Left turn on red

[jtiger 9]

I'm up in Issan and driving a car in Thailand for the first time.

 

I was stopped by a cop after making a left turn at a red light. He berated my girlfriend (in Thai) for letting me drive so badly. Then he asked me in English for my license and I didn't have it in my pocket but offered to get it out of the trunk of the car. He said it wasn't necessary and asked me where I was from and I said "America" and he then told me not to do that again and shook my hand and said I could go.

 

I'm still not sure what I did wrong but I think that the left turn on red got his attention.

 

I'd asked my girlfriend earlier if it was ok to turn left on red and she said "yes, no problem, you can do".

Of couse she's new to driving (a car) herself and doesn't have a license (for a car or motorbike).

 

So to anyone who has actually read the Thai Drivers Handbook, what are the rules regarding left on red?

[PattayaPete 532]

Left turn on red is ok providing there is no traffic proceeding through the green light and also providing there is no sign prohibiting a left turn on red (you need to read Thai of course).

 

The correct procedure when being stopped by police in Isaan is to discreetly proffer a 100 baht note.

[Mescalito 19]

It's a very common infraction in Thailand, a DWF: Driving While Falang.

[jacko 8,866]

The correct procedure when being stopped by police in Isaan is to discreetly proffer a 100 baht note.

Tongue in cheek perhaps, but he seems to have got a decent sort for once and encouraging bribing isn't the way to go. Wait to see if it will be necessary.....

 

 

 

Now asking the girlfiend, that deserves comment..

[joekicker 53]

I believe you have that backwards, Pete. Left turn on a red light is ONLY PERMITTED when there is

 

- a green arrow pointing left (amidst the regular traffic lights) OR

 

- a specific sign, which these days is usually a white-on-blue sign with an arrow ("left turn permitted" in Thai). You'll see such signs in Pattaya at a lot of the intersections, attached to the light/electric post nearest the corner or something like that.

 

Unless there's a green arrow, a full stop is necessary, similar to the laws in North America in places that allow a right turn on red.

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

I believe you have that backwards, Pete. Left turn on a red light is ONLY PERMITTED when there is

 

- a green arrow pointing left (amidst the regular traffic lights) OR

 

- a specific sign, which these days is usually a white-on-blue sign with an arrow ("left turn permitted" in Thai). You'll see such signs in Pattaya at a lot of the intersections, attached to the light/electric post nearest the corner or something like that.

 

Unless there's a green arrow, a full stop is necessary, similar to the laws in North America in places that allow a right turn on red.

And if you can't read Thai the honking and beeping behind you will clue you in to what the sign says!

[marleyboy 140]

After paying out too many fines whilst driving in my bike in Patts, I dont turn left on a red, unless.there are lots of other people doing the same, or if there is no police box nearby and its patently obvious its safe to do so.

As for the thai driving manual. That doesnt apply to you,,. as you are a farang! and theyll do you for whatever!

[Bob4you 0]

I think the topic should read " Is is OK to make left turn on red after full stop and without interfering with oncoming topic? Then I'm sure the answer i "Yes".

[biggles 509]

Many people get caught turning from 2nd road left into pattaya central road. there is a sign there but it is in thai and the BIB make quite a nice amount of tea money. This is one of the very few places I am aware of locally that you cant do a left turn on the red. Any more??

[joekicker 53]

This is one of the very few places I am aware of locally that you cant do a left turn on the red. Any more??

 

As stated, it is always illegal unless allowed. In Pattaya, most intersections allow it. There's one up on the big road in Jomtien where you can't, but down the hill I can't think of any others, right offhand at least.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

As stated, it is always illegal unless allowed.

 

Errrr ........ or always allowed unless illegal.

[jm49er1 0]

Many people get caught turning from 2nd road left into pattaya central road. there is a sign there but it is in thai and the BIB make quite a nice amount of tea money. This is one of the very few places I am aware of locally that you cant do a left turn on the red. Any more??

 

same same if you are on 3rd road and want to make a left towards the beach on Pattaya Klang - got pulled over there by the BIB - would not accept money there and wrote me a ticket and took my license - had to go to the Police station on Soi 9 to pay the fine ( 300 baht i think) to get my license back - there is a sign telling you in Thai posted on the corner but i never noticed it

[jacko 8,866]

same same if you are on 3rd road and want to make a left towards the beach on Pattaya Klang - got pulled over there by the BIB - would not accept money there and wrote me a ticket and took my license - had to go to the Police station on Soi 9 to pay the fine ( 300 baht i think) to get my license back - there is a sign telling you in Thai posted on the corner but i never noticed it

Maybe because there is a slip road there, bypassing the lights, that you should have used.

[Saddic 31]

Yeah, I go caught at Pattaya Klang and 2nd road too...

 

Funny thing is I notice the sign now although I don't have a picture of it... I seem to remember it is blue and looks like it was spray painted...

 

Anyone have a pic?

[joekicker 53]

Errrr ........ or always allowed unless illegal. huh

 

The rarest traffic sign in Thailand is "No left turn on red light". I've never seen one, ever.

 

Again: Left turn on a red light is always illegal, unless it is allowed.

 

The two most common ways to allow it is with a green arrow pointing left as part of the light system - or a white-on-blue sign with instructions (in Thai) as close as possible to the intersection, usually tacked up on a pole. There are other ways to explicitly allow a left turn. For example, it is not totally unknown for a municipality to decide unilaterally to allow left turns everywhere, although it's rare. (Pattaya has not done this.)

 

It is very possible, say, that the blue sign will also indicate that left turns are legal only during certain hours - or banned during certain hours.

 

This is probably the cause of the anger of the cop in the OP - because he assumed the farang can't read Thai but his teelak is supposed to be bright enough to do so and help him out. But "I can't read Thai" is not a defence - if you can't read Thai, stop on the red light and wait for green or AT LEAST wait to see if others tell you what to do, for example by honking.

Edited March 3, 2008 by joekicker

[jacko 8,866]

The rarest traffic sign in Thailand is "No left turn on red light". I've never seen one, ever.

 

Again: Left turn on a red light is always illegal, unless it is allowed.

 

The two most common ways to allow it is with a green arrow pointing left as part of the light system - or a white-on-blue sign with instructions (in Thai) as close as possible to the intersection, usually tacked up on a pole. There are other ways to explicitly allow a left turn. For example, it is not totally unknown for a municipality to decide unilaterally to allow left turns everywhere, although it's rare. (Pattaya has not done this.)

 

It is very possible, say, that the blue sign will also indicate that left turns are legal only during certain hours - or banned during certain hours.

 

This is probably the cause of the anger of the cop in the OP - because he assumed the farang can't read Thai but his teelak is supposed to be bright enough to do so and help him out. But "I can't read Thai" is not a defence - if you can't read Thai, stop on the red light and wait for green or AT LEAST wait to see if others tell you what to do, for example by honking.

At a height of about 5ft 2, with blood stains on the corners!

[joekicker 53]

At a height of about 5ft 2, with blood stains on the corners! D

 

Heh. Post of the week.