PHUKET, THAILAND – A viral video showing foreign holidaymakers performing dangerous motorbike stunts in Patong sparked a wave of criticism and demands for tougher action by authorities.
Short clip from Patong’s main road
On 25 January 2026, the Facebook page of the Phuket Times published a roughly 16‑second clip recorded on Rat Uthit 200 Pi Road in the Patong subdistrict of Kathu. The footage showed foreign tourists riding motorbikes recklessly, honking loudly and repeatedly lifting the front wheel off the road surface as a display, without regard for traffic safety.
Danger and disturbance for other road users
According to the description, the behaviour caused significant unrest on the street, creating a situation in which other motorists, residents and nearby visitors were put at risk. The page captioned the video with the explicit remark:
“Chaos without end! A group of racing tourists doing wheelies and causing loud disturbances.”
said Phuket Times, Facebook page.
Strong reactions and calls for punishment
After publication, the clip spread quickly and was widely debated on social media, where many users sharply condemned the conduct of the tourists. Numerous commenters urged the responsible authorities to identify and arrest those involved and punish them under applicable law in order to deter imitators.
Fears of recurring incidents
Several users noted that similar incidents occurred every year and described such behaviour as a threat to public safety, particularly on the roads. Others demanded concrete and swift action against these stunts and warned that the patience of the local population with reckless visitors was reaching its limits.
Public pressure on officials
In the comments, users voiced expectations ranging from consistent penalties for dangerous driving manoeuvres to increased monitoring of busy streets in tourist areas. They also called for clear signals that violations of traffic rules would not be tolerated, while specific measures by local authorities were initially not known, even as public pressure for a more decisive response rose sharply.