Pedestrian Crosswalks

[roblin]

Yeah, that's a major reason why I left Thailand. I thought it was pathetic that people have to cross the road like potential road kill, and traffic rules are set by whoever has the biggest or most expensive vehicle. And then if you do get hit, you're picked up feuding rescue workers to be thrown in the back of a dirty pickup - if they get to you on time.

There is absolutely no excuse for the lack of traffic enforcement in Thailand.

This is one of the major reasons why I am leaving next week after 2years here. I value my life very high and don't want to risk dying.

Although I clearly accept your reason to leave is the traffic in Thailand. Which I believe most of us most likely agree needs an improvement in a lot of fields.

But I must say I am surprised that this is the major reason for leaving a country.

Not the corruption? Or the Visa rules? Or lack of decent jobs? Or too low salaries? Or crime? Or peoples behavior? Or the politics? Or missing the family back home.

Or any other of 1000s of reasons one might come up with to leave any country.

Once again, I accept and understand that people have various reasons for leaving.

Its also how easy it is to piss off the wrong person and end up beeing beaten or shot. Or bad electrical installations. Or lack of fire safety. Intresting ambulance services... Food poisoning. Bad air. Life is cheaper here.

The rest also contributes.

*Corruption I can live with. A bit annoying beeing checked for drugs when you ride a taxi though.

*Visa rules are annoying. I dont mind paying 20k baht for a 2day holiday to singapore, but feel bad about the environment. Would be great if I could pay one official guy to come to my apartment and stomp my passport for 5k baht. Why dont they just offer this instead of making me buy my new camera with Singaporean VAT.

*Jobs I work online....

*Income I make $20k+/month. Bad infrastructure cost me some working hours but I can live with that. But this clearly offsets that Thailand is cheaper in some areas. For me Thailand is very expensive even compared to Tokyo.

*Crime same as traffic. I dont like taking risks with my life.

*Family back home, yes. But I will miss them when i Stay in Tokyo, Miami, Sydney or wherever I choose to spend the winter instead of Bangkok.

[HobbsTheFerociousTiger]

Hobbs I can see that the issue of lights is confusing you in this thread. Are you saying you wouldn't stop, even if people were crossing and there is NO light?

Yes, that is what I'm saying.

Of course I don't run people over who are already crossing; but if there's people starting to cross or about to cross or otherwise clearly wanting to cross and there's any kind of traffic behind me, then I don't stop.

[Travel2003]

Yeah, that's a major reason why I left Thailand. I thought it was pathetic that people have to cross the road like potential road kill, and traffic rules are set by whoever has the biggest or most expensive vehicle. And then if you do get hit, you're picked up feuding rescue workers to be thrown in the back of a dirty pickup - if they get to you on time.

There is absolutely no excuse for the lack of traffic enforcement in Thailand.

This is one of the major reasons why I am leaving next week after 2years here. I value my life very high and don't want to risk dying.

Although I clearly accept your reason to leave is the traffic in Thailand. Which I believe most of us most likely agree needs an improvement in a lot of fields.

But I must say I am surprised that this is the major reason for leaving a country.

Not the corruption? Or the Visa rules? Or lack of decent jobs? Or too low salaries? Or crime? Or peoples behavior? Or the politics? Or missing the family back home.

Or any other of 1000s of reasons one might come up with to leave any country.

Once again, I accept and understand that people have various reasons for leaving.

Its also how easy it is to piss off the wrong person and end up beeing beaten or shot. Or bad electrical installations. Or lack of fire safety. Intresting ambulance services... Food poisoning. Bad air. Life is cheaper here.

The rest also contributes.

*Corruption I can live with. A bit annoying beeing checked for drugs when you ride a taxi though.

*Visa rules are annoying. I dont mind paying 20k baht for a 2day holiday to singapore, but feel bad about the environment. Would be great if I could pay one official guy to come to my apartment and stomp my passport for 5k baht. Why dont they just offer this instead of making me buy my new camera with Singaporean VAT.

*Jobs I work online....

*Income I make $20k+/month. Bad infrastructure cost me some working hours but I can live with that. But this clearly offsets that Thailand is cheaper in some areas. For me Thailand is very expensive even compared to Tokyo.

*Crime same as traffic. I dont like taking risks with my life.

*Family back home, yes. But I will miss them when i Stay in Tokyo, Miami, Sydney or wherever I choose to spend the winter instead of Bangkok.

Not my intention to start a discussion in regards to the various reasons to leave. Just used them as an example that there might be several other reasons.

Back to the traffic.

[kiakaha]

Many of the larger towns and cities have zebra or pedestrian crosswalks that are not located at traffic lights. As a pedestrian I have tried to use these things and am usually frustrated that motorists generally ignore them and any right of way privileges they might convey - then I remember I am in Thailand and get over my frustration quickly. I watch other pedestrians, mostly tourists, try to use them and treat them the same way they would back home and often nearly die in the process.

As motorist my instinct is to stop and give right of way to the pedestrian who is using the crosswalk, even though other road users do not. Every time I do take the "hero" approach and stop it usually results in some form of near catastrophe for the pedestrian, typically this will be a motorbike coming up the inside too fast who doesn't understand why I've stopped and can't see the crosswalk user - more than once this has resulted in casualties.

So what to do, stop or not - yes I know what the law says but the law here says lots of things, most of which are enforced on a convenience basis only.

pedestrian bridges and sky train bridges suffice for me.

[Heng]

Haven't had to cross a street (not including virtually no traffic sois) for years. Any danger or issue can be dealt with if you simply plan ahead and/or have the means to deal with it.

[chiang mai]

Haven't had to cross a street (not including virtually no traffic sois) for years. Any danger or issue can be dealt with if you simply plan ahead and/or have the means to deal with it.

Don't you find that not moving from the block in which you live for so long limits the scope of your activities?

[Onnutrd]

Many of the larger towns and cities have zebra or pedestrian crosswalks that are not located at traffic lights. As a pedestrian I have tried to use these things and am usually frustrated that motorists generally ignore them and any right of way privileges they might convey - then I remember I am in Thailand and get over my frustration quickly. I watch other pedestrians, mostly tourists, try to use them and treat them the same way they would back home and often nearly die in the process.

As motorist my instinct is to stop and give right of way to the pedestrian who is using the crosswalk, even though other road users do not. Every time I do take the "hero" approach and stop it usually results in some form of near catastrophe for the pedestrian, typically this will be a motorbike coming up the inside too fast who doesn't understand why I've stopped and can't see the crosswalk user - more than once this has resulted in casualties.

So what to do, stop or not - yes I know what the law says but the law here says lots of things, most of which are enforced on a convenience basis only.

Hi there,

I decided not to drive anymore. Problem solved.

Probably the best thing is to just keep driving unless another car has stopped, then perhaps you can stop aswell and let the pedestrian cross. However, if you're in the lane closest to the pedestrian, you could stop first as the pedestrian has the ability to see further if compared to stopping in the lane furthest from the pedestrian.

The first time I came to Thailand I was sooooo naive when it came to crossing the road. One car stopped and then I walked without a doubt that the other car would stop too....obviously they did'nt, and I was waiting in the middle of the road with this struggling old lady with her shopping bags...after bowing to the waiting car (I'm sure he wanted to beep his horn), and helping the old lady cross the road; the police had to stop and help us coz we could'nt possibly get through the traffic.

I've begun using the flyovers, and the BTS crossing to get to the other side of the road when I'm at Siam.

[Heng]

Haven't had to cross a street (not including virtually no traffic sois) for years. Any danger or issue can be dealt with if you simply plan ahead and/or have the means to deal with it.

Don't you find that not moving from the block in which you live for so long limits the scope of your activities?

I leave my residence nearly every other day, just not on foot.

[preahko]

Many of the larger towns and cities have zebra or pedestrian crosswalks that are not located at traffic lights. As a pedestrian I have tried to use these things and am usually frustrated that motorists generally ignore them and any right of way privileges they might convey - then I remember I am in Thailand and get over my frustration quickly. I watch other pedestrians, mostly tourists, try to use them and treat them the same way they would back home and often nearly die in the process.

As motorist my instinct is to stop and give right of way to the pedestrian who is using the crosswalk, even though other road users do not. Every time I do take the "hero" approach and stop it usually results in some form of near catastrophe for the pedestrian, typically this will be a motorbike coming up the inside too fast who doesn't understand why I've stopped and can't see the crosswalk user - more than once this has resulted in casualties.

So what to do, stop or not - yes I know what the law says but the law here says lots of things, most of which are enforced on a convenience basis only.

Unless you got a lobotomy recently and became THAI, stop for those pedestrians!! Show some compassion and human decency, something the Siamese are apparently totally incapable of when driving a motorised vehicle!!

preahko

[Zpete]

Came across this in Phnom Penh.

Shudda taken betta pic, both sides of road...... LOL

[YoungAndRice]

Haven't had to cross a street (not including virtually no traffic sois) for years. Any danger or issue can be dealt with if you simply plan ahead and/or have the means to deal with it.

Don't you find that not moving from the block in which you live for so long limits the scope of your activities?

I leave my residence nearly every other day, just not on foot.

you are hi-so dude!

[kat]

Yeah, that's a major reason why I left Thailand. I thought it was pathetic that people have to cross the road like potential road kill, and traffic rules are set by whoever has the biggest or most expensive vehicle. And then if you do get hit, you're picked up feuding rescue workers to be thrown in the back of a dirty pickup - if they get to you on time.

There is absolutely no excuse for the lack of traffic enforcement in Thailand.

This is one of the major reasons why I am leaving next week after 2years here. I value my life very high and don't want to risk dying.

Although I clearly accept your reason to leave is the traffic in Thailand. Which I believe most of us most likely agree needs an improvement in a lot of fields.

But I must say I am surprised that this is the major reason for leaving a country.

Not the corruption? Or the Visa rules? Or lack of decent jobs? Or too low salaries? Or crime? Or peoples behavior? Or the politics? Or missing the family back home.

Or any other of 1000s of reasons one might come up with to leave any country.

Once again, I accept and understand that people have various reasons for leaving.

Its also how easy it is to piss off the wrong person and end up beeing beaten or shot. Or bad electrical installations. Or lack of fire safety. Intresting ambulance services... Food poisoning. Bad air. Life is cheaper here.

The rest also contributes.

*Corruption I can live with. A bit annoying beeing checked for drugs when you ride a taxi though.

*Visa rules are annoying. I dont mind paying 20k baht for a 2day holiday to singapore, but feel bad about the environment. Would be great if I could pay one official guy to come to my apartment and stomp my passport for 5k baht. Why dont they just offer this instead of making me buy my new camera with Singaporean VAT.

*Jobs I work online....

*Income I make $20k+/month. Bad infrastructure cost me some working hours but I can live with that. But this clearly offsets that Thailand is cheaper in some areas. For me Thailand is very expensive even compared to Tokyo.

*Crime same as traffic. I dont like taking risks with my life.

*Family back home, yes. But I will miss them when i Stay in Tokyo, Miami, Sydney or wherever I choose to spend the winter instead of Bangkok.

Not my intention to start a discussion in regards to the various reasons to leave. Just used them as an example that there might be several other reasons.

Back to the traffic.

No, you're right, there are several very good reasons. Traffic just happens to be the subject of this thread.

[kiakaha]

Haven't had to cross a street (not including virtually no traffic sois) for years. Any danger or issue can be dealt with if you simply plan ahead and/or have the means to deal with it.

Don't you find that not moving from the block in which you live for so long limits the scope of your activities?

I leave my residence nearly every other day, just not on foot.

Ahhh..the perks of being a tuk tuk driver

[Heng]

Saleng driver. I dream of one day installing a motor on it.

[Travel2003]

Yeah, that's a major reason why I left Thailand. I thought it was pathetic that people have to cross the road like potential road kill, and traffic rules are set by whoever has the biggest or most expensive vehicle. And then if you do get hit, you're picked up feuding rescue workers to be thrown in the back of a dirty pickup - if they get to you on time.

There is absolutely no excuse for the lack of traffic enforcement in Thailand.

This is one of the major reasons why I am leaving next week after 2years here. I value my life very high and don't want to risk dying.

Although I clearly accept your reason to leave is the traffic in Thailand. Which I believe most of us most likely agree needs an improvement in a lot of fields.

But I must say I am surprised that this is the major reason for leaving a country.

Not the corruption? Or the Visa rules? Or lack of decent jobs? Or too low salaries? Or crime? Or peoples behavior? Or the politics? Or missing the family back home.

Or any other of 1000s of reasons one might come up with to leave any country.

Once again, I accept and understand that people have various reasons for leaving.

Its also how easy it is to piss off the wrong person and end up beeing beaten or shot. Or bad electrical installations. Or lack of fire safety. Intresting ambulance services... Food poisoning. Bad air. Life is cheaper here.

The rest also contributes.

*Corruption I can live with. A bit annoying beeing checked for drugs when you ride a taxi though.

*Visa rules are annoying. I dont mind paying 20k baht for a 2day holiday to singapore, but feel bad about the environment. Would be great if I could pay one official guy to come to my apartment and stomp my passport for 5k baht. Why dont they just offer this instead of making me buy my new camera with Singaporean VAT.

*Jobs I work online....

*Income I make $20k+/month. Bad infrastructure cost me some working hours but I can live with that. But this clearly offsets that Thailand is cheaper in some areas. For me Thailand is very expensive even compared to Tokyo.

*Crime same as traffic. I dont like taking risks with my life.

*Family back home, yes. But I will miss them when i Stay in Tokyo, Miami, Sydney or wherever I choose to spend the winter instead of Bangkok.

Not my intention to start a discussion in regards to the various reasons to leave. Just used them as an example that there might be several other reasons.

Back to the traffic.

No, you're right, there are several very good reasons. Traffic just happens to be the subject of this thread.

As I said, and I repeat............back to traffic issue.