Free Left Turn Restriction Lifted

[Big Boy]

Waiting at traffic lights in a taxi last night, I noticed the Free Left Turn restrictions in Hua Hin City Centre have been lifted. It was always a stupid ruling, and ignored by about 99% of the population anyway.

[HHTel]

Does that mean the sign telling you to wait for traffic signal before turning left has gone? However, the rule/law is that you can only turn left on a red light if there is a sign instructing such. This is usually a white arrow on a blue background.
So if there's no sign there at all, then it's still illegal to turn left on red.

[europtimiste]

The new sign is also in ENGLISH for those who can read.

[Big Boy]

Yes, it's not the official road sign, but this is a very common problem in Hua Hin. However, the old restriction signs were not of the official variety either.

The new signs are red writing on a white background, and as europtimiste correctly says, written in both Thai and English.

[HHTel]

The old 'not official' sign was also in Thai and English but was completely ignored by most.
So what does the 'new sign' say?

[Big Boy]

Something like 'turn left when safe.' If I'm out that way later, I will try to photograph the sign.

[HHTel]

Don't put yourself out, BB. I'll be passing at some point. Anyway, whatever the sign (or no sign), nothing changes of course.

[Big Boy]

HaHa - just passed there, but didn't stop at lights, so no opportunity. I thinks the sign has Chinese text as well.

[joelle]

Here are a couple of photos

[HHTel]

So now you have a red arrow which by law prohibits a left turn until green and an unofficial notice below that encourages you to ignore the red light 'if safe'. TIT

[Big Boy]

[Khundon1975]

Looking at that tangled mess of cables, I’m surprised that the lights work at all!

[HHTel]

Let's take a hypothetical scenario with this new 'order'.
You turn left on a red arrow and you're involved in an accident for whatever reason.
You could be charged with jumping a red light.
So you go to court.
"But, your honour, the notice underneath the red light says that I can turn left on a red light"
Your honour states "The notice you're referring to has no legal standing so you are guilty of turning left on a red light"

Case closed!

[Ralfredo]

Your honour states "The notice you're referring to has no legal standing so you are guilty of turning left on a red light"

Or the honour says "If it had been safe, you wouldn't be here".

[HHTel]

Or the honour says "If it had been safe, you wouldn't be here".

That statement doesn't hold water. When turning left on a green light, it's unlikely that other traffic would be involved unless of course they were running a red light. All in all, it's a dangerous instruction bearing in mind the quality of driving here.

I did say an accident for whatever reason. It's never completely safe and less so when running a red light.