Another Set Of Traffic Lights

[grumpyoldman]

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.

Also, the genius drivers here when it's clear and safe to do a left onto Viset from Sai Yuan under the red, are not going, thus backing things way up.

Oncoming stopped by the light as people make the left from Viset onto Sai Yuan, no reason people cannot proceed left safely toward Chalong.

[barka]

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...

Sorry,now working and so far so good,before everyone starts making assumptions,lets give them some time.

my opinion is i think they will be much safer...unless you are a drink driver or a kamakazi motobike rider...

[steelepulse]

Lights are so far out of synch with traffic flow, it's hilarious. Now 80 second wait for through traffic from rawai to chalong. Green light from chalong to rawai is 60 seconds and it appears that during this green light there is no green left turn arrow coming from Sai Yuan.

Lights should be like this: 80 seconds green chalong to rawai with a 20 second right turn arrow with a green left turn arrow from sai yuan to vichit which allows 60 seconds of straight on traffic from rawai to chalong. Then a 20 second green right hand turn from sai yuan onto vichit while sai yuan has a green left arrow. So simple, yet............................

Edited April 1, 2010 by steelepulse

[JetsetBkk]

<snip>

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.

It's going to be fun, isn't it, especially on Tuesdays and Fridays. Those VIP buses don't stop at lights anyway - the police escorts allow them to barrel through. Can't let those highly revered non-Farang tourists be late for their supper.

Off-topic: I wonder how much those police cars cost to hire? And, shouldn't they be out catching crooks?

[fiddlehead]

Slightly off topic but last night about 1 km down the road towards Chalong, from the new lights, was a police checkpoint with at least 20 BIB.

Unbelievably, they let me past. They were only stopping Thai people (all of them, in cars, trucks and motorbikes)

Then i remembered: 1st of the month. Payday for the locals.

Edited April 2, 2010 by fiddlehead

[Atmos]

^ we were about 50m away, outside bar opp Tesco entrance. Counted 22 police.

A tactical error having the flashing lights on - we saw so many bike riders doing hasty u-turns at Tesco and zooming back towards Rawai.

Could be wrong - but bar owner said they were after ya-ba. They were patting down some of the riders and searching bags.

We rode straight through - I had hopes of being stopped - and finally discovering what is in GF's handbag (under police supervision!) but not to be.

As for the lights, they're an improvement. Not perfect, but maybe one day they'll tune the timing.

[stevenl]

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?

Those lights are only there because of the school inside Wat Kata. So far during school start and ending hours police officers were sent to make sure the kids could reach the school safely, they now made that automatic. So the lights will only work at those hours on any given day, and with the school holidays at the moment the lights are off the whole day.

[KarenBravo]

Another death at the Soi Yodsane - Soi Tanutep junction last night. Some people are asking for lights.

Must.......not......say.......I told you so.

[F1fanatic]

Happy to report that the lights at the Sai Yuan junction are working v well - even those turning left from the Sai Yuan road are actually stopping at the lights rather than just turning, and expecting everyone to get out of their way .

As previous posters have mentioned, the timing needs to be adjusted, but apart from that a big YES IMO.

[stevenl]

Happy to report that the lights at the Sai Yuan junction are working v well - even those turning left from the Sai Yuan road are actually stopping at the lights rather than just turning, and expecting everyone to get out of their way .

From what I have seen, everybody turning left simply continues left, red or green (provided they can because of waiting traffic to turn right).

As previous posters have mentioned, the timing needs to be adjusted, but apart from that a big YES IMO.

Agree with you, although coming from Rawai so far I have not once had a green light.

[steelepulse]

Agree with you, although coming from Rawai so far I have not once had a green light.

Neither have I, though mathematically you have a 20% chance as you have 22 seconds of green, then 80 seconds of red.

[JetsetBkk]

Happy to report that the lights at the Sai Yuan junction are working v well - even those turning left from the Sai Yuan road are actually stopping at the lights rather than just turning, and expecting everyone to get out of their way .

From what I have seen, everybody turning left simply continues left, red or green (provided they can because of waiting traffic to turn right).

As previous posters have mentioned, the timing needs to be adjusted, but apart from that a big YES IMO.

Agree with you, although coming from Rawai so far I have not once had a green light.

I have - but I had to speed up to catch the green on one occasion and slow down on another for the red to time out.

But it's a real bummer to come down the hill and see them change from green to red.

[Valentine]

Turn left when safe signs should be put up. I have seen a bunch of cars waiting to turn left from Saiyuan while the light was green for those going towards Rawai & red going towards Chalong.

[starkey_rich]

I travel from Rawai towards Chalong about 5 times a day and I have never had the lights on green yet.

I have also noticed over the last few days people are totally ignoring the lights now as the traffic is not so heavy at various times of the day.

[stevenl]

I travel from Rawai towards Chalong about 5 times a day and I have never had the lights on green yet.

I have also noticed over the last few days people are totally ignoring the lights now as the traffic is not so heavy at various times of the day.

Yes, coming from Chalong many people ignore a red light (myself included).

Coming from Rawai I still have not had a green light yet, in spite of being able to adjust my speed. Coming from Chalong I always have a green light (by bike that is).

[RawaiRumper]

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.

Only one thing as to the above.... No BIG Police box at SaiYuan and Vises... Sorry, even with the coppers on deck the chalong Circle is tops for nutso.

As to the new light. Well, use to be that comming from Cholong Cir and wanting to turn right qued into the yellow mid zone and there became 3 or 4 lanes.. the big problem is really the motor bikes and trikes (as always) moving in all directions in and out of Sai Yuan. Now I'm still puzzled as to making a l on the red out of Sai Yuan to Vises. Seems logical and I do it as a matter of paractice. \

If you want to talk about crap road stuf... Remember all the hub hub about the Rawai Lotus.. Well, that was buggers all but I must say the Lotus Mini is creating a huge problem, especially post sunset. Please take not that the Islamioc community seem to no think that lights are needed on their trikes.... I've seens a few get munched as of late, not know the outcome as I didn;t stop!

I have a go as I'm about to head to M and M Pizza for some more great Mario food. Migvht I recommend you forget about the lil gal with the micro mini skirts when you drive back in the dark.

[F1fanatic]

Turn left when safe signs should be put up. I have seen a bunch of cars waiting to turn left from Saiyuan while the light was green for those going towards Rawai & red going towards Chalong.

Have to disagree. It would only lead to (once again) the traffic turning left from Sai Yuan just turning, regardless of oncoming traffic - expecting it to get out of their way. That was always the main problem with the junction IMO. Sounds to me as if the lights need adjusting so that if the light from Rawai to Chalong is red, there is a green arrow left light from Sai Yuan.

p.s. have to agree that I've never yet had a green light when coming from Rawai! To look on the bright side though, I've never yet had a red light when heading in the opposite direction.

I don't mind always hitting the red light, even though there's a LONG wait - for some reason as long as I know exactly how long I have to wait I don't get frustrated. Odd.

[stevenl]

Yesterday evening, coming from Chalong going to Rawai, ran the red light (by bike), right in front of a BIB, no problem at all.

This morning, by car, for the first time no red light coming from Rawai.

Sounds to me as if the lights need adjusting so that if the light from Rawai to Chalong is red, there is a green arrow left light from Sai Yuan.

With only one lane, as soon as a car is waiting to turn right that green arrow won't do much good.

[F1fanatic]

I approached the junction from the Sai Yuan road today. The Sai Yuan light was red, but all the cars and motorbikes turning left ignored the traffic light . The motorbike riders didn't even bother looking (I couldn't see the car drivers).

Presumably the 'accidents' (I find it hard to think of a collision where somebody coming out of a side turning expecting everyone to get out of their way, and is then hit by someone on the main road as an 'accident') will continue....

[JetsetBkk]

Strange. I go past that junction at least twice a day and everyone does what they're supposed to do.

Funny how people tend to exaggerate on this forum.

[Valentine]

Turn left when safe signs should be put up. I have seen a bunch of cars waiting to turn left from Saiyuan while the light was green for those going towards Rawai & red going towards Chalong.

Have to disagree. It would only lead to (once again) the traffic turning left from Sai Yuan just turning, regardless of oncoming traffic - expecting it to get out of their way. That was always the main problem with the junction IMO. Sounds to me as if the lights need adjusting so that if the light from Rawai to Chalong is red, there is a green arrow left light from Sai Yuan.

p.s. have to agree that I've never yet had a green light when coming from Rawai! To look on the bright side though, I've never yet had a red light when heading in the opposite direction.

I don't mind always hitting the red light, even though there's a LONG wait - for some reason as long as I know exactly how long I have to wait I don't get frustrated. Odd.

They have these signs at many other traffic light junctions & at least it may make some cautious in their left hand turn. It is ridiculous for a bunch of vehicles to be waiting in Saiyuan to turn left when there is no need to wait. A left hand arrow would help but to be honest they are very rare in Phuket & I can only recall one place where there is a left hand arrow. As we all know there are motorcyclists coming out of every soi on the island who do not stop or look when turning left so therein lies the mindset which could give pause with a blue sign.

[JetsetBkk]

<snip> they are very rare in Phuket & I can only recall one place where there is a left hand arrow. <snip>

Lots in and around Phuket town.

[wtk]

coming from saiyuan I ignore the red light turning left if the people coming from rawai towards chalong have the red light. i dont see any point waiting when the lane is empty. if they have green I wait the 20 seconds.