Another Set Of Traffic Lights

[KarenBravo]

Yesterday, they started installing traffic lights at the aforementioned junction.

They are now ready; just need to be switched on.

Justified, or, just making use of the lights available from the Hayaek fiasco?

[ScubaBuddha]

I always felt like that intersection could use a light. That is where the tuk tuk tried to ram me recently. People seem to think that that streach of road is thier own private racetrack. Speed limit is 60, average speed of car or truck 120+. Last night 30+ kids on motorbikes were holding drag races between Tesco and SaiYuan.

Did they finally take down the Chalong circle lights? I didn't notice.

[KarenBravo]

Did they finally take down the Chalong circle lights? I didn't notice.

Me neither.

Sorry, I don't reckon it warrants lights there. That stretch of Viset road just doesn't get busy enough.

Every Soi on Chaofah West has a longer wait to do a right turn.

[fiddlehead]

Often times, traffic circles are a much better idea to keep things flowing although of course in Thailand, too many people don't know what they are supposed to do.

But, the junction in question on this thread has a lot of traffic accidents and I try to be very aware of everything going on whenever I have go through that junction. (which is quite often as i live nearby)

So, after seeing blood on the streets on average of about once a week, I am going to try to welcome this change as a good one.

My biggest problem with traffic lights is that we have the technology to make all lights "smart" lights with electric eyes to help change the lights depending on what's coming from where. Unfortunately the "smart" lights are rarely put in use for some reason.

[steelepulse]

I agree with fiddlehead. If there were sensors placed properly, it would be a good safe solution to the problem this intersection creates. Unfortunately judging by the bypass road which appears to be randomly set on timers, this won't happen. I wonder if there are any traffic flow specialists in Thailand that take queues from the west where if you do a certain speed, you breeze through all the lights without encountering random reds?

[wtk]

only reason i can think of for the lights is safety but do they really install lights because of that reason here?

i live on saiyuan and coming from the circle i obviously have to turn right often there and the wait is never that long even for cars that i see.

i think it is pretty dangerous though especially when turning right towards rawai when coming from saiyuan road because of the bad visibility

lets see how they work...

[grumpyoldman]

only reason i can think of for the lights is safety but do they really install lights because of that reason here?

i live on saiyuan and coming from the circle i obviously have to turn right often there and the wait is never that long even for cars that i see.

i think it is pretty dangerous though especially when turning right towards rawai when coming from saiyuan road because of the bad visibility

lets see how they work...

Also when turning right onto Sai Yuan from Viset, I do it regularly Monday-Friday and have had numerous close encounters. The most frightening being when as wtk describes someone pulls out turning right onto Viset toward Rawai, the oncoming traffic swerves directly at those of us turning onto Sai Yuan.

Although not a cat, I was getting close to my nine lives number after 5 years of that routine.........lets see how they work.

[F1fanatic]

I think the Saiyan junction is the most dangerous around Chalong/Rawai.

Every time I get close to it (coming from Rawai) I slow down as all the cars coming from the Saiyan road don't bother stopping (if they're turning left), they just turn left regardless of what's coming! If I can, I move into the outside lane when approaching the junction, but its not always possible.

Coming from Chalong and heading towards Rawai, the cars in the outside lane just pull into the left-hand lane if the car in front of them is turning right. Again, they don't bother to check whether there's a motorbike in the left-hand lane, they just assume any motorbike will get out of their way!

Traffic lights are annoying and should not be necessary just because a (relatively un-busy) road turns onto a (relatively un-busy) main road. Unfortunately in this case traffic lights are necessary IMO.

[KarenBravo]

If there is a place that needs lights, it's where Soi Tanutep and Soi Yodsane make a rough crossroads on Chaofah Road West.

I have seen more outlines of dead motorbikes there than any other place in the Chalong, Rawai, Nai Harn area. Often seen cars sitting there waiting for the BiB to arrive after a fender-bender.

[mikebike]

Bet they get turned on and only flash yellow for traffic on Wisit and flash red for those coming from Sai Yuan. I don't think they'll go fully operational (and if they do it'll only be for 24 hours!!) - just another pocket-lining project IMHO...

[Pomthai]

Speaking of traffic and the general mayhem here, I notice that there are new lights at the Heroines circle, the rest of the world is removing lights and replacing them with roundabouts. Here its the opposite. The Thais have absolutely no comprehension of how to negotiate a roundabout, give way doesn't compute period.

Accepted procedure.

1. Stop before roundabout.

2. Give way to the right.

3. Give way to traffic already on the round about.

Thai Method.

1. Barrel toward circle at warp speed.

2. Create own new lane regardless of other road users.

3. Force path through.

4. Never signal at all.

[Hobc]

Traffic lights are only a guide line bigger wins.

[ScubaBuddha]

Every time I get close to it (coming from Rawai) I slow down as all the cars coming from the Saiyan road don't bother stopping (if they're turning left), they just turn left regardless of what's coming! If I can, I move into the outside lane when approaching the junction, but its not always possible.

And unfortunately the lights won't change this. Thai's don't stop or pause when turning left on a red like is required in the west.

They also recently put up a signal in front of Wat Kata. Watching the traffic there, it's about 50% obeyed by motorbikes and anyone who's job it is to drive. (Taxi's, minibuses, water tankers etc.) Only privately owned passenger cars seem to have the desire to stop at it. IMO the intersection of Koktanod and Patak is in greater need of a signal than IFO the Wat.

[cdmtdm]

If there is a place that needs lights, it's where Soi Tanutep and Soi Yodsane make a rough crossroads on Chaofah Road West.

I have seen more outlines of dead motorbikes there than any other place in the Chalong, Rawai, Nai Harn area. Often seen cars sitting there waiting for the BiB to arrive after a fender-bender.

I agree Karen , also add to that the intersection to the Big Buddha and the same at Phunaka Golf Course both nightmares .............

[JetsetBkk]

I agree Karen , also add to that the intersection to the Big Buddha and the same at Phunaka Golf Course both nightmares .............

That "crossroads" is deadly at dusk - some bikes from Yodsane sit there in the middle of the road, side on to traffic so they have very little light showing, waiting to cross into Thanutep. And when there is hardly any moon - like tonight - they really are taking their lives in their hands.

[Valentine]

I agree as most cars have film on the windscreen which it makes it even harder to see at night.

[JetsetBkk]

Every time I get close to it (coming from Rawai) I slow down as all the cars coming from the Saiyan road don't bother stopping (if they're turning left), they just turn left regardless of what's coming! If I can, I move into the outside lane when approaching the junction, but its not always possible.

And unfortunately the lights won't change this. Thai's don't stop or pause when turning left on a red like is required in the west.

<snip>

Simply not true. Stop generalising.

[LivinLOS]

Simply not true. Stop generalising.

It isnt a dig at Thais, its the road law..

Most times, on a simple junction, you can legally go through a red to turn left if its clear.

Whats not true about that ??

[JetsetBkk]

Simply not true. Stop generalising.

It isnt a dig at Thais, its the road law..

Most times, on a simple junction, you can legally go through a red to turn left if its clear.

Whats not true about that ??

Jesus H Christ - stop twisting things around. We all know about "turn left if safe". That's not what we're talking about.

<snip>

Thai's don't stop or pause when turning left on a red

<snip>

That is a generalisation.

[F1fanatic]

I'm with Scuba Buddah on this. NOBODY stops when turning left from the Sai Yan road onto the main Viset Road.

Which made me realise - although I first thought the traffic lights were a great idea - it will change nothing. The vehicles turning left from the Sai Yuan road will contine as they are now - expecting the motorbikes on the main road to get out of their way.

Heavy sigh.

[KarenBravo]

They still haven't switched them on............

[steelepulse]

They still haven't switched them on............

True, but the new lines and stripes which will be ignored look very nice .

[JetsetBkk]

I'm with Scuba Buddah on this. NOBODY stops when turning left from the Sai Yan road onto the main Viset Road.

<snip>

Nonsense. More exaggerations.

[stuandchris]

Bit rich moaning about Thai's ignoring rounabouts.

They were trialed in the states many years ago and withdrawn as they were too complicated for the septics.

Perhaps they are dumb as well?

Edited March 26, 2010 by stuandchris

[BillR]

they really need a light with turn lanes on Viset to turn into tesco.

[JetsetBkk]

they really need a light with turn lanes on Viset to turn into tesco.

They could even make the exit from Tesco "no right turn" and put a U-turn further down Vised road, similar to the exit from Chalong Pier road at rush hour.

Unfortunately it would be ignored by a lot of people.

[ScubaBuddha]

Speaking of lights, why is the light in front of Wat Kata not functioning during the afternoon rush hour? Why put a light in if you aren't going to use it?

[Atmos]

If there is a place that needs lights, it's where Soi Tanutep and Soi Yodsane make a rough crossroads on Chaofah Road West.

I have seen more outlines of dead motorbikes there than any other place in the Chalong, Rawai, Nai Harn area. Often seen cars sitting there waiting for the BiB to arrive after a fender-bender.

that's where we live - Yodsane 2 (aka West Chaofa 49) the one before the main rd up to Big Buddha if you're coming from Chalong. It's a terrifying intersection alright, trying to turn right towards Chalong is a risky business there is simply no visibility as the road curves off to the right. Not enough traffic to warrant lights though, I think the holdups to traffic along Ch W would be too much to allow a few scooters to exit. More and more traffic use Y2 now - it doesn't have the speed bumps or potholes of Y1, but what it does have is four consecutive 90 degree bends at the top with approx 80m straights in between. We considered opening a medical centre in January there were so many minor scooter accidents on 'our' corner we'd be ready with our saline, alcohol, iodine and gauze. Tea or coffee optional! Met some nice folk . . .

I see the lights in the OP are about ready to go, it's been my cycling 'loop' thru Sai Yuan and round Rawai and I've had plenty of 'moments'. We move from Chalong next week and are counting ourselves lucky not to have been involved in any accidents since th shift from Karon in July. I've been close/witnessed two scooter fatalities further along going down the slope towards Rawai, one a 'racing incident' the other a head-on scooter wrong side of road.

Drive/ride safe!

Edited March 29, 2010 by genghis61

[steelepulse]

Lights are now working, though it appears traffic flow wasn't taken into consideration. Going from Rawai to Chalong, you have about 20 seconds to go straight, then it's a 60 second wait. From Chalong to Rawai, it's around 50 seconds and the right turn arrow is on for the first 30 seconds or so. That makes around 30 seconds for those coming from Sai Yuan to turn right onto Vichit.

Wonder why the lights are set up for those going from Rawai only get 20 seconds. Makes no sense to me to have the main road with such a short green light. I can see in the very near future this light being ignored for those going straight.

[starkey_rich]

"Wonder why the lights are set up for those going from Rawai only get 20 seconds. Makes no sense to me to have the main road with such a short green light. I can see in the very near future this light being ignored for those going straight."

They just have any idea do they.

Imagine what it is going to be like at 6.30 pm when you have about 15 to 20 tour buses leaving Phromtep Cape all at the same time.These guy's don't have any patience at the best of times.

Also add in the market 100 mtres away twice a week.

Total chaos.