PHUKET, THAILAND – A viral dashcam video showing a foreign motorcyclist making an illegal U-turn in Phuket sparked a heated online clash over blame and road responsibility.
Viral clip shows near miss on traffic island
Footage posted by Wongwit Sand, a Thai driver active on Facebook, showed a foreign motorcyclist with a passenger riding over a traffic island to make an illegal U-turn. Moments before the bike rejoined the left lane, Wongwit’s car approached at high speed, forcing the rider to brake sharply and narrowly avoid a collision. The Facebook page Newshawk Phuket amplified the incident with the caption:
“Foreigner tries bringing death to himself, making a U-turn on the traffic island.”
said Newshawk Phuket.
Online backlash targets the man behind the camera
What initially appeared to be a straightforward case of a foreigner breaking traffic rules quickly turned into a broader online dispute. Many Thai users condemned the behaviour of the foreign motorcyclist, but a significant number directed their anger at Wongwit. One commenter accused him of deliberately speeding up, writing:
“You saw the foreigner and did not slow down. Your behaviour could have caused injuries or deaths.”
said an unnamed Facebook user.
Claims of intimidation and double standards
Other users described the driving as a “stimulus–response manoeuvre,” suggesting Wongwit was trying to intimidate rather than protect the biker. At the same time, many pointed out that local motorists frequently make the same illegal U-turns without being filmed or publicly shamed. One comment read:
“What is the purpose of this post? Thais do this every day.”
said an unnamed commenter.
Debate over who sets the example on Phuket’s roads
Several voices urged people not to blame only foreigners, with remarks such as:
“Don’t blame only the foreigners. Thais do this as well.”
said another unidentified user. The discussion touched a nerve over role models in traffic, with some suggesting that foreigners merely copied risky behaviour they regularly observed from Thai drivers.
Driver removes video and offers his explanation
As criticism mounted, Wongwit deleted the video entirely and tried to defend himself in comments under the Newshawk Phuket post. He claimed the clip did not show the entire situation and said the foreign rider had already been stopped illegally on the traffic island to pick up a companion before making the U-turn. Wongwit insisted he had not accelerated to frighten the biker, but steered left to avoid a crash, stating:
“I don’t want an accident – it only costs time and money.”
said Wongwit Sand.
Previous incidents and ongoing tensions
According to local accounts, this was not an isolated case in Phuket. In September, two foreign riders were filmed performing the same illegal U-turn at the same location, triggering similar outrage. The reactions then mirrored the latest dispute: anger at foreign drivers combined with sharp self-criticism of Thai motorists accused of setting poor examples.
Broader questions about blame and responsibility
The episode left behind a charged debate over traffic discipline, accountability and the impact of social media shaming. Commentators questioned whether such public posts educate drivers or merely deepen divisions, asking who bears greater responsibility and why such confrontations kept recurring on Thailand’s roads.