to DUI...  running red lights might be a little different though... But, its unfair to  replace the word 'Pattaya' with 'Thai' in the title - just replace it with 'Drivers in Thailand' and be intellectually fair about this... 

 

 

 

3 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Saw this foreigner on soi Buakhou yesterday, on his mobility scooter getting pushed around like a Thai guy on his Honda Wave looking for petrol 

 

Oh dear - you really do take issue with the old and immobile having an option to get around....

 

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

13 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Saw this foreigner on soi Buakhou yesterday, on his mobility scooter getting pushed around like a Thai guy on his Honda Wave looking for petrol 

Oh dear - you really do take issue with the old and immobile having an option to get around

I think it's stupid and dangerous, what are you thoughts, would you do something so stupid? 

 

There's no infrastructure for these vehicles, these guys should stay in the west where they have the facilities.

 

These mobility scooters are dangerous, holding up traffic.

There's no room on soi Buakhou, the Soi is too narrow, these vehicles slow down the traffic. They are not meant to be driving on the road, no lights or indicators etc, they sit too low, at times it's danger to manoeuvre around them to pass, we have enough problems with the baht buses on soi Buakhou, we don't need more danger. 

 

Yes, I have issues with the lack of safety and common sense, it's clear that you don't see the danger, maybe it's something you do, lots of aged people acting like children in Pattaya, it's monkey see, monkey do. 

 

Its something a young person would do, getting a tow, not a fully matured adult, I hope you don't get hurt doing these stupid acts. It's your type who cry, moan, whinge and complain when you get in an accident, then we must feel sorry for you. 

 

As the article heading says... Pattaya Drivers Flout Laws Amid Ongoing Traffic Chaos 

Foreigners are the worst offenders, idiots 😡

13 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

So true. 

 

I fly to Roi Et every month, I hire a car, do a lot of driving, the road users there are so different. They obey the road rules, don't run red lights, wear their helmets, very respectful. 

 

Pattaya Road users, so many run lights, no helmets etc and foreigners are just as bad, it's like monkey see monkey do 

 

Saw this foreigner on soi Buakhou yesterday, on his mobility scooter getting pushed around like a Thai guy on his Honda Wave looking for petrol 

 

 

A lot of those scooters can be charged by pushing them...

People flout laws because they are not enforced in the slightest, despite there being cameras all over the place! So the article is correct, but one would have to be a moron not to have seen evidence of this for that last few years... post covid seems to be when traffic law enforcement stopped.

11 hours ago, Mason45 said:

So where are the alleged 650 BIB's in Pattaya when we need them?

Most of them are on the lookout for tourists on motorcycles who are not wearing helmets. They stop a few Thais not wearing helmets to make it seem like they are not focusing on foreigners.

 

Not wearing helmets is not the cause of road mayhem. Helmetless riders are not the cause of accidents. Leave them alone. They are adults - it's their life - their risk. Speeding and crashing red lights should be the main focus, and work down from there to less serious infringements. 

 

I was nearly wiped out a few days ago, turning left onto Liap Thang Rot Fai Road (Railway Road - Southbound) by a motorcyclist coming the wrong way at speed. There is no way to prevent reckless driving. It has gone too far. The Thai people out here are crazy drivers. It makes the expats/tourists look sedate by comparison.

 

I see these crazy young kids constantly whizzing past me at breakneck speeds, helmetless. These are tomorrow's road kill. I just hope they kill themselves and don't take innocents with them when it's their time to go. The cars are much more of a problem.

 

I've been here for 20 years, and I disagree with the members who say it has always been this way. I believe it is getting worse by the year.

15 hours ago, webfact said:

File photo for reference only

 

Pattaya's roads are rife with chaos as drivers openly flout traffic laws without fear of repercussions. With speeding motorcycles, illegal U-turns, and songthaews parked haphazardly, the streets have become a battleground of lawless driving. Enforcement by the local police seems merely symbolic, as fines are often inconsistent or negligently imposed.

 

This deep-rooted problem transcends mere driver recklessness, highlighting a significant gap in system enforcement. While police presence is noted, their impact appears negligible, leading to a public perception of indifference or inefficacy. Consequently, traffic laws feel more symbolic than substantial, fostering widespread disregard.

 

Such negligence fuels a perilous environment not just for drivers, but for pedestrians, residents, and tourists alike. The risks extend beyond inconvenience to potential accidents and heightened congestion. Although road safety campaigns exist, their effect remains minimal without strict enforcement, threatening Pattaya's allure as a tourist haven.

 

Real change hinges on comprehensive enforcement and a robust penalty structure, alongside a cultural shift towards respecting traffic laws. Until these elements are established, Pattaya's streets will continue as an arena of unpredictable driving, where safety is constantly compromised.

 

Key Takeaways:

 

• Pattaya's traffic issues persist due to poor law enforcement.
• Motorists feel unrestrained by rules, risking accidents without fear.
• Improved law adherence is needed to restore road safety and order.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Pattaya Mail 2025-10-06

 

 

"Pattaya's streets will continue as an arena of unpredictable driving, where safety is constantly compromised. ..."

 

They got that right....

 

"Consequently, traffic laws feel more symbolic than substantial, fostering widespread disregard."

 

What should be expected when traffic police disregard enforcing traffic laws?? 

As a young hippie, I used to call cops 'pigs.' These days, as an over-the-hill hippie living in Thailand, I wish there were more cops on the roads. 

Here in Chiang Mai, the daily roadblocks to check helmets and documents are great for lining the city's coffers but do nothing to protect other people using the roads. That takes police out there, in person, stopping vehicles that are breaking the law.
Yes, that will mean an extra 30 minutes on a drive from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, but it might save a life or two.

19 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

Most of them are on the lookout for tourists on motorcycles who are not wearing helmets. They stop a few Thais not wearing helmets to make it seem like they are not focusing on foreigners.

 

Not wearing helmets is not the cause of road mayhem. Helmetless riders are not the cause of accidents. Leave them alone. They are adults - it's their life - their risk. Speeding and crashing red lights should be the main focus, and work down from there to less serious infringements. 

 

I was nearly wiped out a few days ago, turning left onto Liap Thang Rot Fai Road (Railway Road - Southbound) by a motorcyclist coming the wrong way at speed. There is no way to prevent reckless driving. It has gone too far. The Thai people out here are crazy drivers. It makes the expats/tourists look sedate by comparison.

 

I see these crazy young kids constantly whizzing past me at breakneck speeds, helmetless. These are tomorrow's road kill. I just hope they kill themselves and don't take innocents with them when it's their time to go. The cars are much more of a problem.

 

I've been here for 20 years, and I disagree with the members who say it has always been this way. I believe it is getting worse by the year.

Precisely so...

The main focus of Traffic police is to collect money.

The second focus is to go wash the blood and collect broken vehicle parts on the asphalt after collisions.

When I dared to ask why no enforcement is done, I got a hand gesture signifying that the problem would get resolved by itself, somewhere down the roads.

I've been here for some 20 years also. And yes I saw the effect of the learning curve, learning that if a driver gets home alive and has not killed anyone, then there was no problem.

And the size of the motorcycles have compounded the dangers on the roads. Some 20 years ago, many 100 to 125 c.c. on the roads. Today, kids go to school on 150 to 160 c.c., and so many drivers sitting on 350 c.c., including so many foreigners who come here to join in on the driving mess.

When I see a responsible driver on a motorbike of any size, will typically be a long time visitor, at the age of retirement, who has learnt that if you want to survive here, keep the speedometer between 50 and 70 km per hour. 

 

Perhaps they do not care much more about others on the road either, but they do care about themselves...

1 hour ago, gargamon said:

A lot of those scooters can be charged by pushing them...

Oh, now I get it, it's to be expected out of some of the foreigners here in Pattaya, so bloody selfish.

Imagine, inconveniencing other road users, who are taxed and insured so you can illegally use a public road to charge your disability scooter.

It's a very selfish thing to do. 

 

Who is this guy, I bet he's an AN forum member. Is this you Richard_smith237?

 

Speak up if so, I'd like to talk some sense into you. 

 

 

Finally someone has noticed Pattaya's invisible police!  Hardly a week has gone by in the last 20+ years when I haven't had something negative to say here about Pattaya's corrupt, inept, lazy, uncaring, inefficient BIB.

5 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Oh, now I get it, it's to be expected out of some of the foreigners here in Pattaya, so bloody selfish.

Imagine, inconveniencing other road users, who are taxed and insured so you can illegally use a public road to charge your disability scooter.

It's a very selfish thing to do. 

 

 

If on soi bukhao I think he is illegally using the scooter to go charge something else. 

 

Vroom vroom.

1 hour ago, JensenZ said:

Most of them are on the lookout for tourists on motorcycles who are not wearing helmets.

They  aren't out doing much of that in Pattaya of late! Might be more of it as we get into high season.