Thailand - It's time that we get serious about pedestrian crossings

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
It's time that we get serious about pedestrian crossings
Chularat Saengpassa

BANGKOK: -- Admit it or not, pedestrian crossings in Thailand are very much like "killing fields". Too many innocent victims lose their lives in these supposedly safe zones.

Regardless of what is written in law, pedestrians in practice do not really have the right of way at these crossings.

It is not uncommon to see pedestrians stranded halfway through the crossings when vehicles in the next few lanes refuse to stop.

Official statistics are not available. But judging from news reports, the number of people killed or fatally injured in marked pedestrian crossings here must be very high.

Kanjapas Siriprathum, a 29-year-old creative artist for a TV programme, is just one recent victim.

A small truck hit and seriously injured Kanjapas last Thursday while she was crossing Bangkok's Asoke Road in front of her office.

Her case has attracted much public sympathy partly because the lights for the pedestrian crossing allegedly said "Go" at the time of the accident.

While most families in Thailand are preparing to celebrate the New Year, Kanjapas' family are left grieving.

She left behind a new husband, whom she tied the knot with just weeks ago.

Emerging information suggests motor vehicles have hit a number of victims at this same spot before.

Such reports underline the fact that if Thailand does nothing to reverse this bad trend, many more victims will die on these killing fields.

According to Thai law, drivers are liable to a maximum fine of Bt1,000 if they fail to stop their vehicles for pedestrians at marked crossings. In the events of a road accident taking place, drivers involved must compensate victims or their families. In the case of death, reckless drivers are liable to up to 10 years in jail and a fine of up to Bt20,000.

In the event of serious injuries, reckless drivers are liable to up to three years in jail and/or a maximum fine of Bt6,000.

The long arm of the law, however, may be failing to punish reckless drivers seriously enough.

A few famous entertainers have been convicted of reckless driving that caused several deaths in Thailand. But after paying compensation, their jail terms were suspended.

Many Thai drivers are emboldened by such a lenient approach. Many have been overheard saying that if their vehicles hit a victim, they would prefer to see the casualty dead rather than injured, because a dead person wouldn't be able to complain or seek justice in the courts.

In late 2010, an under-age driver took her parents' car out on to a tollway. She ended up crashing the vehicle into a public-transport van, killing nine of its passengers. The case reached court, but the young driver got away with a suspended jail term.

In civilised countries like the United States, drivers are serious about driving carefully because they know legal enforcement is very strict. Drunk driving, for example, is an extremely serious legal offence there. So if drunk drivers get caught causing road accidents, they will certainly get into serious legal trouble.

If Thailand takes the same tough stance against reckless drivers, our driving culture will start to change for the better and the greater safety of all road users.

Drivers should be made acutely aware they must take responsibility for accidents that happen and for the loss of lives they cause.

In addition to the strict legal enforcement, campaigns should be launched to inculcate a respect for traffic discipline and care for other road users.

The pedestrian crossing is a spot where drivers must stop their vehicles and allow people to cross roads. When the pedestrian-crossing light turns green, drivers must stop.

At the same time, authorities should carefully choose spots to place marked crossings and pedestrian-crossing lights. These signs, for example, should never be on a bend because such a location is clearly dangerous for pedestrians.

Let's make real efforts to stop road accidents today - particularly at pedestrian crossings.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Its-time-that-we-get-serious-about-pedestrian-cros-30250437.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-23

[NongKhaiKid]

Get serious about pedestrian crossings ?

Just add it to a very long list.

[ExPratt]

All very well , but if drivers ignore Red lights its a bit of a waste of time

[draftvader]

They often charge like a Bull at crossings.

[meatboy]

what can one say? its as the saying go's." TELL ME THE OLD OLD STORY"

once again a beautyfull lady's life taken away by xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

and her husbands life in ruin.

[davehowden]

I read it as:

"It's time that we get serious about pedestrian's trying to cross the road and just run them over, that will learn them"

[draftvader]

Poignant in at least 2 ways.... Edited December 23, 2014 by draftvader

[daiwill60]

why doesnt Thailand introduce TV public information film clips during the soaps in order to educate drivers??

[BeforeTigers]

In 2015, 10,000 years after the damn of civilization, it's time to get serious about crossing the road on foot.

[Thian]

There are plenty of zebra-crossings in Bangkok but nobody knows what they mean.

Just go to Europe and look how EVERYBODY obeys the traffic-rules and just copy copy that. That's what Thai are good at so just do it! Also tell the trafficpolice to do their job and give them a bonus for every offender they catch (maybe then they come out of their aircon houses).

[ExPratt]

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There are plenty of zebra-crossings in Bangkok but nobody knows what they mean.

Just go to Europe and look how EVERYBODY obeys the traffic-rules and just copy copy that. That's what Thai are good at so just do it! Also tell the trafficpolice to do their job and give them a bonus for every offender they catch (maybe then they come out of their aircon houses).

My missus was intrigued by Pedestrian crossings when we first went to London, so much so that she would press the button every time she crossed the road , even when there was no traffic , which I'm sure impressed the drivers stuck at red lights with no one crossing the road

[pedro01]

No police, no enforcement = no action

[chainarong]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Get serious about pedestrian crossings ?

Just add it to a very long list.

Just getting serious is a major talking point in itself.

[NongKhaiKid]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Get serious about pedestrian crossings ?

Just add it to a very long list.

Just getting serious is a major talking point in itself.

Can we expect an official announcement of an imminent crackdown, blitz or purge ?

[selftaopath]

There is NO RULE OF LAW in lawless Thailand. Laws???? lol Seriously??? OH PLEASE. Why doesn't Thailand admit it. Anything goes and especially for those who have money or power.

[worgeordie]

Having to stop for pedestrians at a zebra crossing,

what a novel idea,

regards Worgeordie

[Thian]

My missus also couldn't believe that cardrivers stopped for her while crossing a street. Even without a zebra they stop just because we don't make any difference between eachother wether you travel by feet/car/bicycle.

Thai who can afford a car still feel far superior and don't give a dime about other roadusers. That's not buddha-style at all but hey go tell them.

[pieeyed]

I cannot count the times I have nearly been mowed down trying to cross 2nd beach road in Pattaya. Sometimes with children in tow.

[NongKhaiKid]

There is NO RULE OF LAW in lawless Thailand. Laws???? lol Seriously??? OH PLEASE. Why doesn't Thailand admit it. Anything goes and especially for those who have money or power.

Laws, especially for traffic, seem to be that vague requirement for others to obey.

[Emster23]

They put in crosswalk, with signals, flashing lights etc near my condo Jomtien 2nd road about a month ago. Has run for perhaps 5 days total (perhaps that is a good thing?). One time it was working thought I'd try it out. I'd say perhaps 50% of cars stopped. Only takes 1% to kill you.... I think Thai drivers would rather give up their mia nois than apply foot to brake pedal, especially when it is one of those obviously poor people (anyone who walks must be loso). Size is all that matters, and nothing smaller on the road than a pedestrian.

[Thian]

In the villaparks i see Thai family's going for a walk and their children are free to run whereever they like, even onto the road where cars are driving fast. It is not done to correct children and teach them to walk on the paths/pavement.

Pavement sucks anyway because it was made by......Also there they don't dare to correct the builders/designers.

Better have accidents then correcting eachother...

[MaxYakov]

A marked pedestrian crossing, light-controlled or not, means only one thing to me: Cross at your own risk - Street Survival 101. Never assume that the brakes on a vehicle are going to work when they are needed, for any number of reasons. Never put yourself into a situation where there is even a remote possibility that you could be hit whether walking or operating a vehicle. Even with these precautions, there is always Murphy's Law.

Edited December 23, 2014 by MaxYakov

[noitom]

No, no, not another Thai "time to get serious" article. No facts as admitted by the writer, no statistics, lots of sweeping claims and there must bes. Terrible Thai tripe.

[cooked]

why doesnt Thailand introduce TV public information film clips during the soaps in order to educate drivers??

There is almost nothing like this. I did find a film or two on Youtube when I was trying to explain to our granddaughter what can happen if you don't wear a safety belt. (Thai road safety ad). We keep hearing about laws being enforced but prevention doesn't seem to be part of the Thai way of thinking. (Planning ahead).

I used to make a point of taking her down the road to the pedestrian crossing to cross over into school but no longer bother. Very difficult to get there as the restaurant owners seem to object to people walking by their shops. And then there will always be a car parked on the crossing. The policeman and the school crossing supervisor plus the girl that opens the doors of the buses that arrive and stop on the crossing seem to find it normal that I have to walk around cars and buses, and that the moving traffic cuts off my path while I am trying to navigate my way across.

Nowadays I just walk across where there is a central reservation, it's safer.

My wife was very impressed with Switzerland where cars actually stop at crossings when you show signs of wanting to cross. her daughter doesn't believe her!

Edited December 23, 2014 by cooked

[TomYumpoochai]

Basically, if theres nothing crossing your path (ie another vehicle) then thais WILL NOT stop for a red light as they know better than some stupid idea a farang invented.

Theres something different about green lights tho. When the green comes on they sit there wondering what it means for 5-10 seconds before crawling off just before it changes back to red.....which the following 10 cars ignore

[Pib]

The reporter just needed to get his weekly quota of words printed in order to get paid. While counting the money given to him for the article he was run over in a pedestrian crossing.

[true blue]

i always stop at zebras if people want to cross,habit i suppose,but traffic on your right does not stop,just drive pass you,feel sorry for tourists if they think zebras are a safe way to cross the road.

[Asiantravel]

“campaigns should be launched to inculcate a respect for traffic discipline and care for other road users.”

How about checking to see if they are competent drivers in the first place by having a half decent driving test in Thailand?

[Tatsujin]

Incorporate all of these "safety messages" into the Thai "soaps" and it might get through to a few ... maybe ...

Of course, enforcement of existing laws is a given, but until such time as they Police do the jobs they are paid to do rather than feathering their own nests, when you're out on the streets/pavements, you're on your own.

[fosseway]

I have just returned from Japan, even narrow single lane pedestrian crossings have lights, both motorists and pedestrians wait for them to change before making a move. Having lived in Thailand for many years,I was impressed by the way people waited for the lights to change in their favor, there would be many people waiting either side of the road that was showing a red pedestrian light, even though the road was clear of traffic. This is called discipline, and due respect for others, I am afraid until both Thais and Foreigners here are taught this, nothing will change.