A bit embarrassing this - I've been driving here for 10 years, and have just realised I don't know what it actually means.
Hua Hin Police Station have posted on Facebook about the installation of several of these in Soi 88 today. The accompanying text states (probably automatic translation):
Traffic event at So Pho. Hua Hin
P. T. T. Phattaphong. So clean. So So. J R. Police. Hua Hin
Together with traffic patrol with municipal officials.
Installing a flashing signal in Soi Huahin 88
To prevent accidents at night
Currently in action.
Can somebody please tell me the true meaning please?
Here's a screen grab from one of the videos of one of these beasties:
Isn't the big Stop sign warning enough? I did notice that each of the installed lights were close to other signs (all different). Surely, the Stop sign is more meaningful than a flashing light. I'm not having a go at you. In fact I've always assumed a flashing orange light means proceed with caution, but that can't be true beside a Stop sign.
In the UK when I was taught to drive, I was told a Stop sign means stop. You stop first and then assess the situation.
Isn't it the same as some flashing orange at the head of small sois. Assumably to make you are aware they're there. You also see them at the head of a central reservation where a single road splits into a dual carriageway. I've seen them used in a myriad of situations. I've always took them as just a way of making other road users, and pedestrians in some cases, aware of a particular feature, be it a small soi, start of a dual carriageway, or other. Amber of course does indicate caution, not proceed with caution!!
LOL we've had a few opinions, but so far nobody knows what it actually means. We've all got our own interpretations, some may be right, but nobody actually knows.
The police said they are for night use, but the actual meaningful signs are there anyway. I know TIT, but if your lights are on, you should see the signs.
Is it the same location an impressive pedestrian crossing has been painted on the road? Red and white. (Soi 88 at the side of the big furniture shop. It's hardly a pedestrian bottle neck)
No, it's a bit further towards Petchkasem. I think it's basically warning you that Petchkasem is a big nasty road with lots of traffic, so make sure you obey the sign post beside the flashing light before moving on to Petchkasem. However, I honestly don't know the truth, so thought there would be somebody on here that would know.
Here's another one of the new lights, and another embarrassing revelation that I hadn't noticed. What the hell does the chevron beneath the sign mean? Pass either side of the middle of the road pillar, but TIT feel free to go straight ahead and hit the pillar if you prefer?
Well, don't know about Thailand (or HH these days), but have seen similar in many countries - mostly Eastern Europe. Always a warning for a junction, especially where street lights were low or pedestrians would be crossing. These lights were even placed well before Traffic Lights, let alone Stop Signs.
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
Big Boy wrote: ↑Thu Jul 07, 2022 8:03 pm
The police said they are for night use, but the actual meaningful signs are there anyway. I know TIT, but if your lights are on, you should see the signs.
I still believe they are to supplement the signs. A flashing light is more likely to get your attention.
Some people pass 'give way' signs multiple times over a number of years and didn't even notice it until it was pointed out. I'll not mention names. He knows who it is.
Yes, I admit quite openly that I never saw 1 give way sign for quite some time, but I maintain it is set back from the junction.
Generally, I read the road all of the time, and try to obey traffic signs. As I said earlier, I've always taken a flashing amber light to mean proceed with caution, and a flashing red light to mean extreme caution, other traffic at the junction has priority. However, seeing a flashing orange light beside a stop sign, I know that I'm wrong.
I need to know what it really means, else my driving knowledge is incomplete. I felt really bad when I realised I had been driving here for so long without 'knowing' the true meaning. What this thread is telling me is that I am not alone in my knowledge. It seems we're all making it up as we go, which is quite worrying - especially as we criticise Thai drivers so much.
I'll take a step back and agree that a flashing amber means 'Proceed with caution'. But not just at intersections which I initially thought that was what you were referring to. A flashing amber can appear in many places, initially as a warning but 'Proceed with caution' of course is implied. You can often see them where roadworks/repairs are taking place, contraflows on major roads, unmanned railway crossings, outside schools, Belisha beacons (UK and territories). I'm sure people can think of more.
Even car indicators are flashing orange, a warning of an impending turn, when all switched on they become 'hazard warning lights' (except in Thailand where they use them willy nilly).
Yes we all immediately think of flashing amber as part of traffic lights but in general it's a warning for various features/events/hazards etc.
Big Boy wrote:I don't know why it's taken me so long, but I've just asked my mate Google:
amber.png
If Google is correct, I suggest the flashing orange light in the OP should be red.
This refers to traffic lights set to flashing mode instead of red/orange/green, usually at night. One pair of lights will be orange and the other pair will be red.
Traffic event at So Pho. Hua Hin
Traffic event at So Pho. Hua Hin 
