Suggestions to improve road safety-Samui

[Boater]

Taken from the Samui times,

1. Motorbikes: As a bare minimum I’d like to see 2x outsized high visibility vests under each seat of hired bikes (a small rider can wear a big one….) Getting people to wear helmets isn’t easy, but if they can at least be seen a night we might reduce the accident rate a little.

2. Dashcams: Rental outlets would reduce the chances of claims against their insurers if they fitted dashcams to each of their hire cars. Any resident that doesn’t already have one places himself in a position of weakness in event of an accident. A good dashcam (Dual camera/HD) costs no more than THB 2,500.

3. Traffic lights: Most are in the wrong position (after a junction instead of before it), causing tourists to end up in the firing line when they stop at the foot of a red light. The lights in Maenam have erroneously shown GREEN (front and left/right across oncoming traffic simultaneously) from the day they were erected 13 years ago. The lights at Laem Din and Tesco have one or more bulb missing, often for years at a time, while the lights themselves are at a 45 degree angle, resulting in confusion as to which lane they serve. As these are covered by CCTV I’d expect any faults to have been noticed & fixed almost immediately. The timing on some sets of lights seems to make traffic worse instead of better, particularly during high season.

4. Volumn of traffic: At Christmas/New Year and perhaps Easter/Songkran too the authorities should consider preventing private cars that aren’t registered to a Samui address from boarding inbound ferries. This will of course mean that they’ll have to first improve public transport and eliminate the multi tiered pricing system that currently prevails. Between 15 Dec 13 & 10 Jan 14 traffic between Santa Buri (Maenam) & Tesco Chaweng resembled the gridlock usually associated with Bangkok because there were frankly too many cars on the road including quite a few who didn’t know where they were going (“Sunday drivers”). I assume traffic from Lamai was as bad.

Note: I usually encounter one accident per week between those two points. The most I stumbled upon during any given day last Christmas/New Year was FIVE!

5. Lamp Posts: The standard of street lighting needs to improve, to include the entire ring road and all towns and villages.

6. Footpaths: Awnings, lamp posts, telegraph poles, trees & temporary retail outlets should be cleared to the point where people (inc prams or wheelchairs) aren’t forced to walk among traffic.

7. One way system(s): Need I explain?

8. Roundabout/Give way/Right of way: As above.

9. Entering/Exiting a supermarket etc by Car or bike: For any country that drives on the left entering or leaving a supermarket etc from the left should be normal. The only place on the island where traffic routinely adheres to this is Makro.

A Partridge,

Norwich

[waynerooney]

All well and good, but any traffic laws are not currently enforced, and without enforcement nothing will work.

[carmine]

All well and good, but any traffic laws are not currently enforced, and without enforcement nothing will work.

Correct. So thats that then for this thread.

[pokerspiv]

A few speed humps would be a lot easier and would significantly reduce the number of accidents. They also don't require any enforcement. Feel free to ignore them if you want to break an axle.

[CaptainS]

A few speed humps would be a lot easier and would significantly reduce the number of accidents. They also don't require any enforcement. Feel free to ignore them if you want to break an axle.

I would only agree if they learn how to build a proper one like they do them in developed countries. I am annoyed of the ones the use here (i.e. Big C, Tesco, Macro), they always shake me a lot even when I go as slow as possible. I just saw one in Singapore, its longer, I think over one meter, if going slow you dont feel it at all, you just get shaken when you drive fast.

[CaptainS]

To add one more suggestion, I would forbid those really dark window screens, most car drivers see very little at night.

[Gulfsailor]

To add one more suggestion, I would forbid those really dark window screens, most car drivers see very little at night.

I think the really dark ones are illegal. That said my side windows are pretty dark and I agree that I can't see anything through them at night, nor can I see much in my mirrors because of them when dark. When turning or driving through a bend I open the window to be able to see where I am going.

[Tropicalevo]

There are laws covering the % of window tinting. There are two different measurements. The front windscreen and then all other windows. (The measurement for the front windscreen is a lot lighter than the other windows - makes sense.)

The laws came about at roughly the same time that the police were told to use the same %'s for their police boxes. The reason being that police used to take tea money in the boxes and with the almost black window tinting - no one could see it happening.

Two things happened. First - when I was stopped for tea money in Bangkok - they took me into the 'clear glass' police box and then sat me on a stool about 6 inches high. I could not be seen by anyone outside - I was below the level of the window. I paid the tea money. (I was on my way to the airport to collect relatives.)

Then - the police complained that they did not have the tools/ability to measure the % of tinting on vehicles. (Not difficult if you think about it.)

End result - no checks on vehicle window tinting. Police boxes still have black windows.

Bottom line - if you cannot see the people inside - it is illegal (technically).

[Higgins]

An attempt at a positive thrust on things - makes a refreshing change to the mindless 'wear-a-helmut-cos-its-the-law' brigade

Driving slowly is the key to it all and the new roads don't contribute to that. Hard to get people to drive more slowly especially the youngsters and those paid to get from A to B quickly ... and i dont have the answer to that. I hate speedbumps and i'm a slow driver. Maybe the roads need a downgrade to slow everyone down

Like the Hi-Viz thing - my bike raincoat is bright orange for that reason. It does make a difference

Agree fully on the traffic lights - some road markings around them would also make things clearer for those new to driving here

[sscsamui]

Nothing will work on Samui..... There are way to many stupid, self-centered inconsiderate Dumb Dumbs with the IQ of a burt salad bar...

[pokerspiv]

An attempt at a positive thrust on things - makes a refreshing change to the mindless 'wear-a-helmut-cos-its-the-law' brigade

Driving slowly is the key to it all and the new roads don't contribute to that. Hard to get people to drive more slowly especially the youngsters and those paid to get from A to B quickly ... and i dont have the answer to that. I hate speedbumps and i'm a slow driver. Maybe the roads need a downgrade to slow everyone down

Like the Hi-Viz thing - my bike raincoat is bright orange for that reason. It does make a difference

Agree fully on the traffic lights - some road markings around them would also make things clearer for those new to driving here

The solution to it is speed bumps. Everywhere they have them in Lamai they slow traffic. They work. That's why you hate them, because you have to slow down for them.

A speed bump on a road instantly stops it from being used as a racetrack.

[ParadiseLost]

Volumn of traffic: At Christmas/New Year and perhaps Easter/Songkran too the authorities should consider preventing private cars that aren’t registered to a Samui address from boarding inbound ferries.

Excellent suggestion, and please the same for KP - otherwise introduce a hefty tax and use the money to upgrade the road safety...

If you want to see how cars ruin a beautiful island (roughly the same size as Samui) then just visit Penang for a few days. Building more and better roads on an island is counter-intuitive.

Penang has a second bridge now, perhaps they will eventually join to the mainland with enough land reclamation. No thought to preserving the island for tourism at all - it's just another dirty smelly Asian city.

[pokerspiv]

Cars = economic growth. I for one don't think Thais should have to remain poor just so we can look at a slightly nicer mountain. They have kids to feed and stuff.

[ParadiseLost]

Most Malaysians are enslaved to their car finance, this is progress? Thailand recently offered a cash-back carrot to gently push many towards the same fate. How many are now regretting their decision to help prop up the auto industry?...

Anyway, I am talking about an island here, one claiming to be an elite tourist destination - do you not think it would be better to restrict "progress" as a means to protecting the wealth and appeal for future generations?

I hardly think Penang has much appeal left as an island getaway - more like just another shopping destination. Problem is, with the restricted space the roads are jammed and as locals are refusing to allow public transport developments (takes their parking spaces) getting from A to B is just frustrating and nigh impossible during school runs and peak times.

Would you prefer Samui to be under or over developed (if it were possible to change the inevitable)?

[ParadiseLost]

Cars = economic growth. I for one don't think Thais should have to remain poor just so we can look at a slightly nicer mountain. They have kids to feed and stuff.

Nowhere was I suggesting people should remain poor, but I see you share the misconception that a car somehow indicates (or proves) that you are wealthy.

Most money spent on cars would be far better spent on educating children, or painting your home.

A car is a liability, and I fail to see that owing 2 million baht to a bank for a car is something to be proud of when your home is worth 1 mil and has that nice post apocalypse look...

Not that I have never owned a car - I am just as self-indulgent as the rest. I do however, regret the large amount of money I threw away on cars due to poor judgement in my youth.

It's the same as saying you can't live without a smartphone, or iPad.

[pokerspiv]

Cars = economic growth. I for one don't think Thais should have to remain poor just so we can look at a slightly nicer mountain. They have kids to feed and stuff.

Nowhere was I suggesting people should remain poor, but I see you share the misconception that a car somehow indicates (or proves) that you are wealthy.

No, I am saying cars create wealth, because they carry goods and consumers and thereby facilitate trade. Cars = economic growth.

You seemed obsessed with idea of cars as a status symbol and completely oblivious to the fact that they are also extremely useful.

Edited July 13, 2014 by pokerspiv

[pokerspiv]

do you not think it would be better to restrict "progress" as a means to protecting the wealth and appeal for future generations?

No, I don't, because I am not a socialist with a noble savage fantasy.

[ParadiseLost]

do you not think it would be better to restrict "progress" as a means to protecting the wealth and appeal for future generations?

No, I don't, because I am not a socialist with a noble savage fantasy.

I did say specifically on Samui - you are being overly dramatic...

What is a tropical island paradise once it has been fully developed to cater for every family's dream Toyonda? If cars and industry are your thing then live on the mainland.

[pokerspiv]

do you not think it would be better to restrict "progress" as a means to protecting the wealth and appeal for future generations?

No, I don't, because I am not a socialist with a noble savage fantasy.

I did say specifically on Samui - you are being overly dramatic...

What is a tropical island paradise once it has been fully developed to cater for every family's dream Toyonda? If cars and industry are your thing then live on the mainland.

Looks like you're outvoted.

[justanotheroldhippy]

Cars = economic growth. I for one don't think Thais should have to remain poor just so we can look at a slightly nicer mountain. They have kids to feed and stuff.

Nowhere was I suggesting people should remain poor, but I see you share the misconception that a car somehow indicates (or proves) that you are wealthy.

No, I am saying cars create wealth, because they carry goods and consumers and thereby facilitate trade. Cars = economic growth.

You seemed obsessed with idea of cars as a status symbol and completely oblivious to the fact that they are also extremely useful.

well.... to most Thais I know (certainly on Samui anyway) cars are indeed a status symbol... that red plate being even more so! I knew a friend who was so so happy because a friend of hers had just let her drive around for a bit in her new red-plated car... she was so excited she couldn't stop talking about how she hoped lots of people who knew her saw her (and thought the car was actually hers! lol). I also happen to know countless Thais who live in small rented houses that cost around 2,000 baht a month, but own a pickup that they are paying 10,000 baht a month for! Nothing wrong with living in a small rented house per se, but when it only has one bedroom, and you have (for example) 2 kids, paying 5 times the cost of your rent to have a new pickup parked outside seems crazy... particularly when I know for a fact that quite a few of these people put 150 baht's worth of diesel in at a time because they can't afford more! So... status symbol? Most definitely 'Yes' I reckon. And the only economic growth going on is in the HP companies, money lenders, and banks that are putting systems in place that allow (or take advantage of) people on quite a low income to put most of that income into a bleeding car that they can hardly afford to run! lol

[pokerspiv]

When you have 2 kids, a car is the first thing you would buy. Or would you rather they ferried them around on a scooter with 3-4 people on it?

Get real, You wouldn't put your own kids on a scooter on Samui's roads, but then you criticise Thais who buy a car for that reason. Completely ridiculous. Rest of your post is standard socialist claptrap and shows a complete ignorance of how important cars and trucks are to the working of an economy.

[ParadiseLost]

It's sad how difficult it is to 'discuss', or 'debate' something with someone who has 'chosen his team' and must ridicule, argue, deny, or just blow it out their - let's start again...

Cars are massively expensive in this part of the world, even second hand motors are close to new prices. Environmentally the car and it's fuel supply are bad, but somehow this is irrelevant and families getting indebted for convenience sake is good.

How about public transportation?

I would never argue that a car can improve your life - many things can. It doesn't mean that it is your right to have one - because you want it - for your own selfish reasons...

I would love a helicopter as these ferries are a joke - it would make life so much better. And it would improve the economy, somehow.

[pinkpanther99]

A Partridge,

Norwich

Lol has nobody noticed this?!

I wonder what Alan thinks of the pedestrianization of Chaweng town centre?

[pokerspiv]

It doesn't mean that it is your right to have one - because you want it - for your own selfish reasons...

Actually it does mean that. Fortunately for most people, socialists are not taken seriously any more.

[ParadiseLost]

To summarize:

Topic of thread: How to improve road safety on Koh Samui island.

Suggestion: Limit the number of privately owned vehicles.

Reaction: Socialist xxxxx trying to take away right to own cars and destroy the freedom of all Thais.

Conclusion: No point trying to have intelligent conversation here.

Enjoy living on an island which used to attract people based on it's beauty, not for the cosmopolitan lifestyle. Ignore what has already happened in other similar locations, at the expense of future generations.

Do you also totally discount creating a public transport solution - or any solution with ridicule and ignorant blanket statements - just because you want a car?

Edited July 14, 2014 by Rooo
flame removed

[Rooo]

Enough with the bickering please.

[ParadiseLost]

To summarize:

Topic of thread: How to improve road safety on Koh Samui island.

Suggestion: Limit the number of privately owned vehicles.

Reaction: Socialist xxxxx trying to take away right to own cars and destroy the freedom of all Thais.

Conclusion: No point trying to have intelligent conversation here.

Enjoy living on an island which used to attract people based on it's beauty, not for the cosmopolitan lifestyle. Ignore what has already happened in other similar locations, at the expense of future generations.

Do you also totally discount creating a public transport solution - or any solution with ridicule and ignorant blanket statements - just because you want a car?

Ha ha I was flaming myself?

[ParadiseLost]

Referring back to my points regarding Penang, and more specifically their failed monorail project (or perhaps delayed?) I wonder what locals think about a similar project for Samui?

In Penang the locals were violently opposed to the project, citing two main reasons - firstly, during construction the roads would be too congested, and secondly the support pillars would take away too much parking space in city areas. Both are examples of how the car has altered the lives of people living there, the entire island is now paved but still it is not enough.

Is this the future of Samui? I certainly hope not but I worry the time will soon be past when something profound could be done to halt the influx of cars. It's even worse on KP.

[robsamui]

It's sad how difficult it is to 'discuss', or 'debate' something with someone who has 'chosen his team' and must ridicule, argue, deny, or just blow it out their - let's start again...

Cars are massively expensive in this part of the world, even second hand motors are close to new prices. Environmentally the car and it's fuel supply are bad, but somehow this is irrelevant and families getting indebted for convenience sake is good.

How about public transportation?

I would never argue that a car can improve your life - many things can. It doesn't mean that it is your right to have one - because you want it - for your own selfish reasons...

I would love a helicopter as these ferries are a joke - it would make life so much better. And it would improve the economy, somehow.

The Thai nation is rooted in displays of status - the more expensive the car, the more status it confers to its owner. You won't change that.

This reminds me of parts of working-class London in the 70s (where I used to live). In the Jamaican areas every other run-down tiny terraced house with peeling paint and broken windows had a shiny black BMW outside.

Some things are not easy to change . . .

R

[robsamui]

Saturday 5:00 pm Cafe Talay Mae Nam - meeting organised by Samui Times to discuss steps towards road safety/making contact with local TAT/government officials etc.

20 yards from Mae Nam Chinese Temple; put your back against it and walk towards the sea. Cafe Talay is the first thing on the left, on the corner as you get to the sand.

R

Edited July 16, 2014 by robsamui