Phuket Dashcam: Near‑Miss After Foreign Cyclist Swerves on Bypass Road

Phuket’s roads were the stage for a small but dramatic moment on August 12, when a foreign cyclist’s lane change nearly escalated into a headline-making collision. The incident — captured on a pickup truck dashcam — was shared by driver Pusana Ai Senrit in the Facebook group ขับรถแบบนี้ต้องประจาน ภูเก็ต (“Drivers like this must be exposed, Phuket”), and it quickly set off a flurry of alarmed and often scathing reactions from local netizens.

The video shows a man cycling along the left shoulder of what has been reported as Bypass Road. He looks over his shoulder twice, then starts a slow, lateral migration across lanes, moving from the far left all the way to the right. Pusana, driving in the right lane, jams on the brakes and averts a collision by the skin of his teeth. His caption — unforgiving, direct and a little dramatic — read: “Uncle, you nearly lost your chance to return to your home country.”

It’s the kind of dashcam footage that goes viral not because anything catastrophic happened, but because it so perfectly crystallizes everyday road drama: one person’s momentary misjudgment, another’s near-miss, and a chorus of online commentators ready with judgement. Typical replies under the clip included blunt lines like, “This is dangerous,” and, “He should have gotten off the bicycle and walked it across the road.” Others went further, generalising: “Almost all foreign cyclists are like this.” A few commenters took a more pragmatic tone and pointed out the unfortunate tendency for larger vehicles to be blamed if an accident does occur: “A bigger vehicle gets blamed when an accident happens—why don’t you do this in front of a truck?”

As entertaining as online outrage can be, the episode also raises solid legal and safety questions. Under Thai law, cyclists are permitted to use main roads but are expected to remain on the shoulder or in designated cycle lanes. Passengers riding on bicycles on main roads are prohibited. More specifically, the cyclist in this case could potentially be charged under Section 55(8) of the Land Transport Act for cycling in a way that obstructs traffic — an offence that carries a fine of up to 500 baht.

Pusana did not say whether he planned to press charges or follow up with authorities. That leaves the matter in a kind of social-media limbo: public shaming and debate without a clear legal resolution. Still, precedent exists. In Chiang Mai last year, two foreigners riding electric unicycles on a main road were fined 10,000 baht each after dashcams showed them traveling in the right lane rather than on the shoulder. They admitted their mistake, paid the fine, and publicly apologised to local residents and motorists. That case demonstrates that Thai enforcement can be strict and that ignorance of local rules isn’t always treated kindly.

Beyond legalities, this incident is a reminder about road etiquette and personal responsibility — whether you’re cycling, driving, or simply sharing the road. Here are a few practical tips that might have prevented the near-miss on Phuket’s Bypass Road:

• When in doubt, get off and walk. Crossing or moving across busy lanes on foot is slower but far safer than attempting to thread a bike through traffic.
• Use designated cycle lanes or the shoulder whenever possible. Main lanes are for motor vehicles; even skilled cyclists should avoid weaving into traffic.
• Signal clearly and early. A quick glance over the shoulder isn’t the same as a clear hand signal or a decisive move when it’s safe to do so.
• Understand local rules. Laws differ by country — and sometimes by province or city — so a quick read of local traffic rules can prevent a costly mistake.
• Respect large vehicles’ blind spots. Driving or cycling near trucks and pickups deserves extra caution; a near-miss with a smaller car is unsettling, but with a large truck it can be deadly.

Phuket’s online reaction — a mix of exasperation, humour and condemnation — is predictable. Social media often magnifies small moments into public morality plays, especially when a foreigner is involved in a local incident. That said, the footage also offers an opportunity for education: for foreigners visiting or living in Thailand, and for locals who share the roads with a diverse mix of users.

For his part, Pusana’s dashcam served its primary function: documentation. Whether the clip becomes the basis of a legal complaint, a teachable moment for cyclists and drivers, or just another viral social-media snippet depends on what happens next. If nothing else, it’s a reminder that a second or two of extra caution can keep you — and everyone around you — from making the news for the wrong reasons.

Road safety is hardly glamorous, but it matters. And when cameras catch a near-miss like this one on Phuket’s Bypass Road, the conversation that follows — however spicy — often points to one simple truth: a little common sense goes a long way.