Editor;
Re: Beach Road is a race track for coaches (PM Friday, 10 October 2014) – “Thai teamsters motto” Might is right so get out of my way. There is also some strange thought that the pedestrian in Pattaya has no rights at all. In the entire length of Beach Road there is not one controlled Pedestrian crossing & from start to finish on 2nd Road there is only one intersection controlled by lights (Pattaya Klang).
City hall & police are remiss in their “duty of care” for the people & tourists of Pattaya. Beach Road should have at least 3 sets of lights for pedestrian crossings. (Never mind flashing amber lamps or zebra crossings, they don’t work.) 2nd Road is controlled by one set of lights for the full length from Pattaya Tai to Dolphin Roundabout.
There seems to be something about one way streets where the traffic jockeys for a place to be first at the next traffic jamb. Traffic on Klang can be congested but not to the point of chaos. Buses stay in their own lanes. But when making a left turn are forced to make a wide dangerous turn entering the lane of oncoming traffic. This is caused by the cars & motorcycles hogging the left lane. In some countries large vehicles display a sign on the left rear stating, “Do not overtake turning vehicle”.
I dispute the theory that Thais can not drive. They are capable drivers but lack “road sense”. How often have you seen someone booked for an illegal right hand turn from a two way street into another (mostly motorcycles). Proper way move to center of road, when oncoming traffic is clear, make a 90 degree turn into center lane then merging to the left. Thai way & some farang move to the far side of road (against oncoming traffic). When you can, make a turn into oncoming traffic and continue against the flow until you can merge left into the correct lane.
Take Buakaow – maybe 3kls long and not one controlled crossing. No sidewalk but not very wide. You can get across it easily. Doesn’t work all the time. I have the steel rods & screws in my leg to prove it (hit & run farang).
Meanwhile, stay cool and enjoy the time you have left.
Sean
