Serious Traffic Hazard

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Charlieb
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Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by Charlieb » July 15, 2017, 1:56 pm

The traffic people are putting barricades up at U-turn places throughout the city. While the premise is good and may stop some of the 3 or 4 lanes U-turns, it presents what I think could be a serious traffic hazard.

The barricade extends about 10 meters down the inner most lane of the road. They put a blinking light for night but at least one I have seen the light is at least a full 10 feet from the end of the barricade.

Last night coming home down the Ring Road approaching the Nong Khai highway I came very close to a head on accident with the barricade just before Tesco. I was completely on top of it before I saw it - it was night and it was raining. Only a very quick maneuver saved me. Luckily there was no car in the adjacent lane.

On roads such as the Ring Road the speeds are usually at least 80 KPH. The posted limit down by the airport is 90. So you could be on top of one of these before you know it.

Be aware of these barricades, especially at night and during heavy rains.



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neeemu
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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by neeemu » July 15, 2017, 3:18 pm

They never learn. Even for regular grass or hedge cutting the workmen put out 1 or 2 cones. In the UK they do sometimes go overboard by closing entire lanes for the same work but if it saves lives, is it overboard?
Thailand has a lot to learn about road safety from top to bottom.

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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by eagle » July 15, 2017, 4:49 pm

neeemu wrote:
July 15, 2017, 3:18 pm
They never learn. Even for regular grass or hedge cutting the workmen put out 1 or 2 cones. In the UK they do sometimes go overboard by closing entire lanes for the same work but if it saves lives, is it overboard?
Thailand has a lot to learn about road safety from top to bottom.
I believe that they will next make a 10 meters deep hole there... and some bridges. The new crossing for Ring Road and Nong Khai Highway. So, be prepared to find out much more hazard during that building project.

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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by tamada » July 15, 2017, 8:44 pm

I came past that newly blocked u-turn last night as well, in the back seat of a limo and thought, 'About time they sorted that bugger out.'

Only today when I personally drove past in daylight did I see that they have placed a solid concrete barrier across the 'fast' lane on each side without any additional signage at all. Cuts the road from 3 lanes to 2 lanes with the additional hazard that most u-turners are unaware of full-lock on their steering wheels and will be happily still be sauntering into the center (new fast) lane. Should see some really good wrecks there shortly.

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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by stattointhailand » July 15, 2017, 10:07 pm

If it's the one I'm thinking of, it is about 25 yards past the official "U turn" and now creates a new U turn at the end of the centre reservation which was previously illegal due to the "hash marks" which were of course completely ignored

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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by UdonThaniPete » July 15, 2017, 10:41 pm

I actually U turned there today, while waiting I actually said to my wife this is an accident waiting to happen especially when I realized they were concrete, explaining the reasons why to her, for sure especially at night without the correct warning lights you will see a lot of head on accidents or worse a fatality. The stupidity never ends unfortunately.
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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by stattointhailand » July 15, 2017, 11:34 pm

Bearing in mind the amount of work that will need to be done on all 4 sides of that junction, surely SOMEONE would have had enough common sense to get the regular traffic use to changes BEFORE blocking off the "fast" lane with immovable objects [-X

It should also be noted that the barriers are set on the middle lane, thus reducing the width of that lane by approx 18ins, and there appears to be absolutely nothing to stop anyone parking in the slow lane whilst all this is going on :shock:

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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by FrazeeDK » July 17, 2017, 6:47 am

they did much the same for the U-Turns further west towards Nong Wau Sau on the highway.. The fast lanes were faded out with the u-turn dividers quite abruptly which caused a number of accidents. Evidently it was slammed big time on Thai social media and the government finally went in and put in new lines on the road and made the barrier transition to the u-turn less abrupt.. Perhaps they'll come up with a similar fix for the next U-turn barriers which for the most part I applaud..
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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by tutone » July 17, 2017, 7:01 am


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stattointhailand
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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by stattointhailand » July 17, 2017, 8:12 am

FrazeeDK wrote:
July 17, 2017, 6:47 am
they did much the same for the U-Turns further west towards Nong Wau Sau on the highway.. The fast lanes were faded out with the u-turn dividers quite abruptly which caused a number of accidents. Evidently it was slammed big time on Thai social media and the government finally went in and put in new lines on the road and made the barrier transition to the u-turn less abrupt.. Perhaps they'll come up with a similar fix for the next U-turn barriers which for the most part I applaud..
So all we need is a few fatalities and a public outcry on Thai Social Media and common sense will prevail ....... EVENTUALLY [-X

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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by pal52 » July 17, 2017, 8:46 am

Drove into Udon yesterday.
They have done the same barriers blocking off the fast lane just after the traffic lights on the main road going into Udon from the Nong Khai road.
There were 3 cars in front of me & everyone braked hard.
The first car must not have been paying attention to the road as it nearly ran into the concrete barriers at the U Turn.
It could not change lanes as there was a lot of traffic in all 3 lanes.
The amount of traffic on this section of road is always heavy as it is just after the traffic lights especially on a morning with Mini buses taking children to the Christian School.
You can guarantee accidents will happen at this U Turn.

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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by macca46 » July 17, 2017, 8:52 am

It is a real bad one for sure there will be a lot accidents both ways over the next couple of years, the planners never put a lot of thought into what they do.

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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by Brian Davis » July 17, 2017, 10:22 am

Coming back from football last night, the thing that struck me (not a concrete block fortunately! :lol: ) was the insufficient warning lighting. One would have thought they'd have lights blazing out at you, but no.

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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by wazza » July 17, 2017, 10:39 am

If drivers are driving too fast and fail to see hazards ahead.......

Driver error just as much to blame to Be honest

It the baricade was actually the rear end of a pickup or car would they still hit it ????

Complacency in driving behaviour ,

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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by jimjay » July 17, 2017, 11:26 am

it's a danger. especially in rain. not just bad drivers. it would be less so if they put up well lit warning signs and a sand-filled barrier so that anyone who did crash into it doesn't total their car or end up gravely injured like the motorbike rider laying on the ground in one of the pics.

here are the pics.

this won't be the first instance. look for more in coming days. poor traffic planning on display.
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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by wazza » July 17, 2017, 11:48 am

And when it rains, what do the drivers do ??

Stick on their hazard lights and keep driving at the same speed.

I rate this as a 80 % driver behaviour issue and 20% for poor alert / warning, but lets see in 2 weeks, if the incident numbers are maintained, if so then shift it back to 70/30.

If the incidents are reduced, then its driver error / behaviour IMO

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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by Charlieb » July 17, 2017, 12:33 pm

A pickup truck will present itself as a much larger target than a slender barrier. If the truck is not properly lighted you would probably not see it either. especially if raining at night.

I think the best thing for all of us that live here is to try and remember where these barriers are and make sure we are not in the right most lane when approaching them. Also, if in the middle lane, you must be aware of those that may swerve suddenly without warning to avoid the barrier.

The best drivers in the world can still have accidents.

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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by wazza » July 17, 2017, 1:06 pm

Brilliant brain storming

Place some tree branches 30 metres from the barricades.

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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by eagle » July 17, 2017, 1:13 pm

wazza wrote:
July 17, 2017, 1:06 pm
Brilliant brain storming

Place some tree branches 30 metres from the barricades.
How would that help, if rotating yellow warning light did not?

https://www.facebook.com/udontoday.news ... =3&theater

Other link, where rotating warning lights can be seen better and also how they have lights all over the barricade. In both cases rotating warning light had been hit during accidents and not in place. Still other lights over barricade are working.
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Re: Serious Traffic Hazard

Post by wazza » July 17, 2017, 1:25 pm

Eagle it was a satirical reply

Its what every broken down truck on the highways does when they have a breakdown....

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