Critical Reminder - Please Read and Absorb - We All Do This

[bowerboy]

Please take this deadly seriously...this was a MASSIVE wake up call for me and a stark reminder of the dangers involved.

I read today that a foreigner (middle aged and European apparently) was walking on the road along Nana because the sidewalks were too crowded. A bus came past and the side mirror hit him on the back of the head and ultimately killed him.

I have done this SO MANY times (I mean I do it all the time in Bangkok and Pattaya) and come close to this happening SO MANY times. It is SO dangerous to walk on the road (or even stand too close to the road when waiting to cross at traffic lights). I have taken huge and silly risks in these situations before in order to pass crowded sections of sidewalk.

This was a massive reminder to me and a huge wake up call. This could so easily happen to anyone. I will never walk in the road again and will constantly keep this in my mind when I am tempted to do so.

Please everyone, don't get complacent out there and think about your safety in simple everyday situations.

[MrTee]

Sadly I saw a similar thing in London, chap stepped out in to the bus lane. head through window - died instantly..

Always walk contrary to the traffic so you can see what coming on your side of the road.

take care and don't rush around town

[benalibina]

An uncle of mine got killed by a drunk driver from the back while walking his dog together with his wife 3 decades ago. This on a quiet road outside the village. My dad told me after....always try to walk, pavement or on a road, where you can see upcoming traffic.

For everybody, especially parents with young children, teach them this consistently. It could save a precious life.

[Sirpia]

Likely drunk and used to traffic driving on the other side of the road.

[kannot]

Likely drunk and used to traffic driving on the other side of the road.

for sure also probly black or indian, gay, drug user, sexpat, internet nomad, boiler room string vest sort, fully tatted up..........yeah mustve been

[evadgib]

Even when the pavemts are clear the awnings render them useless to all except dwarfs.

[Aussieroaming]

RIP

[adammike]

Likely drunk and used to traffic driving on the other side of the road.

charming,it was soi 4 he walked in the road because the pavement was blocked with food stalls and people buying food,maybe they will clear the mess now but i wont hold my breath.

[Gsxrnz]

It happens in NZ also.

There's also a developing trend whereby drunk people are walking home on country roads and either falling asleep in the middle of the road or walking along the white line in the dark. Guess what happens next.......

[Thaiberius]

RIP, could happen to anyone anywhere in Thailand.

[Shasta55]

RIP, could happen to anyone anywhere in Thailand.

Anywhere. My Sis in Law (Thai) stepped off the footpath to avoid a pothole on Phillip Island after seeing Kasey Stoner win one of his Moto GP's. Clipped by a wing mirror on a car. Badly shattered elbow and forearm. Off work 6 months and has a permanent disability. But better off than the bloke on Nana. Very dangerous inddeed.

[BKKdreaming]

Many of these tourist bus drivers always seem to be in a rush , zooming down small Sois in the massive Euro buses....

one thing I can bet , if you measured how wide the bus is including the mirrors it is oversize , somehow that extra foot of mirror on both sides does not count , and that is not just in Thailand.....

Traffic in Thailand is a speed fest , I am amazed there is not more of this with racing motorbikes , TuKTuks and Taxis trying to squeeze in where there really is no space, it is not just the tourists in danger

But thanks for posting this , I thought the same thing when I read the news , how many times it could have been me ?

[maswov]

I always walk in street not because the sidewalks are crowded with people but because of the countless obstructions including trees, signs, garbage cans, restaurants, etc. I do walk opposite the way traffic is supposed to go, mostly motorbikes and an occasional car coming the wrong.

[DJH77]

The LAW in Thailand as in most countries states that if walking on the road you must walk against the Oncoming Traffic. Any person who doesn't do this is an idiot.

[Thian]

Well how many (tall) people will get severe headinjuries from walking on the pavement? I have to watch up and down allll the time on the Thai pavement.

Then there are broken electric cables on the floor, loads of holes, streetvendors who make it very narrow, beggars, soi dogs, and so on.

It's a big shame that in a metropolitan city as bangkok the pavements are in this condition. Especially the streetvendors don't give a dime about pedestrians and should all be removed.

[Kabayo66]

 

Always walk contrary to the traffic so you can see what coming on your side of the road.

 

The pavement near my home is only 30cm wide, including the curb.

When motorbikes, tuktuks, samlors and sometimes even cars drive on the wrong side of a street, it's difficult to know which way IS contrary to traffic.

With motorbikes riding on the pavements, in addition to street merchants and low awnings making the pavements nearly impassible for pedestrians, it's surprising there aren't many more of this sort of tragedy here.

[unclekleef]

Likely drunk and used to traffic driving on the other side of the road.

If you have nothing nice to say - Ferme la Bouche - please! and stop drinking for an hour or three.

[Thaiberius]

The LAW in Thailand as in most countries states that if walking on the road you must walk against the Oncoming Traffic. Any person who doesn't do this is an idiot.

Safe practice but not the "LAW".

[DeaconJohn]

You often can't avoid walking on the road here.

Always watch your back, and be aware of what's going on around you and you won't reach harm.

[razer]

Clear the pavements of vendors enough to allow pedestrians enough room to walk safely. Don't need vendors on two sides of the pavement leaving 1.5 to 2 meters of space for pedestrians.

.

Put speed bumps at the left turn Zebra Crossings.

Inexpensive way to save lives/injury and improve the quality of the city.

[Gillyflower]

I read and I hear. But I can't walk facing the traffic on a one-way street. Secondly one is often obliged to walk on the street, because the footpath is taken up with cars or an array of motor bikes and there is literally hardly an inch to pass.

[chicowoodduck]

Yup, here in Pattaya I'm guilty as charged....most of the time forced to walk in the street because all of the food carts and morter bikes are using the footpath......?

When in BKK, walking on the Sukhumvit between Spi 4 and Soi 19. Is almost a right of passage what with all the vendors and people plugging up the footpaths....?

[chicowoodduck]

Yup, here in Pattaya I'm guilty as charged....most of the time forced to walk in the street because all of the food carts and morter bikes are using the footpath......?

When in BKK, walking on the Sukhumvit between Spi 4 and Soi 19. Is almost a right of passage what with all the vendors and people plugging up the footpaths....?

Just a side bar....in my 8+ years living in LOS, I've managed to get hit three times by motor bikes and once by a truck....take a licking and keep on ticking....lol ?

[Gandtee]

After years here of walking on shop blind covered pavements I have become very adept at Limbo dancing. Not quite so good at doing the forward somersault after tripping over a dodgy bit of paving though!

[Gsxrnz]

I'm always conscious of pedestrians when driving the truck in Patts, but in Pattaya South 2nd Road there are certain nationals of a non European nation that seem to take pride in walking 3 or 4 abreast on the road. I've seen a few get knobbled by scooters and I've clipped a few on my scooter with the wing mirrors.

I've had to stop in the truck to let the pratts go through. They seem totally oblivious to the car horn.

[Gandtee]

Yup, here in Pattaya I'm guilty as charged....most of the time forced to walk in the street because all of the food carts and morter bikes are using the footpath......?

When in BKK, walking on the Sukhumvit between Spi 4 and Soi 19. Is almost a right of passage what with all the vendors and people plugging up the footpaths....?

Just a side bar....in my 8+ years living in LOS, I've managed to get hit three times by motor bikes and once by a truck....take a licking and keep on ticking....lol ?

I would suggest a trip to the opticians, or less time in the pub. With that record, you are a bit careless, or have a death wish.

[mikiea]

I always walk in street not because the sidewalks are crowded with people but because of the countless obstructions including trees, signs, garbage cans, restaurants, etc. I do walk opposite the way traffic is supposed to go, mostly motorbikes and an occasional car coming the wrong.

in the near future peeps will write. ... yea, da dumb ass always walked in da street RIP. :-)

[Thaiberius]

Sometimes the footpaths are more dangerous than the roads with the number of motorbike taxis and other motor vehicles who think it is a legitimate form of highway.

[Surasak]

Even when the pavemts are clear the awnings render them useless to all except dwarfs.

Quite agree, and how amny times have we almost fallen over an unseen step while dodging an overhead awning? Life's full of surprises.

[mike324]

similar incident happen to a friend of mine back in the late 90s, walking along sukhumvit road a bus drove by and hit his upper arm, he had a huge gash, he could have easily been killed as well