A Japanese tourist was allegedly attacked by a local motorcyclist in a road rage incident in Pattaya.

Keiji, 57, was riding along the Thai 'Sin City' on his motorbike when a Thai rider allegedly cut in front of him, early morning on October 4.

The pair had a heated row before the Thai man reportedly punched Keiji in the face and fled.

Police arrived at the scene near Soi Chaloem Phrakiat 13 after being notified at around 4:30 am local time. They found the holidaymaker bleeding from a broken nose bridge. Nearby was his blue Honda Scoopy.

Rescue volunteers treated the injured man at the scene, but he refused to go to hospital or file a police complaint.

Onlookers said the suspected attack was sparked after the two motorcycles nearly collided.

A female witness said: 'The Thai rider punched the tourist in the face, causing him to fall to the ground before escaping on his bike.'

A Pattaya City Police Station spokesman said: 'The injured person has not yet filed a complaint. If he wishes to pursue the matter, he should go to the Pattaya City Police Station to meet with investigators. The motive remains unknown, but it is suspected to be a traffic dispute.'

Road rage is a common problem in Thailand, where aggressive driving and a lack of enforcement often lead to violent confrontations on the roads.

Thailand has one of the world's worst road safety records. Ministers have set the goal of reducing fatalities from 32.7 deaths per 100,000 people to 12 per 100,000 people by the year 2027.