New pedestrian crossings

[Ergodyne 19]

Nicked this from another forum

 

 

Excellent, why not send it to 'Kitty von nice plumage' at the town hall ?

It seems he would like us to think he actually built them himself, as he's wearing a hard hat in all the promotional banners !

There was a write up in one of the Pattaya papers about all this.

Is this becoming a cartoon city ? perhaps we should call it 'Popeye-a' "I yam what i yam"

[dtyolmn 4]

They need to get the Police to start doing their job instead of socializing and getting free food. They could make up the money in about twp months. Poorest excuse I've ever seen for Police. Waste of Money.

[DP Gumbypgh 97]

To be fair they also now seem to have crossing guards at the busy locations during the day eg Mikes Mall and Second Road. They walk out with a flag and manage to stop the traffic for pedestrians. Don't know why they had to spend all the money on the lights though if they could have just employed the flag wavers to begin with.

[The Jock Bomb 0]

Oh for heaven's sake, is THAT was that was? I couldn't figure out why the white guy was screaming and ranting and giving me the finger - in my rear-view mirror. I thought that light was an advertising come-on for a restaurant.

 

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FFS Joe, what's wrong with you? That was quite amusing

 

Nicked this from another forum

 

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To quote a saying, it is a car crash waiting to happen. Even the cops are speeding through LOL. The problem is our little flat faced friends are not educated enough to understand what a red light and pedestrian crossing means. It won't be long until someone is mowed down, that is for sure. Especially with police hammering through them as well. Total and utter lack of education on driving. But we all know that already though!

 

I got to say however, I used one to cross 2nd road just down from Mikes. Only 1 bike went through and I crossed in relative safety with the wife.

[The Jock Bomb 0]

They need to get the Police to start doing their job instead of socializing and getting free food. They could make up the money in about twp months. Poorest excuse I've ever seen for Police. Waste of Money.

 

Going back to other threads, it is yet another reason people stop coming to Thailand. Lack of policing and the policing that is there is generally bent as a £3 note. Corrupt to the core and on the take.

 

But that is tarring everyone with the same brush. I have met some decent cops on the highways after being stopped for breaking the farang driving a car law and also the farang 5KPH speed limiit throughout Thailand. At least they de fraud the money from you with a smile.

 

I was even stopped once under the new Road Traffic Coffee Funding laws! The pick up in front with 15 matresses lying at a 20 degree angle was obviously far more road legal than my goodself in a 6 month old car and various driving tests under my belt. But at least he smiled and said coffee low, YEP HE ACTUALLY SAID COFFEE LOW. Before taking my 200B.

 

Just glad the road traffic cops are not corrupt!

 

I remember asking an expat many years ago, what is the speed limit on the highways, to which he replied, there is none. Farangs don't have a speed limit just go as fast as you want it makes no difference :) Jesus my TomTom last trip was having trouble with the speed limits as well. It didn't understand them either

 

I was even going to get an 800B fine for not having a Thai driving licence only an international one until I told the missus to tell him I won't be paying so he would have to arrest me. He eventually ripped it up.

[Lucky 47]

It's typical Thais overreacting to a problem. Probably someone higher up in the Thai government or police had a relative selling the crossing lights and so they rammed the idea through. As you can see, the more they sold the more kickbacks that the sale generated .

[laffnliv 78]

The lights are working out pretty well....at the moment. They will be even more appreciated by the tourist during high season. My worry is that they will not be maintained any better than anything else here.

 

Yes, I still see people ignoring the lights. Mostly bike riders. Cars and taxis seem to be getting used to them. And sooner or later someone WILL be killed when the lights are ignored by some drunk and/or nut case.

 

I wonder how many city politicians are now enjoying their new BMWs or Mercs. The graft take must have been huge.

 

TIT

 

Little Roy

[talen 5]

Was out and about last night and watched two of these crossings in action and came to the conclusion I will cross the street as far away from them as possible.

 

9:00pm

 

The first light by Mikes shopping mall was the worst. When the light turned red no less than 10 cars went through it and at least 6 motorcy. A little further down the road the same thing happened. Tourists were starting to walk across as well. I'm willing to bet high season will see at least 1 if not more cross walk fatalities because tourists that have similar systems at home will trust these crosswalks.

[The Jock Bomb 0]

Was out and about last night and watched two of these crossings in action and came to the conclusion I will cross the street as far away from them as possible.

 

9:00pm

 

The first light by Mikes shopping mall was the worst. When the light turned red no less than 10 cars went through it and at least 6 motorcy. A little further down the road the same thing happened. Tourists were starting to walk across as well. I'm willing to bet high season will see at least 1 if not more cross walk fatalities because tourists that have similar systems at home will trust these crosswalks.

YOu can make a safe bet there but suspect the odds you get will be abysmal it's a dead cert! Safer riding a motor bike pissed than trusting the Thai's to stop!

[Ergodyne 19]

I think it's got something to do with the Thais being easily impressed with things with flashing lights. " OOOOH they look good, we'll have some." I still can't get over the grinning Mayor wearing a hard hat on the posters.

How about a death toll, updated daily, printed on the bottom of the poster. that would be something to grin about

[jacko 8,813]

Was out and about last night and watched two of these crossings in action and came to the conclusion I will cross the street as far away from them as possible.

 

9:00pm

 

The first light by Mikes shopping mall was the worst. When the light turned red no less than 10 cars went through it and at least 6 motorcy. A little further down the road the same thing happened. Tourists were starting to walk across as well. I'm willing to bet high season will see at least 1 if not more cross walk fatalities because tourists that have similar systems at home will trust these crosswalks.

That is the tourist's fault.... you never start to move until the light has been green for several seconds! Same as other junctions.

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

Heh. They aren't pedestrian crossings. They are lines on the street. If you choose to try to cross the street there, on foot, it is exactly like crossing in places that don't have lines on the street.

 

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I hit 60 next month and can still sprint short distances (like across Second Road) but I am not looking forward to the day that I cannot get myself out of harm's way in Pattaya.

[MM 6,562]

I actually like the new pedestrian crosswalk system. When some clueless tourist starts to cross Beach Road against the pedestrian light, you can honk and scare the shit out of them...with any luck, you can even run them down with impunity.

 

Before the installation of the lights, you'd get these idiots walking into the middle of the street, willy nilly, holding out their hands, palm out, telling you to stop for them, even if you had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting them.

 

Now, if they do that on a red pedestrian light, I think you can just run them over without being at fault.

 

It's another way Pattaya is coming into the 21st century.

[dontcha 53]

The new light are a fantastic addition and means that you can safely cross the road

[jacko 8,813]

I actually like the new pedestrian crosswalk system. When some clueless tourist starts to cross Beach Road against the pedestrian light, you can honk and scare the shit out of them...with any luck, you can even run them down with impunity.

 

Before the installation of the lights, you'd get these idiots walking into the middle of the street, willy nilly, holding out their hands, palm out, telling you to stop for them, even if you had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting them.

 

Now, if they do that on a red pedestrian light, I think you can just run them over without being at fault.

 

It's another way Pattaya is coming into the 21st century.

That's a thought, have the guys who herd the Chinese tourists across beach road started to use them?

I have always taken exception to these self appointed traffic police waving me to stop.

Edited November 22, 2010 by jacko