A VIDEO of a female tourist riding a motorised suitcase down a road in Phuket has gone viral and prompted widespread concern about potential for a car accident, TV Channel 7 said this morning (Aug. 4).
A passerby who spotted the unidentified tourist of unknown nationality calmly riding down the road on her motorised suitcase, then waiting for the traffic lights to change and crossing over to the other side in heading for Kata beach, Karon subdistrict, Mueang district, filmed this risky trip.
Many people expressed concern about her safety.
It was pointed out that there is usually heavy traffic on this road although it was not particularly congested at the time this tourist chose to go down on her suitcase rather than walking on the footpath. It is a major thoroughfare with lots of cars, motorcycles, and buses passing throughout the day, especially during rush hour and her behaviour poses a high risk of an accident occurring.
Residents and onlookers warned all tourists that using a suitcase as a means of transportation on the road is unsafe and can lead to loss of balance, falling, or serious injury if hit by a passing vehicle.
They also urged relevant agencies, hotel operators, and tourism businesses to address this issue by continuously promoting and providing safety advice to foreign tourists, especially regarding road safety in Thailand, in order to prevent accidents and create an image of safe tourism in Phuket.
Electric rideable suitcases have been around for a few years now but have become fairly popular in some countries as a way of getting around big airports, according to BBC.
Most cases have a top speed of around 13 km/h (8 mph) and are powered using a lithium battery.
In the UK motorised suitcases are classed as a ‘powered transporter’ which means that they fall under the same rules and laws that apply to all motorised vehicles – like e-scooters, segways and hoverboards – under the Road Traffic Act.
This means they cannot be ridden on a public road without a licence and safety equipment, or on pavements or cycle lanes by law, and people can be punished for doing so.
People are allowed to ride powered transporters in the UK on private land with permission from the owner.
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Top and Front Page: Screen grab image of the woman tourist riding her motorised suitcase on a Phuket road. Photo – TV Channel 7
Video shared on Facebook by Hod Chang Changwat Phuket:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HXtuNAUVQ/
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