New Pedestrian Crossings

[toenail]

Strange Strange Strange how the city turned of the use of the crossings on Loy Kratong day. Of all days, the crossings were needed in the evening. If they were turned off because of the incease traffic, does that mean they'll be turned off for December and January when it is peak tourist season? I find the Farang in their cars and trucks (and the Thais from BKK) being the ones to stop willlingly at the marked crossings without a light. When I am driving I enjoy stopping to allow the pedistrians walk across (Dolphin Circle and Beach Rd0. but I am always afraid to get smashed by the idiot behind me.

[thaibeachlovers]

I often see cars and bikes stopped for the red lights on Second Rd. Never thought it would happen.

Today there was a light "guard" stopping traffic at the crossing near Central- only when the lights went red, and he even had a flourescent strip on his black uniform!

[craigt3365]

I went up 2nd road and down Beach Road pretty much all the way today a few times. When the light was red, cars were stopped. I was amazed. But still saw peds crossing 15-20 meters from a crossing. It seems to be getting better?

[tropo]

I went up 2nd road and down Beach Road pretty much all the way today a few times. When the light was red, cars were stopped. I was amazed. But still saw peds crossing 15-20 meters from a crossing. It seems to be getting better?

You'll always get pedestrians crossing away from the crossings. I wouldn't walk over to them myself, but the point is that people who are afraid to cross the road have a safer option now.

[cardholder]

I went up 2nd road and down Beach Road pretty much all the way today a few times. When the light was red, cars were stopped. I was amazed. But still saw peds crossing 15-20 meters from a crossing. It seems to be getting better?

You'll always get pedestrians crossing away from the crossings. I wouldn't walk over to them myself, but the point is that people who are afraid to cross the road have a safer option now.

Very valid point and I really want to believe that this WILL be the case.

[tropo]

I went up 2nd road and down Beach Road pretty much all the way today a few times. When the light was red, cars were stopped. I was amazed. But still saw peds crossing 15-20 meters from a crossing. It seems to be getting better?

You'll always get pedestrians crossing away from the crossings. I wouldn't walk over to them myself, but the point is that people who are afraid to cross the road have a safer option now.

Very valid point and I really want to believe that this WILL be the case.

I really hope so.

This evening I was very disappointed (and angry) to see a Farang nearly wiped out by a car trying to cross 3rd Road at red pedestrian lights. In this case the lights did him a huge diservice as he was under the impression it was be the safest way to cross.

[cardholder]

I went up 2nd road and down Beach Road pretty much all the way today a few times. When the light was red, cars were stopped. I was amazed. But still saw peds crossing 15-20 meters from a crossing. It seems to be getting better?

You'll always get pedestrians crossing away from the crossings. I wouldn't walk over to them myself, but the point is that people who are afraid to cross the road have a safer option now.

Very valid point and I really want to believe that this WILL be the case.

I really hope so.

This evening I was very disappointed (and angry) to see a Farang nearly wiped out by a car trying to cross 3rd Road at red pedestrian lights. In this case the lights did him a huge diservice as he was under the impression it was be the safest way to cross.

I was afraid that I would be hearing comments like that. A 5,000 Baht min fine should be imposed for going through red lights in such circumstances. If they are red the expectation should be that a pedestrian will be on the crossing. My instinct is that - in time - habits WILL change. i just hope no one is killed in the interim period.

Policing the new system - vigorously - is the only chance.

[pipo1000]

I really hope so.

This evening I was very disappointed (and angry) to see a Farang nearly wiped out by a car trying to cross 3rd Road at red pedestrian lights. In this case the lights did him a huge diservice as he was under the impression it was be the safest way to cross.

I was afraid that I would be hearing comments like that. A 5,000 Baht min fine should be imposed for going through red lights in such circumstances. If they are red the expectation should be that a pedestrian will be on the crossing. My instinct is that - in time - habits WILL change. i just hope no one is killed in the interim period.

Policing the new system - vigorously - is the only chance.

As long as I remember,and that is a very long time, traffic lights are installed at crossroads here in Pattaya.Still " habits " haven't changed at those traffic lights.What makes you consider that it will happen this time.

[cardholder]

I really hope so.

This evening I was very disappointed (and angry) to see a Farang nearly wiped out by a car trying to cross 3rd Road at red pedestrian lights. In this case the lights did him a huge diservice as he was under the impression it was be the safest way to cross.

I was afraid that I would be hearing comments like that. A 5,000 Baht min fine should be imposed for going through red lights in such circumstances. If they are red the expectation should be that a pedestrian will be on the crossing. My instinct is that - in time - habits WILL change. i just hope no one is killed in the interim period.

Policing the new system - vigorously - is the only chance.

As long as I remember,and that is a very long time, traffic lights are installed at crossroads here in Pattaya.Still " habits " haven't changed at those traffic lights.What makes you consider that it will happen this time.

They stop at Klang/2nd, Klang/3rd, Klang/Sukhumvit, Sukhumvit/SiamCountryClub, Sukhumvit/Tai, Sukhumvit/Nua... do I need to go on ?

Eventually, they will stop at the crossings (although I accept that thedanger to them is greater from a car on Sukhumvit than it is from a fleshy pedestrian on Beach Road).

[Jingthing]

Probably an unpleasant thought, but it is a certainty that these new safety crossing will directly lead to the injuries and deaths of some people. The question over time is whether overall they save more people than they hurt and kill. The jury is out on that as this experiment is in the very early stages.

Consider air bags in cars. Clearly they save many lives but occasionally they are implicated in causing deaths as well.

[streetlife]

I've noticed traffic starting to stop at some of these lights although there seems to be one or two that simply can not fathom why the traffic has stopped or blatantly does not give a toss and rides straight through just missing the crossing pedestrians usually motor bike taxi psychopaths.

[craigt3365]

I took wifey to the market today here in Ban Amphur, around 7:30am. While waiting at the light to turn into the temple, I saw many scooters just go as they please, completely ignoring the red light. Cutting across Suk in front of speeding cars...one guy even had his grand baby in his lap. None were wearing helmets, none waited for the red light. Several were heading in the wrong direction on Suk and then cutting across and ignoring the lights. As I went to turn, a car ran the red light going at least 80km. If I would have been a bit quicker off the start, but not jumping the light, it would have been a wreck for sure. The guy just plowed on through...red light and all.

And there is a rather large police station right there....until the police force is reformed, I doubt much will change.

[pipo1000]

I really hope so.

This evening I was very disappointed (and angry) to see a Farang nearly wiped out by a car trying to cross 3rd Road at red pedestrian lights. In this case the lights did him a huge diservice as he was under the impression it was be the safest way to cross.

I was afraid that I would be hearing comments like that. A 5,000 Baht min fine should be imposed for going through red lights in such circumstances. If they are red the expectation should be that a pedestrian will be on the crossing. My instinct is that - in time - habits WILL change. i just hope no one is killed in the interim period.

Policing the new system - vigorously - is the only chance.

As long as I remember,and that is a very long time, traffic lights are installed at crossroads here in Pattaya.Still " habits " haven't changed at those traffic lights.What makes you consider that it will happen this time.

They stop at Klang/2nd, Klang/3rd, Klang/Sukhumvit, Sukhumvit/SiamCountryClub, Sukhumvit/Tai, Sukhumvit/Nua... do I need to go on ?

Eventually, they will stop at the crossings (although I accept that thedanger to them is greater from a car on Sukhumvit than it is from a fleshy pedestrian on Beach Road).

I'm not sure if we live in the same Pattaya,from your comments I even assume that you never been here,but at all the crossings you mention I only see them stop 10 seconds after the light turned red and actually after their way is blocked by the cars that have green light.

[cardholder]

I'm not sure if we live in the same Pattaya,from your comments I even assume that you never been here,but at all the crossings you mention I only see them stop 10 seconds after the light turned red and actually after their way is blocked by the cars that have green light.

Welcome to the forum, newbie. Good to see your vast knowledge of Pattaya adding value to the debate. I can only assume that your first language is not English, so I will try once more to explain.

I am not offering a parallel with other crossings - there is none. I am saying that drivers have learned, over time to stop at RED LIGHTS. It will take a little longer with these new crossings but eventually their effectiveness will increase.

[pipo1000]

^ And what I am saying is that drivers still only stop at red lights when they are forced to.Read post #72 it confirms my observations.

Oh and look I'm not a newbie anymore now

[cardholder]

^ And what I am saying is that drivers still only stop at red lights when they are forced to.Read post #72 it confirms my observations.

Oh and look I'm not a newbie anymore now

Ahh! Now your credibility is established .

Ban Amphur is also about 15km out of Pattaya. In Central Pattaya I rarely see anyone without a helmet anymore - mainly Falangs. People will always 'jump' a red light but in terms of routinely halting at red then drivers most certainly do. Running a red light is unlikley to kill a pedestrian (they will cross with caution if they have any sense) - some moron totally disregarding the lights WILL.

[tropo]

The new pedestrian lights along 2nd and Beach Road were all off today.

[pipo1000]

The new pedestrian lights along 2nd and Beach Road were all off today.

I think they switch them off every weekend.Far much easier than synchronise them when the traffic is busy.

[tropo]

The new pedestrian lights along 2nd and Beach Road were all off today.

I think they switch them off every weekend.Far much easier than synchronise them when the traffic is busy.

These push button pedestrain lights cannot be synchronized. They're activated by pedestrians and they're purpose is to help them cross when the "traffic is busy".

[pipo1000]

The new pedestrian lights along 2nd and Beach Road were all off today.

I think they switch them off every weekend.Far much easier than synchronise them when the traffic is busy.

These push button pedestrain lights cannot be synchronized. They're activated by pedestrians and they're purpose is to help them cross when the "traffic is busy".

They probably can synchronize them in a way that there need to be a certain time between activating/reactivating and that when one of them turns green the next one can not turn red for a certain period of time.

[tropo]

The new pedestrian lights along 2nd and Beach Road were all off today.

I think they switch them off every weekend.Far much easier than synchronise them when the traffic is busy.

These push button pedestrain lights cannot be synchronized. They're activated by pedestrians and they're purpose is to help them cross when the "traffic is busy".

They probably can synchronize them in a way that there need to be a certain time between activating/reactivating and that when one of them turns green the next one can not turn red for a certain period of time.

There's 15 sets of pedestrian lights on Beach Road alone. There is absolutely no way they can be synchronised and now you're suggesting they turn them off when the "traffic is busy"?

[pipo1000]

They probably can synchronize them in a way that there need to be a certain time between activating/reactivating and that when one of them turns green the next one can not turn red for a certain period of time.

There's 15 sets of pedestrian lights on Beach Road alone. There is absolutely no way they can be synchronised and now you're suggesting they turn them off when the "traffic is busy"?

I'm not suggesting anything.Fact is that they turn them off when traffic is busy.It is either find a way to have them working in a proper way or have traffic coming to a virtual stand still most part of the weekend.

[PattayaParent]

The new pedestrian lights along 2nd and Beach Road were all off today.

They must have forgotten to put the shilling in the meter again.

[tropo]

They probably can synchronize them in a way that there need to be a certain time between activating/reactivating and that when one of them turns green the next one can not turn red for a certain period of time.

There's 15 sets of pedestrian lights on Beach Road alone. There is absolutely no way they can be synchronised and now you're suggesting they turn them off when the "traffic is busy"?

I'm not suggesting anything.Fact is that they turn them off when traffic is busy.It is either find a way to have them working in a proper way or have traffic coming to a virtual stand still most part of the weekend.

I live in Pattaya and travel along 2nd Road and Beach Road several times each day. I don't understand what you mean by "when traffic is busy" as it is always busy on these roads, every day of the week and all year around.

[tropo]

The new pedestrian lights along 2nd and Beach Road were all off today.

They must have forgotten to put the shilling in the meter again.

Just when I thought it was starting to come right I saw a bus totally ignore a set of pedestian lights on 2nd Road in the Soi 13 area....and nearly wipe out 2 female European tourists.

[pipo1000]

They probably can synchronize them in a way that there need to be a certain time between activating/reactivating and that when one of them turns green the next one can not turn red for a certain period of time.

There's 15 sets of pedestrian lights on Beach Road alone. There is absolutely no way they can be synchronised and now you're suggesting they turn them off when the "traffic is busy"?

I'm not suggesting anything.Fact is that they turn them off when traffic is busy.It is either find a way to have them working in a proper way or have traffic coming to a virtual stand still most part of the weekend.

I live in Pattaya and travel along 2nd Road and Beach Road several times each day. I don't understand what you mean by "when traffic is busy" as it is always busy on these roads, every day of the week and all year around.

Good to know that there are "experts" on this board that have the knowledge that everything in this town is constant on a 24/7 base.No high and low seasons or peak days anymore.

Guess lots of people can be relieved now.If only every city in the world could have such an easy planning.

[cardholder]

[quote name='pipo1000'

I live in Pattaya and travel along 2nd Road and Beach Road several times each day. I don't understand what you mean by "when traffic is busy" as it is always busy on these roads, every day of the week and all year around.

Good to know that there are "experts" on this board that have the knowledge that everything in this town is constant on a 24/7 base.No high and low seasons or peak days anymore.

Guess lots of people can be relieved now.If only every city in the world could have such an easy planning.

tropo does not need me to fight his corner, but I have to say that I found your post a little inflammatory.

I saw nothing mentioned about "constant on a 24/7 base" (I presume that you meant "basis" and I forgive the error in view of English not being your first language).

Clearly, nothing is constant, nor 24/7, as far as Pattaya trafffic is concerned. However, I would agree that Beach Road and Second Road (plus Third Road) are ALWAYS busy enough to warrant some assistance for pedestrians.

[tropo]

Good to know that there are "experts" on this board that have the knowledge that everything in this town is constant on a 24/7 base.No high and low seasons or peak days anymore.

Guess lots of people can be relieved now.If only every city in the world could have such an easy planning.

Yeah, it's lucky there are "experts" who actually live in the area who can give you the real picture.

So many people are under the impression that when the tourist numbers decline the traffic goes away. Nothing could be further from the truth. Every year it gets much worse as more and more Thais purchase motorcycles and cars. You see, with a huge permanent population of Thais and expats there's always plenty of traffic. The baht buses are there everyday of the year no matter what the tourist numbers are.

Some of you armchair experts also believe that Pattaya has disctinct high and low seasons. This is not true. There's fluctuations of numbers over the year, but nothing distinct enough that can be guaged by traffic volume, which is always horrendous.

[craigt3365]

Good to know that there are "experts" on this board that have the knowledge that everything in this town is constant on a 24/7 base.No high and low seasons or peak days anymore.

Guess lots of people can be relieved now.If only every city in the world could have such an easy planning.

Yeah, it's lucky there are "experts" who actually live in the area who can give you the real picture.

So many people are under the impression that when the tourist numbers decline the traffic goes away. Nothing could be further from the truth. Every year it gets much worse as more and more Thais purchase motorcycles and cars. You see, with a huge permanent population of Thais and expats there's always plenty of traffic. The baht buses are there everyday of the year no matter what the tourist numbers are.

Some of you armchair experts also believe that Pattaya has disctinct high and low seasons. This is not true. There's fluctuations of numbers over the year, but nothing distinct enough that can be guaged by traffic volume, which is always horrendous.

For sure. Traffic is pretty much always bad. Except when I had to drop wifey off at the bus station at 6am. Not much traffic then!

The light near Foodland was on yesterday. I watched it change, a ped walked across the street, and only 1 scooter ran the light. Others were chomping at the bit after the ped was across, but all waited for the light to turn green before roaring off. I was mildly impressed!

[farangpattaya]

Rode my motorbike last night along Pattaya Klang from Beach Road towards Sukhumvit.

Near Soi Buakhow there's a pedestrian light and it worked.

It jumped to red for motorised traffic.

The 4 cars and 3 motorbikes in front of me, moved on.

The song taew next to me on the left stopped, so did I.

Unfortunately there was a f*cking farang right behind the song taew;

this <deleted> swerved around the song taew and when he noticed me, waiting for the light to become green again, he blew his horn and started shouting.

Obviously he still didn't notice the red light we were waiting for.

Anyway, the song taew driver got out of his car and walked to the hasty <deleted>, who of course locked his doors (I suppose).

I don't know what happened next, it went green again and off I went..............

As for the rest of the pedestrian lights.............they're working prefectly