Dangerous Zebra Crossings

[churchill]

 

In Maenam today saw a mother and daughter nearly run down by a lorry that was not going to stop .. I assume they both thought , as in Europe , that once they had started to cross traffic would stop . They had to jump back away from the road ...

 

They are difficult for drivers to see as there are no lights and I don't think most Samui drivers respect them at all . 

 

So it seems like an accident waiting to happen ... better they were not there ? unless with a traffic stop light .

[doctormann]

We tried crossings with lights in Pattaya and it was a total disaster.  Everyone just ignored them, including the police.

 

I'm afraid that pedestrian crossings in Thailand are just killing zones as Westerners expect them to operate in the way that they expect and it just doesn't happen.  Probably better off without them altogether.

[Pib]

Heck, even when drivers are fully aware of the zebra crossing they pretty much ignore them.

 

Pedestrians beware...you are not safe from traffic in a zebra crossing; instead, you are just a target, an un-welcomed bump in the road, etc.

[evadgib]

@Churchill:

 

My thoughts too. They seem to be near schools and are preceded by rumble strips 3-2-100m beforehand; not that locals know what they're for! In recent days I have been undertaken by a grey minibus there and saw a father and daughter almost wiped out by a bike on my inside after I (car) had given way as they crossed the road...

 

(Rider was asleep & they were looking the wrong way, presumably from somewhere that drives on the right. The horn was all i could do, having seen the muppet in my door mirror and realised the likely outcome but thankfully it worked! The child was around 8).

Edited January 4, 2017 by evadgib

[samuijimmy]

It's because they don't have Lollipop men (or ladies)   

 

What is with the short lines coming off the lines along the Maenam area ?... all happened while I was away.... anyone any idea? 

[evadgib]

Quote

They seem to be near schools and are preceded by rumble strips 3-2-100m beforehand; not that locals know what they're for! 

 

For you Jimmy :)

[evadgib]

Quote

It's because they don't have Lollipop men (or ladies)

 

If they did they'd look like this :)

 

Edited January 4, 2017 by evadgib

[PoorSucker]

Traffic lights, brilliant idea

 

[Fookhaht]

Silly posters.

Thais aren't stupid. They know these crossings are only for zebras.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[Basil B]

IMHO there should be a set percentage of advertising on TV (Television) should be  public information adverts, this subject is a ideal candidate for such a campaign encouraging pedestrians to use the crossings and heavy fines for drivers ignoring them, followed up with enforcement...  

[futsukayoi]

11 hours ago, Basil B said:

IMHO there should be a set percentage of advertising on TV (Television) should be  public information adverts, this subject is a ideal candidate for such a campaign encouraging pedestrians to use the crossings and heavy fines for drivers ignoring them, followed up with enforcement...  

 

I think this is fine for proper government pedestrian crossings.

 

What I really object to though is the increasing trend for resorts and other places to try to put in their own crossings or employ people to stop traffic.  This holds up the already bad traffic on the main roads.  This should be stopped and violators fined heavily.  

[elgordo38]

22 hours ago, churchill said:

They are difficult for drivers to see as there are no lights and I don't think most Samui drivers respect them at all . 

I think you think right and Samui is no exception all the drivers in the country ignore them. Also the fact that they are hardly discernible as the cheap paint has long worn away only makes matters worse. Yes lights and a sign might help a teensy weensy bit. 

[norbra]

Its always interesting watching Thais on motorcy dodging my umbrella while I use these crossings

[agrow]

On 1/4/2017 at 4:59 PM, evadgib said:

 

For you Jimmy :)

they r there to let u know that there is a school ahead & the locals do know what they r for (at least in our village they do )

[Basil B]

On 04/01/2017 at 9:25 AM, churchill said:

They are difficult for drivers to see as there are no lights and I don't think most Samui drivers respect them at all

 

"...and I don't think most Samui Thai drivers respect them at all"

 

Yes, they should have Belisha Beacons

. 

Probably the most famous of Zebra Crossings

Note the Belisha Beacons and Zig Zag Lines...

 

From the UK Highway Code:

Quote

191 You MUST NOT park on a crossing or in the area covered by the zig-zag lines. You MUST NOT overtake the moving vehicle nearest the crossing or the vehicle nearest the crossing which has stopped to give way to pedestrians.

192 In queuing traffic, you should keep the crossing clear.

193 You should take extra care where the view of either side of the crossing is blocked by queuing traffic or incorrectly parked vehicles. Pedestrians may be crossing between stationary vehicles.

194 Allow pedestrians plenty of time to cross and do not harass them by revving your engine or edging forward.

195 As you approach a zebra crossing:

• look out for pedestrians waiting to cross and be ready to slow down or stop to let them cross
• you MUST give way when a pedestrian has moved onto a crossing
• allow more time for stopping on wet or icy roads
• do not wave or use your horn to invite pedestrians across; this could be dangerous if another vehicle is approaching
• be aware of pedestrians approaching from the side of the crossing.

http://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/using-the-road---pedestrian-crossings-191-to-199.html

[maoro2013]

If you are on a road with two lanes in the same direction I would not stop. The point being that the pedestrians would start to cross, and as I have found usual, Thai drivers tend to ignore these crossings, therefore I could put at risk pedestrians by being hit by another vehicle in the other lane.

[PoorSucker]

9 minutes ago, maoro2013 said:

If you are on a road with two lanes in the same direction I would not stop. The point being that the pedestrians would start to cross, and as I have found usual, Thai drivers tend to ignore these crossings, therefore I could put at risk pedestrians by being hit by another vehicle in the other lane.

Actually it is forbidden to stop like this in Thailand.

Was on my driving exam.

[GreasyFingers]

The WTB has just been through the driving exam/test and there was nothing about the zebra crossings to give way to pedestrians. My observation is they are only a convenient point to cross if there is no oncoming traffic and this appears to be the locals conclusion.

As an aside, in Broome WA they have the normal zebra crossings as the rest of Aus but there are signs there telling the pedestrians to give way to cars, seems to me to be the same in Thailand.

[johng]

zebra crossings in Thailand are extremely dangerous they only give pedestrians a false sense of security ( especially foreigners) they should all be removed as a "safety measure"

[PoorSucker]

Found an old thread in the motor section

 

[CliffH]

They've seen them on tv and in movies, think think they look nice, but have no idea what they're for.

[Jonmarleesco]

On 1/4/2017 at 4:25 PM, churchill said:

'... I don't think most Samui drivers respect them at all.'

For Samui, read Thai. Respect them? I doubt most even know what the black and white stripes represent. Then the RTP will occasionally clamp a car left parked on a crossing. If they ever get around to introducing tow trucks, with a substantial fee plus fine, one problem will be quickly resolved.

[Jonmarleesco]

1 hour ago, PoorSucker said:

Actually it is forbidden to stop like this in Thailand.

Was on my driving exam.

The question? Or the answer?

[Jonmarleesco]

5 hours ago, elgordo38 said:

I think you think right and Samui is no exception all the drivers in the country ignore them. Also the fact that they are hardly discernible as the cheap paint has long worn away only makes matters worse. Yes lights and a sign might help a teensy weensy bit. 

Thonglor actually has a new one. No different. In fact it is safer to not use it, but cross further along from it.

[elgordo38]

7 minutes ago, Jonmarleesco said:

Thonglor actually has a new one. No different. In fact it is safer to not use it, but cross further along from it.

Yes you have to consider the non safer part. It pops up out of no where and confuses drivers that travel the route on a regular basis. Drivers reaction time here is not the fastest. It seems to get stuck at the "Does not compute" level. 

[steve187]

easy cheap solution is to put a sign in English ans Russian at each crossing '' vehicles do not stop "

 

I'm with maoro2013, not safe to stop for anyone, asking to get rammed up the backside or the driver overtaking you will wipe out the person you stopped for.

[Anon999]

Having consulted my wife, who has been driving mainly in Isaan for most of her life, she tells me you should stop at Zebra crossings for pedestrians. That most, not all, Thai drivers don't is another matter altogether. 

Edited January 5, 2017 by Anon999
missing comma

[hawker9000]

On ‎1‎/‎4‎/‎2017 at 1:37 AM, doctormann said:

We tried crossings with lights in Pattaya and it was a total disaster.  Everyone just ignored them, including the police.

 

I'm afraid that pedestrian crossings in Thailand are just killing zones as Westerners expect them to operate in the way that they expect and it just doesn't happen.  Probably better off without them altogether.

 

You've hit on something peculiar here.  Yes.  Apparently, it's a translational thing.  "Zebra" striping to us of course means that the area so marked is some kind of safety or caution zone.  To Thais, it's apparently more like what we westerners associate with the "bulls-eye" or target marking.   Now if you REALLY wanted to slow down traffic in a particular area, the obvious thing to do would be to chase the sidewalk vendors off the sidewalks and encourage them to set up shop right at roadside.  Give them 5m or so of free space, enforce that for the usual day or so, which'll then guarantee they'll take 10 from then on.  Problem solved.

 

 

Edited January 5, 2017 by hawker9000

[Basil B]

9 hours ago, CliffH said:

They've seen them on tv and in movies, think think they look nice, but have no idea what they're for.

 

More like some Brother in Law of some government official had a shed load of white paint left over and got a contract to supply the paint at a special price (five times RRP) .

[chicowoodduck]

Most of the time here in Pattaya they will honk the horn when they run the red lights...must be a local tradition? ????