On Pattaya roads, stopping at a red light is optional — and sometimes even seen as a sign of weakness. No surprise then, that at some Thai driving test centers, even getting the traffic light colors in the correct order seems to be a challenge. Adapt or get run over. (Photo by Jetsada Homklin) PATTAYA, Thailand – On the roads of Pattaya, luck isn’t a strategy. It’s the leftover hope when planning, alertness, and basic road sense have already been abandoned. Whether you’re crossing the street, driving a scooter, or watching traffic from a café window, one thing becomes painfully clear: survival relies less on rules and more on instinct. “I stopped outside a hospital in Bangpli to let pedestrians begin crossing at the clearly marked zebra crossing,” said one long-term visitor. “I counted 12 cars that continued through the crossing as people walked across. Then an ambulance — lights and sirens on — sped through the last lane at 80 km/h and nearly hit three pedestrians.” It’s a familiar scene in Pattaya and beyond: zebra crossings that offer no protection, drivers who treat red lights as mere suggestions, and a daily game of chance for those trying to navigate it all. “It has nothing to do with luck,” another resident insists. “Just common sense, two open eyes, and the ability to turn your head to the right. How hard can it be?” Apparently, very hard. From the chaos of intersections to the wild west of diagonal parking lots, even the most basic visual cues are often ignored. “I had a conversation with a Thai driver about how someone always drives the wrong way in diagonal parking lots,” said one expat. “It seemed so obviously wrong to me, but he admitted he finds those layouts confusing — despite the arrows and markings.” That confusion begins early, sometimes at the very place where new drivers are supposed to be trained. One foreigner recently attended a Thai driving test center and called it “a comedy show.” “Most drivers couldn’t even get the traffic light colors in the correct order,” he said. “They need a real driving school — one that teaches manners, awareness, and what the zebra crossing is actually for.” Another Pattaya resident shared the story of sending a Thai acquaintance to driving school: “She rode a scooter like it was rented, but needed to learn to drive a manual. The school offered five one-hour sessions — all under 15 km/h, on a closed course. I went with her on the last day. Three cars were driving the same way. Then suddenly another car started going the opposite direction. On the way home, a staff driver cut across lanes at double the limit, speeding through oncoming traffic. She passed, of course. But that first year behind the wheel was… stressful.” It’s not just about bad habits — it’s about deeply rooted attitudes. Many longtime observers say the issue is cultural. “There are so many layers to this — lawlessness, entitlement, ego, fatigue, phones glued to hands, and near-total window tint,” wrote one expat on a local forum. “This system may have worked when traffic was light and pedestrian crossings were rare. But now, scooters are seen as a nuisance, and pedestrians get no respect. The culture runs deep. It won’t change. You just adapt — or you risk it.” Crossing the street in Pattaya, then, becomes an act of faith — and perhaps defiance. Some roads do have signals and markings, but whether they’re respected is a different matter entirely. “Yesterday, I watched a woman try to cross Beach Road,” said a Pattaya-based photographer. “She waited five minutes, then just took her chance. A baht bus swerved, a scooter braked hard, and she made it across — barely. She smiled, but it was the kind of smile that says, ‘I’m still alive.’” So yes, in Pattaya, roads are a gamble. But don’t let anyone tell you it’s about luck. It’s about staying alert, knowing what not to expect, and remembering that no rule — no matter how bold the paint or how bright the light — guarantees your safety. Because here, red doesn’t always mean stop, and a crossing doesn’t always mean you’re seen. It’s not a road system. It’s a mindset. And it’s one you’d better prepare for.