A video of several stunts in Patong was this week shared by the ‘Phuket Newshawk’ Facebook page, showing tourists performing wheelies, revving engines and even riding face down on their motorcycles along Phra Barami Rd, near the Patong-Kamala intersection.
The incidents reportedly took place on Tuesday (Feb 11), at different times from the afternoon until late at night.
The clip, which has sparked outrage online, led to widespread calls for stricter enforcement against reckless riding.
Social media users expressed frustration over the lack of intervention from authorities, highlighting safety concerns for both tourists and residents.
Many urged officials to take immediate action, with comments such as: “Even with children around, they ride dangerously without a care”; “There should be police stationed on the streets day and night to prevent this”; “Confiscate the motorcycles and impose heavy fines on offenders” and “A tourist city must ensure safety for everyone”.
Critics argued that lax enforcement encourages such behaviour, with some suggesting that local examples of reckless riding may be influencing foreign visitors.
Others voiced frustration that authorities seem more focused on benefiting from tourism than enforcing the law, warning that the situation is worsening.
Local residents and business owners are now calling on government officials, including the local MP for the Patong area, to address the issue. Many believe stricter penalties and increased police presence are necessary to prevent potential accidents and maintain Phuket’s reputation as a safe tourist destination.
Police have yet to respond publicly to the growing concerns, but with mounting pressure from the community, residents hope action will be taken before a serious accident occurs.
However, a bright point this week was Thalang Police Station this week taking action against a Spanish man for “driving without regard to the safety or inconvenience of others” after he rode his motorcycle across the median strip on Thepkrasattri Rd on Wednesday (Feb 12)
The man, named by police only as ‘Mr Hamza’, decided to change direction from the northbound side of Thepkasattri Rd to instead head south. Instead of riding to a U-turn point, he rode his motorbike across the central reservation separating the northbound and southbound lanes.
Thalang Police, after seeing a video of the incident, deemed the driving as dangerous as it “could cause a traffic accident and be dangerous to other drivers on the road”.
Officers tracked down Mr Hamza and on Thursday (Feb 13) charged him accordingly, police reported.