transam Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 5 hours ago, Airbagwill said: The OP's comments reflect much more on his/her own driving than that of anyone else. Eh................????............???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobbyXNorway Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 I have much the same experience here. Thais are the worst drivers in general I have ever seen anywhere in the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Dwyer Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 12 hours ago, Bournville said: Sorry about my mistake... The lane to my left was empty.. The lane that the truck should have taken to turn.. Left! What are the reasons for driving like this? I would like to know. This and the meaning of life 555 42 is the answer you seek !! ( according to the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy ) The answer to your first question is a lot more difficult to answer !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavisH Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 Plenty of idiots on the road yes. But one must learn to adapt. Expect the unexpected. I've covered close to 500K kms in Thailand and have never had a problem - noone has ever hit me and I've never hit anyone. I've had to do an emergency brake perhaps once or twice. Don't ever try to use any kind iod western thinking when driving - like "right of way". Try to force it here and you end up with problems. Just adapt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henryford Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 Happens to me all the time, when i am turning left and signalling left people undertake me on the left !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgrahmm Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 12 hours ago, Lacessit said: Thais appear to have very little spatial awareness. It doesn't matter if they are driving any vehicle, or on foot. I blame their poor road skills on the driving instructors, and a system that allows the more affluent to bribe their way to a licence. Constant threat awareness is required to drive in Thailand. Agree to an extent....I believe a big part of the problem is drivers that grew up only riding motorcycles - then graduated into car ownership.... They then apply their motorcycle "driving" mindset/skills/patterns to a car..... Many mistakes I see them making are the same driving techniques as motorcycle riders.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingofthemountain Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 8 hours ago, Will E Vormer said: ...to educate these idiots! Good luck with that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airbagwill Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 9 hours ago, BestB said: how is that? do tell Seriously? You know know why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airbagwill Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 15 hours ago, kingofthemountain said: you need to be aware at every milisecond this applies to driving, regardless of where you are! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricTh Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 15 hours ago, Bournville said: Sorry about my mistake... The lane to my left was empty.. The lane that the truck should have taken to turn.. Left! What are the reasons for driving like this? I would like to know. This and the meaning of life 555 The rules are: 1. You can only overtake on the right. If you overtake on the left and there is an accident, the overtaker is at fault. 2. The driver has the right of way going straight, anybody who wants to turn left or right should wait for the car going straight to pass first. This has always been my motto and I've not met any accidents. The problem is that we can't expect Thai drivers to follow the same rules as western countries. It is quite normal for Thai drivers to overtake and cut in front of you going into a petrol station without any warning. They don't have any patience for you to pass. Thus, I always slow down before any lanes or petrol stations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_smith237 Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 5 minutes ago, EricTh said: The rules are: 1. You can only overtake on the right. If you overtake on the left and there is an accident, the overtaker is at fault. 2. The driver has the right of way going straight, anybody who wants to turn left or right should wait for the car going straight to pass first. This has always been my motto and I've not met any accidents. The problem is that we can't expect Thai drivers to follow the same rules as western countries. It is quite normal for Thai drivers to overtake and cut in front of you going into a petrol station without any warning. They don't have any patience for you to pass. Thus, I always slow down before any lanes or petrol stations. Agreed... the rules of Thailand’s roads are actually very good. I suspect the Thai Land Traffic Act is a copy of the UK Highway Code. But, there is no point in being ‘dead right’... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airbagwill Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 9 hours ago, mike787 said: accept it. Not really, you need to understand it and adapt to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johng Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 7 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said: I suspect the Thai Land Traffic Act is a copy of the UK Highway Code. Yes a lot of it is very similar.... on overtaking if there are 2 or more lanes then overtaking on the left is ok. I like the turn left on red light if the way is clear..it can help traffic flow...pity about the roundabouts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airbagwill Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 18 minutes ago, EricTh said: The rules are: 1. You can only overtake on the right. If you overtake on the left and there is an accident, the overtaker is at fault. 2. The driver has the right of way going straight, anybody who wants to turn left or right should wait for the car going straight to pass first. This has always been my motto and I've not met any accidents. The problem is that we can't expect Thai drivers to follow the same rules as western countries. It is quite normal for Thai drivers to overtake and cut in front of you going into a petrol station without any warning. They don't have any patience for you to pass. Thus, I always slow down before any lanes or petrol stations. In Thailand the priority by default is TO THE LEFT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooked Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 Driving? How about stopping? Double parked and about a metre from the car at the kerb. Then: swing out the door without looking. For me, this embodies Thai driving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingofthemountain Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 30 minutes ago, Airbagwill said: this applies to driving, regardless of where you are! True but in Thailand is beyond the imaginable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookiescot Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 Thai people seem to have little patience when driving. I have almost had two head on crashes because of someone pulling out to overtake on the opposite side of the road right in front of me. Irritating thing is the road behind me was empty. All they had to do was wait about 5 seconds for the road ahead to be clear. It seems its my job to get out of their way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BestB Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 1 hour ago, Airbagwill said: Seriously? You know know why? I know you know what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rawairat Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 Alot of Thais are dangerous on the roads, but in Phuket I've seen a few farangs also , in the last month I've spotted 4 farangs on motorbikes on video calls, or I am assuming that as they hold the phone in front of them at arms length, occassionally showing the scenery around them. Beggars belief, maybe it is something in the bottled "water" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airbagwill Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 36 minutes ago, BestB said: I know you know what? sorry - - typo - "Seriously - You don't know why?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltire Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 Agree with many of you. Back home in Scotland many years ago, I used to LOVE driving. I'd drive for hours through country roads, along the coastline, and found this enjoyable and relaxing. You could chat with the wife, listen to music and still concentrate on the road ahead very easily. 'Let's go for a drive' is now no more. I drive only when I really have to. There is zero chance of that now. I am now pre-occupied with looking for escape routes to avoid the next potential head-on, especially at blind summits and bends. I constantly watch the 'escape' lane on the left as much as the road ahead. Driving is now tireing and no fun. My Thai licence is due for renewal in January and I am seriously thinking of not bothering. Unfortunately the alternative is minvans. The only thing i'd miss the car for would be for shopping at BigC/Makro which are both a 3 hour drive. So I guess i must continue playing Hilux-roulette a while longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airbagwill Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 25 minutes ago, Saltire said: Agree with many of you. Back home in Scotland many years ago, I used to LOVE driving. I'd drive for hours through country roads, along the coastline, and found this enjoyable and relaxing. You could chat with the wife, listen to music and still concentrate on the road ahead very easily. 'Let's go for a drive' is now no more. I drive only when I really have to. There is zero chance of that now. I am now pre-occupied with looking for escape routes to avoid the next potential head-on, especially at blind summits and bends. I constantly watch the 'escape' lane on the left as much as the road ahead. Driving is now tireing and no fun. My Thai licence is due for renewal in January and I am seriously thinking of not bothering. Unfortunately the alternative is minvans. The only thing i'd miss the car for would be for shopping at BigC/Makro which are both a 3 hour drive. So I guess i must continue playing Hilux-roulette a while longer. Again this is a reflection of your driving more than anything else. I really enjoy driving in Thailand and have been doing so for 20 years......... I listen to music and find great places to stop and enjoy. I have covered almost every part of the country. I am aware of the vagaries of driving in Thailand, and also aware that my probability of dying in my 4 wheeled vehicle is about the same as if I was driving in the USA. I've driven on 5 of the continents and certainly don't find Thailand the most challenging....I'm aware that anywhere in the world I could be involved in an incident or collision and I'm very aware of the pitfalls of driving environment in this country. THis includes the em urgency services especially...... I don't expect people to drive as they do in UK, Germany etc and I adapt to that. If I ended up feeling like some of the posters here, who are clearly overwhelmed, or shouting at there road users I would consider it's time for giving up, but not just here, I'd say I've lost the ability to drive properly anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyphodb Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 17 hours ago, Ceruhe said: I'm currently enjoying the seemingly increasing number of people either using their highbeams inner city or misaligned/way too bright headlights that are just as annoying. Nevermind the people who don't even turn on their lights and can't take the hint of a highbeam flash/light off and on that that may have forgotten something. They haven't forgotten anything, they think that they're saving their battery, I kid you not... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fittobethaied Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 To understand Thai driving habits you have to understand that a Thai driving a car usually started out as a young kid on a bicycle, then a teenager on a motorbike, and they drive the car the same way they drove their motorbikes...with no spatial awareness and with no fear of death or injury as the swerve in and out of traffic with total disregard for road rules. They play "chicken" and "bully", the bigger vehicle gets to go first and they can't "lose their face" because they have dark tint on their windows and you can't see who they are. "If you can't see me then I didn't offend you"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltire Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 6 minutes ago, Airbagwill said: Again this is a reflection of your driving more than anything else. I really enjoy driving in Thailand and have been doing so for 20 years......... I listen to music and find great places to stop and enjoy. I have covered almost every part of the country. I am aware of the vagaries of driving in Thailand, and also aware that my probability of dying in my 4 wheeled vehicle is about the same as if I was driving in the USA. I've driven on 5 of the continents and certainly don't find Thailand the most challenging....I'm aware that anywhere in the world I could be involved in an incident or collision and I'm very aware of the pitfalls of driving environment in this country. THis includes the em urgency services especially...... I don't expect people to drive as they do in UK, Germany etc and I adapt to that. If I ended up feeling like some of the posters here, who ae clearly overwhelmed, I would consider giving up, but not just here, I'd say I've lost the ability to drive properly anywhere. Yes I too have adapted to be more defensive, which makes it less enjoyable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingofthemountain Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 28 minutes ago, Airbagwill said: I am aware of the vagaries of driving in Thailand, and also aware that my probability of dying in my 4 wheeled vehicle is about the same as if I was driving in the USA.... I am sorry but all the statistics made your comment totaly wrong http://www.tiesmagazine.org/top-10-countries-with-the-highest-number-of-road-accidents/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airbagwill Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 5 minutes ago, kingofthemountain said: I am sorry but all the statistics made your comment totaly wrong http://www.tiesmagazine.org/top-10-countries-with-the-highest-number-of-road-accidents/ You are 100% wrong - you just don't understand the stats 80% re vulnerable road users - the stats you refer to are deaths - if you look the percentage of private 4-wheeled vehicles they are about the same as the national average for the USA. Furthermore the tertiary source you quote is also inaccurate as it is misquoting deaths per 100k as 'accidents" a totally different statistic. It is a problem with many people's opinions on road safety in Thailand is that they are unable to make head nor tail of the reality Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coremouse Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 18 hours ago, Lacessit said: Thais appear to have very little spatial awareness. It doesn't matter if they are driving any vehicle, or on foot. I blame their poor road skills on the driving instructors, and a system that allows the more affluent to bribe their way to a licence. Constant threat awareness is required to drive in Thailand. Some ago in Klong Thom saw a crazy motorbiker squeeze through closing gap between 3 busses... rode to 50 degree and barely made it unscathed. I think that's quite good spatial awareness????, but more of a reckless/disrespect about his (and others') life... ???? Constant threat awareness should be exercised whether Thailand or not, though Thailand is quite out of there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike787 Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 2 hours ago, Airbagwill said: Not really, you need to understand it and adapt to it. How to adapt? Understand it? Really? Hmmm....Ok! The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and expecting a different result....I guess I will try insanity since reason is not working...thank you for the insight and wisdom...i'll get back to ya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaRoadrunner Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 19 hours ago, seajae said: unfortunately too many thai road users think of themselves only They think? I find them slow and totally inept. Puts the fear of Buddha up them when Da Roadrunner comes through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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