Unclear traffic and road signs sometimes
cannot be seen, and when they are, often don’t make much sense, such as
this ““through the left ventricle” sign.
Urasin Khantaraphan
Foreign drivers in Pattaya might be excused for violating
traffic rules. After all, the traffic signs, if visible at all, often
aren’t in English and, even when they are, can make as much sense as
“through the left ventricle.”
Tourists and expatriates both complain about the lack of proper signage
in the city. Many are blocked by advertisements, are placed where they
cannot be seen by motorists, or lack vital information, such as the
number of the soi they’re attempting to demarcate.
So it’s not surprising many a foreign driver protests when getting
ticketed for, say, making a left turn where no left turn is allowed. But
complaining that the sign isn’t in English is no excuse: Thai driver’s
licenses require understanding of Thai traffic laws, regardless of
whether the motorist can read the language on the sign or not.
Canadian Jay David Garmaise, 67, is one Pattaya expat complaining about
such signage. He’s been in the city for nearly six years, living off Soi
Khao Noi, and admits he rarely drives into town anymore due to the heavy
traffic.
He not only questions the non-English, and sometimes confusing signs,
but also whether Pattaya police are serious about their so-called
“five-point crackdown” on traffic.
He said that Thais set bad examples for foreign drivers by parking in
no-parking zones, driving without yielding to pedestrians, cutting off
other drivers, dangerously overtaking others, putting three or more
people on a motorbike, not wearing helmets and underage drivers.
Police recently announced a five-point plan that calls for towing,
locking wheels, arresting traffic scofflaws and jailing them all while
being polite. Police insist it’s still being carried out.
Traffic police reported 279 arrests since the policy began a month ago
with 749 cars having their wheels locked. In all, 2,345 tickets and
arrests have been made, with two charged with illegal racing and 51 with
driving under the influence of alcohol.
Traffic Maj. Col. Jetsdawit Inthrapraphan said the public has welcomed
the traffic crackdown and that authorities have received no complaints
about the program.
