PATTAYA, THAILAND – A new traffic light trial at the Thepprasit–Koh Phai intersection plunged traffic into daily chaos and sparked mounting public anger at the city administration.
Intersection test collapses at rush hour
A well-intentioned attempt to regulate traffic at the Thepprasit–Koh Phai junction reportedly failed dramatically.
“Three lanes, one for U-turns, one blocked by parked cars – that leaves only one lane. Traffic barely moves,”
said a desperate driver. The formerly key traffic artery has turned into a huge congestion trap, with some commuters stuck for two hours on a route that previously flowed smoothly.
Parents face hours-long school runs
Families with school-age children were among the hardest hit.
“I use this route every day to take my children to school. Today it took me two hours for a route that normally flows,”
said a parent. The new signal system had been installed without sufficient testing, and residents said the gap between theory and reality was stark, with frustration boiling over.
Chaos at the lights and unsafe for pedestrians
Local people stressed that signals alone were not the issue.
“People ignore the yellow light and drive into the intersection, blocking everything. It is pure chaos,”
said a Pattaya resident. Pedestrians also suffered from uneven walkways and blocked sidewalks, which they said turned every walk into a hazard and left promised safety improvements unrealised.
Calls for human traffic control
Critics demanded human traffic controllers instead of relying solely on technology.
“Sometimes you need people, not just blinking lights,”
said one resident, arguing that officers on the ground could respond more flexibly. The city administration faced accusations that it rushed the measure without thorough research or realistic on-site testing.
Pressure mounts for urgent changes
Some commentators still acknowledged the original safety goal of the system.
“If this system prevents even one serious accident, it is a gain,”
wrote one user, while conceding that the signal timing urgently needed to be revised. With public pressure growing by the minute, residents warned that authorities must either make rapid improvements or halt the failed trial altogether.