Roundabout to be latest attempt to fix dangerous Jomtien intersection

[Rimmer]

Roundabout to be latest attempt to fix dangerous Jomtien intersection

PATTAYA:--After the installation of barriers on at the Bunkanchanaram intersection on Jomtien Second Road only made traffic worse, city hall decided to turn the dangerous junction into a roundabout to try and finally make it both safe and efficient.

City councilmen Thongchai Ardzong and Praiwan Arromchuen said Aug. 12 that a 15-meter-wide traffic circle was set up on a test basis, allowing vehicles from four directions to traverse the intersection more slowly and safely.

The move came after Chaiwat Kanthang Co. in July installed cement barriers to prevent traffic from crossing Soi Wat Bunkanchanaram to Jomtien Beach and Sukhumvit Road. Two lanes heading to downtown Pattaya and Sattahip remained open.

But the barriers actually made traffic worse and more large vehicles were seen barreling through the junction as they knew there was no cross-traffic.

Traffic lights at the intersection with Jomtien Second Road been out of order since drainage pipes were first installed more than a year ago. The result has been serious traffic problems as it linked Sukhumvit, Thepprasit and Chaiyapruek roads to Jomtien Beach Road.

Repairs to the traffic lights are expected to begin once the traffic rerouting is complete.

- See more at: http://www.pattayamail.com/news/roundabout-to-be-latest-attempt-to-fix-dangerous-jomtien-intersection-50385#sthash.sKaze9xR.dpuf

-- Pattaya Mail 2015-08-21

[Kerryd]

I just went down there a couple days ago for the first time in 90 days (hmmm - that number sounds familiar). I was kind of shocked to be motoring down the road and suddenly encounter barriers in the middle of the road. I went around and out the other side and couldn't for the life of me figure out why they'd put it there in the first place.

Now I know. Sort of. Didn't realize it was that much of a problem.

Wonder if they'll get around to fixing the bigger problem of the sunken roadway and holes in the left lanes as you are heading towards Sukhumvit.

[LennyW]

I hope they include instructions!!

[KhunBENQ]

Yawn

PattayaMail up-to-date, almost. Only about three weeks behind.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/845723-new-roundabout-jomtien-2nd-road-soi-wat-boonkanchana/

Also appeared in other sources.

I was in Jomtien in the first week of August and drove through this circle a couple of times.

Any method to slow down this crazy racetrack is welcome.

Replacing intersections with roundabouts proofed useful in other parts of the world.

Edited August 21, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[canopus1969]

Unfortunatley Thais do not "do" roundabouts - what happened to the one in North Pattaya

[prakhonchai nick]

I hope they include instructions!!

giveway.gif

Instructions will be meaningless to most Thais. Roundabouts in my locality have been replaced with lights to try and stem the accidents.

[TramsRepus]

Unfortunatley Thais do not "do" roundabouts - what happened to the one in North Pattaya

Yea, they don't have a clue how it works. I was almost hit there 2 days ago by a car coming in to the roundabout while me in it....

[Emster23]

"Traffic lights at the intersection with Jomtien Second Road been out of order since drainage pipes were first installed more than a year ago." More than a year ago? Fix the bloody thing already! Maybe it is rocket science after all. On a slightly positive note, the crosswalk lights near my condo seem to be functioning once again, but I still don't trust drivers stopping...

[little mary sunshine]

Much safer....I travel it daily. Thais need to be educated as to the cars

In the round a bout have thr right of way....this goes for all the

Foreigners that disregard all the safe driving because they are

In Thailand and not their home country where they would be

Given fines for careless driving.

[newnative]

_{The solution is to just FIX THE TRAFFIC LIGHT! Ridiculous it has been broken for more than a year! It would be hard to find a more incompetent city maintenance crew. That intersection has been dug up at least three or four times with a huge hole, filled in, then dug up again, then filled in--for months on end. And, all the time the traffic light problem was not dealt with. The roundabout is a very bad solution--cars and motorcycles go charging through without slowing at all or even looking to see if there are any other cars coming--and forget about yielding or taking turns!}

[WhizBang]

In order to use a roundabout, it will be necessary to understand the concept of 'right of way'.

Right of way is something NO Thai understands.

[onemorechang]

Much safer....I travel it daily. Thais need to be educated as to the cars

In the round a bout have thr right of way....this goes for all the

Foreigners that disregard all the safe driving because they are

In Thailand and not their home country where they would be

Given fines for careless driving.

Oh Please

don't try to blame the Farang for the bad driving in Thailand.

Why is it much safer ? can you list them please.

[joebrown]

In order to use a roundabout, it will be necessary to understand the concept of 'right of way'.

Right of way is something NO Thai understands.

Sorry to disagree. Thais do understand the 'right of way' concept. It's just you that doesn't understand the Thai 'I always have right of way' concept.

[little mary sunshine]

So you never watch these ass ho.e Farangs: speeding, U turns

In the middle of the streets, passing on the wrong side, never

Allow a car to enter an intersection before them....things they would

Lose their license for doing in their home country. They know

Better, and don't give a dam, some of the Thais just don't know better.

[amerasianex]

Ive seen these roundabouts in several other countries and they seem to operate without any problems at all. Whats so hard about using a roundabout for Thai drivers? I think they are much safer and way more efficient than a stop light. I dont see how its even possible to get in an accident thats serious in the roundabout. Just yield to the right and all vehicles in the roundabout have the right of way. So slow down when entering. Pretty simple ......Wow!

[little mary sunshine]

Matter of education. People need to be

Aware of. " the right of way"

[onemorechang]

So you never watch these ass ho.e Farangs: speeding, U turns

In the middle of the streets, passing on the wrong side, never

Allow a car to enter an intersection before them....things they would

Lose their license for doing in their home country. They know

Better, and don't give a dam, some of the Thais just don't know better.

now and again it goes on, no big deal in the big picture of things.

Your trying to have a go at Farang for bad driving in Thailand.

is a joke mate, the standard of nearly all Farang drivers in Thailand is fantastic compared to the local drivers.

We all know who the bad guys are, don't you ?

Do you do any real driving in Thailand ? or is all done from the left-hand seat of the car.

And can we have that list of why the junction is much safer now ?

Thanks

Edited August 21, 2015 by onemorechang

[wobblyjohn]

I hope they include instructions!!

giveway.gif

With that sign they could install roundabouts at all major crossroads Pattaya Tai / 3rd road, Pattaya Klang / 3rd road etc etc

You just need to teach Thai drivers how to use them

[Basil B]

Simple...

Put stop signs, stop lines, 10kph speed limit on the roundabout and a few cops to ticket drivers who do no slow and give way.

[little mary sunshine]

Roundabouts are safer than intersections because they

Make cars slow down, to begin with, try going 60 in a

Roundabout. You don't have to push your way into

A roundabout, traffic flows slowly. Easy to exit, stay in

Left lane, cars in the roundabout have the right of way,

At the intersections it can be a free for all, especially

With the stupid 70 y/o Farangs speeding

Like idiots, with really no place to go except to sit

Their fat ass at a bar at 10:00AM and complain

About the price and quality of the beer.

Roundabouts are much safer!!

[balo]

The roundabout is working fine now, I pass it daily. It keeps the speed down , no accidents reported so far.

[onemorechang]

Roundabouts are safer than intersections because they

Make cars slow down, to begin with, try going 60 in a

Roundabout. You don't have to push your way into

A roundabout, traffic flows slowly. Easy to exit, stay in

Left lane, cars in the roundabout have the right of way,

At the intersections it can be a free for all, especially

With the stupid 70 y/o Farangs speeding

Like idiots, with really no place to go except to sit

Their fat ass at a bar at 10:00AM and complain

About the price and quality of the beer.

Roundabouts are much safer!!

At an intersection with control lights the traffic stops.

At roundabouts people don't stop.

I knew you were having a laugh .

Edited August 21, 2015 by onemorechang

[gmac]

Roundabouts are safer than intersections because they

Make cars slow down, to begin with, try going 60 in a

Roundabout. You don't have to push your way into

A roundabout, traffic flows slowly. Easy to exit, stay in

Left lane, cars in the roundabout have the right of way,

At the intersections it can be a free for all, especially

With the stupid 70 y/o Farangs speeding

Like idiots, with really no place to go except to sit

Their fat ass at a bar at 10:00AM and complain

About the price and quality of the beer.

Roundabouts are much safer!!

At an intersection with control lights the traffic stops.

At roundabouts people don't stop.

I knew you were having a laugh .

Wrong!! With control lights vehicles pass through the light for anything up to 5 seconds after it turns red to avoid having to wait 3-4 minutes for their next green.

[Torrens54]

Roundabouts in Chiang Mai instead of "U" Turns may save countless lives.

But will they do it???

Naaaa !

[Basil B]

Roundabouts are safer than intersections because they

Make cars slow down, to begin with, try going 60 in a

Roundabout. You don't have to push your way into

A roundabout, traffic flows slowly. Easy to exit, stay in

Left lane, cars in the roundabout have the right of way,

At the intersections it can be a free for all, especially

With the stupid 70 y/o Farangs speeding

Like idiots, with really no place to go except to sit

Their fat ass at a bar at 10:00AM and complain

About the price and quality of the beer.

Roundabouts are much safer!!

At an intersection with control lights the traffic stops.

At roundabouts people don't stop.

I knew you were having a laugh .

That was the problem in the first place, too many accidents caused by drivers ignoring the lights.

At least with a roundabout lorries will have to slow and go down their gears, one of the big problems with traffic lights is drivers actually speed up to beat the lights.

[jacko45k]

The feedback I have from a friend who lives there is that it isn't going well.

People don't understand the concept of giving way here.

Take a look at the Dolphin one which just jams up, and only works good at 3am because there is light traffic and you can get from 2nd to North Rd quickly without waiting.

[onemorechang]

Roundabouts are safer than intersections because they

Make cars slow down, to begin with, try going 60 in a

Roundabout. You don't have to push your way into

A roundabout, traffic flows slowly. Easy to exit, stay in

Left lane, cars in the roundabout have the right of way,

At the intersections it can be a free for all, especially

With the stupid 70 y/o Farangs speeding

Like idiots, with really no place to go except to sit

Their fat ass at a bar at 10:00AM and complain

About the price and quality of the beer.

Roundabouts are much safer!!

At an intersection with control lights the traffic stops.

At roundabouts people don't stop.

I knew you were having a laugh .

That was the problem in the first place, too many accidents caused by drivers ignoring the lights.

At least with a roundabout lorries will have to slow and go down their gears, one of the big problems with traffic lights is drivers actually speed up to beat the lights.

Yes and all traffic lights on the sukumvit don't work, and all the ones across

all of Thailand don't work as well , unbelievable nonsense.

also the traffic lights up the road at Chyapuke 1-2 don't work as well,

What are you guys on about !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BTW, the roundabout was put in for the ever increasing amount of busses.

in Jomtien, not for your safety. I do believe !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DrTuner]

Excellent, the drifting guys get a place to practise in.

[SidJames]

An idea might be to install speedbumps just before entering the roundabout to make the drivers who want to charge straight onto it slow down.

As a rule they work but there can be problems if traffic can't exit because that road is blocked further down & the traffic on the roundabout don't leave gaps for through traffic.

They were taken out in whole parts of suburan USA as the locals had never seen them before & did not know who had right of way causing traffic problems.

Europeans are taught about how to use all aspects of the road while learning to pass their driving tests.

There is no proper practical driving test here yet.

Travelling & driving around the world I have come to the conclusion that you can really tell a lot about the politeness of a culture by their politeness on the road.

Politeness to all rather than just to show politeness when it makes oneself look or feel better

[KhunBENQ]

I feel much safer at roundabouts than at intersections with traffic lights.

Sure at roundabouts they don't have to stop but have to slow down (as most Thai drivers also don't know how to drive a curve or a circle).

Whether they stop at traffic lights depends on the "assessment of the situation"