Traffic

[Sabai Jai]

I have to say it is really good to be back in Hua Hin, first time since Feb 2007. Notice quite a few changes as always but the thing you can't help noticing is the traffic!

How are you suppose to cross Petkasem Road?

They took the bridge by Chat Chai market away a couple of years ago (yes I know nobody used it) and the MIB who used to assist crossing at the bottom of the night market seem to have disappeared.

For a town that thrives on tourism and ex pats I think there should be some provision for their safety and convenience. I was trying to cross yesterday when the schools were turning out, some of the kids looked terrified.

Reminds me of a joke i first heard in Istanbul but seems applicable to HH.

'A visitor to Istanbul is trying to cross the road, he's standing with a few other people waiting and watching for a break in the traffic but it just keeps thundering past. eventually he says to the guy next to him "How do you cross the road in this town?" the guy replies "I do't know I was born on this side"

Regards to all
SJ

[buksida]

Hua Hin is pretty bad for traffic and driving etiquette, I've just returned from the deep south and a spell on Samui where driving was a pleasure. It seems that half of the SUV driving pricks from Bangkok seem to think they can drive the same way when they take a long weekend to Hua Hin!
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[Roel]

True, they drive pretty agressive. The way you must do in Bangkok in order to get from A to B. Otherwise you could easily end up spending the rest of your life waiting for some good old courtesy at an intersection.

Maybe time to reconsider the plan for a skytrain from Cha-am to Khao Takiab with huge concrete pillars on the beach.

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[Randy Cornhole]

I think the worse place has to be the railway intersection by Gee un Tung supermarket. Sometimes it just stops!!
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[VincentD]

Ahh, we try, we try.

I don't drive a SUV, can't see myself behind the wheel of one, and if I do get to HH for a weekend, it's straight to the hotel carpark. It stays there for the duration.

If there is a cheap enough alternative in Bangkok, I'd take it, but driving the route I do to work is a necessary evil, best done at a little after six in the morning when there are very few nutters on the road.

While I do drive a lot around Thailand, HH seems a little more laid-back than most as 1) it is a holiday town, so the people renting motorbikes think they can waltz all over as they are on holiday, 2) the locals on bikes seem to be in a world of their own and completely oblivious to other road users, similar to 1), and 3) the bikes seem to have only one gear.

Pattaya is on the other extreme, with tourists renting crotch rockets and overtaking on the wrong side of the road. Typical attire for this is shorts, rubber thongs and sunglasses. Sunscreen optional.

No, I do not drive like a blinkered SUV driver, but these things do annoy, especially if the really slow bikes will not keep to the left hand lane on , for example, the road to Khao Takiab.

Bangkok traffic has improved in some ways and has degenerated in others, fortunately with the tollways now it doesn't take as long as it used to.

Right.

Rant over.
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[lomuamart]

Every time I cross Petchkasem to get a beer or some ciggies I take my life in my hands. It's normal to end up in the middle of the road in the yellow lines. Just have to hope that the twats turning right don't use that refuge as their "middle lane".
The worst I had was almost getting hit by a Highway Police car. He was in a convoy for some person and got left behind. Was driving up the middle of the road, where I was standing. I had to move a bit and was almost hit by a cement lorry going the other way into town. Ouch!!
When the school's out it's even worse. I try to remember to stock up on beer before 3-5pm
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[Winkie]

Agree with many of the points posted above. HH traffic is quite laid-back compared to BKK. All Thai drivers driver recklessly, its not reserved for Bangkokians.

With regard to Foot Bridges, I obserbed that these are used for 2 purposes only by Thai people:-

1) Keep the sun off their heads when they cross the road
2) Keep the rain off their heads when they cross the road

Finally, I think with time (long or short), Farangs fall into the same dangerous road habits as Thais, whether they are drivers or pedestrians (for sure this includes me).

Its not goig to change that much, that quickly, you've just got to keep your wits about you when tacklig roads, and be well aware of the dangers that are ever present.

Howver, as said above, BKK traffic and traffic manners are improving over time, if you look back more than 10 years. So long term, maybe there is some small hope for improvement in HH too.

Winkie
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[lomuamart]

Not sure I'd agree with that, Winkie.
I've been in HH for almost 10 years now and I reckon it's simply the sheer weight of traffic that confuses everyone. They just don't seem to know what to do.
Ten years ago, there was hardly a "car in sight". It was easy to cross the road. Nowadays, I can wait for a good few minutes to cross over Petchkasem Road. When the SUVs and pick-ups aren't trying to run everyone over or off the road, the buses certainly will succeed. And then there's the motorbikes coming from all directions.
I'm pretty used to it now, but I won't forget one of those "you know when you've been in Thailand too long" sayings -
"You look ten ways before crossing the road".
Just my view, but I certainly don't see anyone becoming more polite driving in HH. It's dog eat dog.
However, maybe in another 10 years???
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"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

[norm]

I think the traffic is much worse than it was two years ago. Not necessarily the driving habits (don't think they can get any worse) but the amount of traffic is much worse.

[STEVE G]

[Luxrebel]

That intersection is crazy. I took so many photographs of it during my last time in HH.

Does anyone know why it was built like that?

It is amazing around 6pm every evening.

[Big Boy]

If we're talking about the same intersection, I think it was even worse when it had a mini roundabout there.
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[Vital Spark]

I agree with Norm, the volume of traffic has increased tremendously over the past couple of years. I certainly wouldn't blame it all on the Bangkokians, I guess there are a whole bunch of nouveau riche Hua Hinians who are behind the wheels some of the giant SUVs.

We used to 'pop in' to Hua Hin once a week to do our shopping, it was quite a pleasurable experience (4 years ago). We now venture in when we really have to (i.e. run out of dog food or nice bacon), which is now once every three weeks or so. We hate it. Nowhere to park, maniacs on motorcycles, and the usual dare I say it, young ladies in vehicles the size of tanks which they can't control and have no idea how to park. It's a nightmare, and we get in and out as quickly as we can. The railway crossing is made worse by 'drivers' who don't really know where they want to go, and when the little brown men decide to 'control' things.

It's not going to get any better...

VS
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[Norseman]

I agree with VS about the MIB's way of doing their work at the northern railway crossing, but as the town grows bigger and the traffic with it, I don't see much differences in the general traffic behavior or pattern. It's chaotic as usual and you just have to adapt.
Pedestrians must wait or run for their bare life as usual.

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