PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya’s roads are chaotic, dangerous, and all too often deadly—and the reason is simple: no one is afraid of the law. Speeding motorbikes weaving through traffic, drivers ignoring helmets, and cars racing along crowded streets have become a daily sight. As one long-term resident put it: “I’ve been here 35 years. I’ve been in four accidents—two on bikes, two in trucks. None were my fault. But I still had to pay for repairs and medical bills. Why? Because locals say no money, and that’s accepted. Total garbage system.”
Fines are laughably low. “Cheap fines = 4 beers. No police enforcement at intersections. Have police boxes but no one there and no one outside 24 hrs a day,” said another expat who rides around Pattaya daily. Insurance is poor, and victims of crashes—foreigners and locals alike—frequently shoulder the costs themselves.
The culture of disregard extends beyond locals. “Westerners see bad driving in Thailand. They follow. It’s the way here. Then crash, bang, and the music of sirens,” one resident explained. Alcohol, drugs, and excessive speed are normalized, and law enforcement comes too late—if at all.
Meanwhile, local authorities seem more invested in promoting nightlife than protecting road users. “Why don’t the local authorities put the same energy into improving road safety as they do into lobbying the national government to turn Pattaya into one huge entertainment zone, where alcohol can be sold everywhere until 4 a.m.—and for some, thanks to a few ‘blind eyes,’ until 6 or even 8 a.m.?” one observer asked.
Pattaya’s traffic crisis is a stark reminder of what happens when a city prioritizes profit and nightlife over public safety. Without serious enforcement, meaningful fines, proper insurance, and a culture of accountability, residents and visitors will continue to pay the price—sometimes literally with their lives.
