Pedestrian peril
Re: "Public Safety No 1", (Editorial, Oct 22).
I am a Bangkok pedestrian. I walk 5–10 kilometres every day along Bangkok roads. Doing so is not for the faint of heart.
The pavement hazards, both underfoot and overhead, are obvious and treacherous.
But the failures of motorists to recognise the rights of pedestrians -- whether via ignorance or by intention -- represent a more threatening menace.
Every time a motorist and pedestrian cross paths, one must give way to the other.
Thailand's traffic laws are actually quite clear and unambiguous with respect to the rights of pedestrians and associated obligations of motorists.
Since many motorists ostensibly misunderstand these rules, I summarise the salient points here as a public service:
Traffic control signals confer the right of way. A green light gives motorists the right to go straight -- but not to turn left or right.
A left or right green arrow, however, does give motorists the right to proceed in the indicated direction. Similarly, a "Walk" signal gives pedestrians the right to cross, and motorists must give way.
Absent a traffic control signal indicating "Don't Walk", a pedestrian crossing (ie "zebra stripe") gives pedestrians an unmitigated right to cross unimpeded. All motorists -- even off-duty policemen riding Ducatis at high speeds -- must give way to pedestrians in such a pedestrian crossing.
The "flow of traffic" consists of motorists and pedestrians proceeding along a road or parallel to the road (eg on a pavement). Motorists crossing the flow of traffic must give way to pedestrians in the flow of traffic.
Accordingly, motorists pulling out onto a road from a side street or car park must give way to pedestrians walking along the road.
Similarly, motorists turning left (or right) off a road must also give way to pedestrians walking along the road. These obligations exist regardless of whether there is a pedestrian crossing at the junction.
Lastly, security guards are not traffic control officers. Regardless of how enthusiastically he might be waving his flag and blowing his whistle, a security guard cannot alter the rights of pedestrians and associated obligations of motorists.
