The Thai children walking on the zebra crossing look as if they are stepping from one white board, floating well above the road, to the next - but it is just an optical illusion, created by a volunteer group aimed at making roads safer for pedestrians.
Up close the trick of perspective is lost, but for any driver approaching the crossing the sight of people apparently walking on free floating white boards should make them slow to a stop.
The zebra crossing outside the main entrance to Wat Bueng Thong Lang school on the outskirts of Bangkok, was painted by students and volunteers, with funding from Thailand’s Government Savings Bank. During the past few months they have painted six near schools and temples, here there is always a heavy footfall, Natthapong Jiravijit, the project manager said.
Parent Uthit Sak-Udom, who drives his daughter to school each day, thinks it is a good idea.
“When I look at it, it looks like people are levitating above the road. It attracts my attention,” the 42-year-old dad said. “And I think the kids like to walk over it, as it makes them feel like they are walking on air.”
According to statistics from the past four years published this month by the National Health Security Office (NHSO) there were 10,672 accidents involving pedestrians in Thailand, and over 900 people died.
A survey done by Super Poll in 2016 reported that about 90 percent of 1,204 people surveyed said they felt ‘unsafe’ crossing a road, even when using a zebra crossing.
The group behind the novel approach to zebra crossings has at least three projects to complete in the next six weeks before the venture will be reviewed by the government bank to assess whether to extend further support.

Thailand’s ‘floating’ crosswalk makes drivers stop and look

Thailand’s ‘floating’ crosswalk in Bangkok. (Reuters)
Reuters, Bangkok
Thursday 28 November 2019
Last Update: Wednesday, 20 May 2020 KSA 10:01 - GMT 07:01
DAY | WEEK |
-
9659 Views Coronavirus: Dubai orders hospitals to cancel surgeries amid surge in COVID-19 cases
-
5669 Views Coronavirus: Dubai suspends live entertainment permits as COVID-19 cases surge
-
3117 Views Trump leaves a letter for Biden before leaving the White House
-
2808 Views Watch: Biden promises to fire staff members who ‘disrespect’ anyone
-
2556 Views Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia reschedules COVID-19 vaccinations amid Pfizer delay
-
1958 Views Three US National Guard members killed in helicopter crash in New York
-
21251 Views Coronavirus: Doctor in Saudi Arabia leaves hospital after battling virus for 139 days
-
18654 Views Coronavirus: Number of new UAE COVID-19 cases reaches record high
-
16528 Views Airstrikes pound Iran-backed militias south of Iraq’s Baghdad: Reports
-
9659 Views Coronavirus: Dubai orders hospitals to cancel surgeries amid surge in COVID-19 cases
-
7711 Views Coronavirus cases in the UAE surge as authorities detect 3,407 new infections
-
7661 Views Dubai to test launch iconic London Taxi vehicles using hybrid cabs
SHOW MORE