PATTAYA, Thailand – Motorists in Pattaya are being urged to give way to emergency vehicles, after a rescue volunteer described a critical delay caused by a driver who blocked his unit while responding to an unconscious elderly patient.
A volunteer from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation in Nonthaburi said the incident occurred at 6:54 p.m. on April 2, when his team received a 1669 emergency call via Phra Nang Klao Hospital to assist an 82-year-old woman who had collapsed and was in critical condition at a housing estate in Soi Tiwanon–Pak Kret 27.
At the time, no ambulance was available in the Pak Kret area, prompting the rescue unit to respond from Tiwanon intersection.
While approaching the Pak Kret five-way intersection after exiting an underpass, a pickup truck ahead moved aside to clear the way. However, a black sedan suddenly switched from the left lane into the right lane directly in front of the rescue vehicle and began obstructing its path.
“Even though we had the siren on, flashing lights, and used the loudspeaker asking for space because a patient was unconscious, the car refused to move,” the volunteer said. “It looked like they would give way, but then they braked and blocked us, trying to stop us from changing lanes.”
The delay, he said, created a dangerous obstacle during a life-or-death emergency.
The incident has raised alarm among officials, who warn that such behavior could have deadly consequences if repeated in high-traffic areas like Pattaya — a city increasingly popular with retirees and older long-term visitors, where fast emergency response is often critical.
Legal experts note that under Thailand’s Land Traffic Act, Section 76, drivers must give way to emergency vehicles using sirens or flashing lights, with penalties of up to 500 baht for violations.
However, if blocking an ambulance or rescue vehicle is found to be a direct cause of a patient’s death, the driver could face serious criminal charges, including negligence causing death — or even intentional wrongdoing in more severe cases.
Authorities are urging drivers in Pattaya to stay alert and act responsibly, stressing that giving way is not just a legal duty — it can save lives.
