What do red flashing traffic lights mean in Thailand

As a variant of Maradona's statement: "The hand of Buddha".

If that were the case, flashing red would be the same as flashing yellow/orange, which is not the case. The first time I saw a red flashing traffic light, it creaked briefly in my upstairs room (what is that?). But since the light can also flash yellow, it must mean something else than that. Red stands for stop, so I guessed “then flashing red will mean you have to stop and then continue according to the right-of-way rules, while with yellow flashing you just have to pay attention and you can continue driving without stopping according to the normal right-of-way rules”. I looked it up later and my guess was correct.

Yes, the Thai did not fall from a coconut tree either. There is also a system/logic behind it. After all, someone has thought about it, a matter of putting on a different cap/glasses and trying to put yourself in that position. That in practice that system/logic is not observed, well. But the practice is unruly in more countries, including in the Netherlands if I may believe the ANWB, for example.

To be precise, the theory, the law to be precise, says the following, see paragraphs 5 and 6:

Road Traffic Act Year 2522 (1979)

Article 22:
The driver must obey the traffic lights or road signs he encounters as follows:
1. A yellow traffic light: the driver must prepare to stop the vehicle before the line so that he is prepared for what is described in paragraph 2, unless the driver has already passed the stop line.
2. A red traffic light or a red traffic sign with the word “stop”: the driver of the vehicle must stop the vehicle before the line.
3. A green light or a green road sign that reads “go”: the driver of the vehicle may proceed unless the road signs indicate otherwise.
4. Green arrow indicating a curve or straight ahead, or a red traffic light while a traffic light with a green arrow is on at the same time: the driver of the vehicle can follow the direction of the arrow while being careful and giving way to pedestrians crossing on the zebra crossing or on vehicles coming first from the right.
5. FLASHING RED traffic light: if the installation is at an intersection that is open (clear?) in all directions, the driver of the vehicle must stop before the line. When it is safe and traffic is not hindered, the driver can carefully continue his journey.
6. FLASHING YELLOW traffic light: Regardless of the location of the installation, the driver of the vehicle must slow down and proceed with caution.

A driver who wants to go straight must follow the lane that indicates that it is for straight-through traffic. So the driver who wants to make a turn follows the lane that indicates this turn. This lane must be entered where the traffic signals indicate so.
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The above is my own translation from Thai to Dutch. In unofficial English translations they omit the sentence about the installation of the traffic lights and write: blinking red –> the drivers shall stop at the stop line and then when it is seen as safe may proceed with care. Blinking yellow –> the driver shall reduce speed ad proceed through the roadway with care.

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Original legal text:

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