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Home » Reader question » Reader question: Usefulness of zebra crossings in Thailand?
Reader question: Usefulness of zebra crossings in Thailand?
Dear readers,
I have been coming to Thailand for several years and wonder what the point is of the zebra crossings on the road? Every time I want to cross the road on a pedestrian crossing, no one stops. I even have the impression that the car drivers gave in.
In Belgium, pedestrians always have right of way at a zebra crossing. The drivers who drive through are committing a serious offense. Are the traffic regulations in Thailand perhaps different? Why are there zebra crossings on the road?
I think we should inform readers traveling to Thailand for the 1st time about these very dangerous conditions.
Sincerely,
Roel
Have said it before in this blog, in Thailand a zebra crossing is just decoration, nothing more and nothing less. There are enough videos on you tube. Years ago I took a buddy to Thailand,
had already warned him not to take a zebra crossing but a small bridge when crossing. Mr stubborn - he knew everything better - he almost drove off the zebra crossing when he set foot on it. Don't they stop here??? he said angrily . I was doubled over laughing .
In the current information age, it seems to me that the average traveler is looking for information about the travel destination. Especially if it is the first time that one goes to the destination in question.
I think those pedestrian crossings do have a purpose in places where many pedestrians cross the street: the intention is that pedestrians cross the street in 1 place (in groups).
But the practice is indeed different. As can be read in previous responses: “decoration” and “mai pen rai”… Chaos the Thai way… I don't think there is any obligation for motorists.
I have not noticed any fines for pedestrians so far. May occur when pedestrians cross the street when it is red for them or when they disobey the orders of the officers…
An advantage of a zebra crossing in Thailand is that on roads with a central reservation you can get through the bushes or concrete walls without climbing. For the rest, as it is often written on Thailandblog, something where you should not count on priority and courtesy even with amulets and flower garlands. But at some point you have to get to the other side. It just takes you waiting for a safe moment or sometimes walking around to get over the road via a footbridge. I don't really like those stairs at those walkways and I also see falls there, so you have to watch out for that too. Sometimes I'm lucky and I'm helped by a nice Thai lady when crossing.
There is no greater waste of paint than Thai road markings
The simplest answer to the question:
Zebra crossings are of no use here.
Why always those strong stories?
Resign yourself to it.
I'm willing to accept it, but then you have to wait until I'm at a zebra crossing, then it's much easier.......
Oh but it's not just the zebra crossings that serve as decoration!
Arrows on the road surface! Turn right, they also serve to drive straight ahead! Although I still have the impression that there is a traffic jam at the straight arrow, but they will not dare to drive in that right-turn lane, imagine that someone really turns right there. Then they have to wait.
Nowadays there is also new decoration: vibrating strips!!!! They are then 25 meters from the school gate!
The Ministry has it right! But the road user …….does not care!!!
That's Thailand!!!
When I was in Patong at the beginning of the year, I always had to cross an intersection to get from the hotel to the center or the beach, I was really afraid to cross there. It really is complete anarchy there. It is a wonder that there are not daily deaths there.
https://www.google.be/maps/@7.8965588,98.3021494,3a,75y,330.81h,73.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sI1QmJ5rs4eqjFgm6tGB4Ug!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Yes Roel, in TH the official traffic rules are almost identical to those in the EU.
However, as in most Asian countries, the practice is completely different:
Rule 1. Everything in front of you has priority, everything behind you has priority.
Rule 2. Road markings are for decoration only.
There is an exception to Rule 1: The larger and/or heavier and/or more expensive the vehicle, the more priority must be given to that vehicle. The leg car ALWAYS gives priority.
As for crossing (ALSO at a zebra crossing): This takes some practice. First you make a good estimate of the speed of the vehicles coming from the right (and preferably also from the left) and your own crossing speed. As soon as you see a "hole" cross at a CONSTANT speed. This way the drivers can also make a better estimate of when you will be where.
If the crossing is too big, stay in the middle of the road and repeat the procedure for traffic coming from the left.
Of course this is no guarantee that you will get to the other side unscathed. 🙂
On a busy highway (4, 6, 8 lanes) it is advisable to use a footbridge.
Well, at least that's a response that's useful to someone. Actually, it is only obvious that the traffic rules in Thailand are broadly the same as those in the EU and elsewhere in connection with the agreements in the international traffic treaty (from 1946-1947, so I say from memory) agreed in Geneva and what updates in the 70s, among others.
That in practice various road markings, commandments and prohibitions are seen as 'suggestion' in Thailand is of course also evident. Unfortunately, Thai agents do not often check at a zebra crossing to collect fines or bribes.
Dear TheoB,
Stop in the middle of the road??
dangerous.
Here on this blog some time ago a couple on a motorbike, waiting in the middle and both completely flattened.
I once stood in the middle here on Thepprasit road.
So this is a one-off, because I've really been terrified.
If I had had a crease in my pants at the time, it would have disappeared.
With an emergency corridor just past you.
the driver get the hiccups once and you are stuck between the profile of his tires.
Thaibloggers, also please never give way at a zebra, because you stop neatly and another kamikaze pilot drives fast and flattens people, or if they are lucky almost flattens and this happens exactly right in front of you.
This happened here on second road, which for those people was lucky that it is only a one-way street.
After having experienced this 2 or 3 times and really almost had a heart attack, we never give priority to a zebra again.
Even those who see what is happening will not lose it for the rest of their lives.
LOUISE
Louise, I don't want to chat or discuss it much, but the couple riding the motorbike was probably the couple who were killed in Cha'am. They were not in an accident because they were waiting for the center line, but because they crossed the road without looking closely and were hit by a speeding car.
But otherwise I agree with you: standing in a middle waiting to cross a street is not exactly smart. People drive here criss-cross sometimes and a center line does not apply.
By the way… I almost had an accident again today when I was riding my motorcycle with sidecar on a country road. A large SUV overtook another SUV coming towards me, and although the overtaking driver should have seen me, it just kept driving in my lane and I had to slow down and almost ended up on the shoulder, avoiding a frontal collision…. the idiot!
I had to get this out…. pffff
A zebra crossing in Thailand is used to indicate where you can cross safely when there is no traffic.
The Thai man is not known for his courtesy and involvement, and let's say this is a euphemism. Ask any Thai woman (especially those who are divorced) and you'll get a face like she's biting a lemon. I wouldn't expect someone like that to stop for you to let you go first. What does help (in most cases then) is to give a clear stop sign, where you act like a traffic controller, looking sternly. A bit down the road, but not too far of course. There is a very good chance that he will stop. Not used to thinking for themselves, but they are sensitive to commands. Good luck! (but with a disclaimer, you understand that 😉 )
I myself, in Chiang Mai, was knocked over on a zebra crossing with (for me) a green light! I had looked first: all the cars had stopped before the red light. But not that one sneaky motorcycle without lights in the dark… Luckily not too bad. I'll be even more careful from now on!
conclusion, in traffic in Thailand the law of the strongest applies.
Thais are courteous except in traffic. Once in their car, the devil in them comes out.
Have experience with that and annoyed to death for years.
My son was in pre-primary school in Bankok at Chitlom for 3 years 14 years ago.
In front of the school on a VERY busy lane, Chitlom Alley, was an orange pinky light and crosswalk.
NEVER did cars stop to let parents/toddlers cross the street NEVER!
I then documented all that nicely and gave it to the school board, and asked to call the police.
There has NEVER been a positive response, but A LOT of palaver, by management and police.
ALSO, sometimes it took 3 months if the blinker was broken!
And the school board/police NEVER did anything about it!
The fact is, I found out then, that many Thais don't even know what a zebra crossing is for, and that pedestrians must be given priority.
The fact is that the school board, and the police, did not care.
Was a perfect edifying example for the school kids!!!!
You would think that everything has changed after 15 years and the Thais have learned a lot!
Unfortunately, we have to conclude that this is still not the case!
You say it wrong, after 15 years the foreigner still hasn't learned anything!
Thai people share a lot with you, sleep with family, often eat the alcohol.
But what they never share is traffic so always pay attention in traffic.
Unfortunately, many foreigners also participate in this custom.
Best,
It is true that the rules are the same as in Europe.
not only the thai but also the farang don't care about it.
the most dangerous is when some stop, but those in the next lane don't. next to a gentlemen sometimes (usually) a death driver arrives.
I agree with the view:
tit
Zebra lines, arrows, lights are guidelines that are not respected even by the cops.
council; wait for a clear lane, estimate the distance and speed of oncoming traffic safely, and only then cross.
and for the tourists; europ assistance travel insurance.
enjoy
w
There is no zebra crossing for pedestrians.
It's a marker for the paramedics where the pedestrian is.
If you look on youtube you immediately see that a vop is a flop. I am also a Buddhist but I want to postpone the reincarnation for a while. Went to Chiang Mai with a friend, pushing those cars and scooters everywhere. Be careful everywhere..
To keep a long discussion short, you can assume that nothing works in Thailand that is connected to good control, and that also includes the use of the zebra crossing. Further causes could be found in the ignorance of the average Thai who usually have had a poor driving education, which, like the rest of the education, is far below the international standard.
Thai people don't even know what a Footpath is for,
let alone a zebra crossing!!!!!!!
What a comparison. When you come to Thailand, you will still put off your Dutch/Belgian/Western thinking and try to empathize with the local situation. That means on the one hand that you can drive almost as you want, without anyone getting annoyed, but on the other hand that you also have to take into account that others do the same.
To me, zebra crossings are nothing more than stripes across a road and where you stop when a police officer is standing by or when a large group of people have the courage to cross. I won't stop when someone wants to cross the street. Why? If I stop and he/she thinks he's safe, he's out of luck, because a follower who overtakes me won't stop. Then I finally have an accident on my conscience.
No, I just as well as everyone else do NOT stop.
Well, if there is a traffic light and as written, a policeman regulates the traffic…
Not so long ago someone asked here on the blog whether the “guy” with his flag and whistle actually had the authority to stop him at the entrances or exits of certain places. He apparently thought it was impossible that he could not drive through the green light further on and had to stop because it had turned red in the meantime.
There is such a "manneken" in many places at a zebra crossing at the schools. This is to guide the children safely across the zebra crossing. It has still not dawned on the Thais that a pedestrian has priority on a zebra crossing, so they add a “man” to it. You can possibly ignore it, blowing a whistle like crazy and blazing flag-swinging. Or else you can blame him if you ran a red light further on because he was the cause that it was no longer green for you. Same for a pedestrian crossing: ignore it otherwise you will miss the green light.
Clearly let us know with a raised hand that you are there and want to cross, don't delay and cross, but keep looking out!
The Thai will stop heavily offended, but you can keep walking 🙂
Zebra paths are covered exclusively as road decoration. No right may therefore be derived from it on pain of death.