Popular Post Lite Beer Posted April 1, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted April 1, 2013 Thailand to change from left to right hand drivingRight hand countries in red, left hand countries in blueBANGKOK: -- The Thai government is proposing a change from driving on the left side of the road to driving on the right side of the road, the department of public roads has announced. The proposal will be send to parliament in June and the law will take affect on 1 January 2014, with the turning of the year.According to Tongchai Matchamonton, spokesman for the department, the change is being proposed to better prepare for ASEAN community and meant to strengthen the economy. “Most of the ASEAN member states already drive on the left hand side and with moreopen trade between the countries this will make transports and logistics more easy, especially with the neighboring countries Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.Also important is that China drives on the right and the change will make transport to and from the greater Mekong region easier. This is an important step forwards for our economy. Already Thailand is planning its rail transport to have the same rail gauge as neighboring countries. Driving on the same side of the road is only the next logical step in order for Thailand to become a transport hub for Asia.”The spokesman expects that the change would be without major problems or accidents.“We will inform the people beforehand with a campaign. “Our successes with reducing the number of accidents during holidays like Songkran proofs we can do the transition safely. The change will take place during the new year as at that time there are already a lot of check-points all over the country. They will see to it that the change will be made without incident”.It is also hoped that the change will increase the safety of tourist, as most tourist are used to drive on the left. The department confirmed that many accidents with tourists happen because they go out and drink too much. When they get on their motorcycle they cause accidents because they drive on the wrong side of the road out of habit. This is being confirmed by Phuket police.The government will demand that car manufacturers only sell new cars with the steering wheel on the left and is busy with consulting the major car manufacturers. It already agreed with the Chinese car manufactures' that their new to open plant in Thailandwill only produce cars for driving on the left.As of 1 January 2014 all cars sold in Thailand will need to have the steering wheel on the left side. Old normal cars can keep their steering wheel on the right, but owners cannot sell these cars. For that the car must first be refitted with the steering wheel on the left.Per 1 January 2020 all cars in Thailand, including old cars, must be refitted. However busses, trucks and taxis will be exempted as they are driven by professional drivers who can handle their vehicle safely.The spokesmen further announced that the government is negotiating with car manufacturers in Thailand to set a fair price for refitting cars, so consumers will not pay too much to adjust their car. Under the plan owners of a car not older than 5 year will get half of the price for refitting back from the government through their personal income tax, so they don’t have to spend too much money.-- 2013-04-01 23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 A rather too obvious April fool posting. Couldn't you be more subtle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay1980 Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 happy april fools day? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post oldsailor35 Posted April 1, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted April 1, 2013 HELL! thats gonna be dangerous . Anyhow, a large % of them drive on the wrong side already. 46 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siampolee Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Come on folks, April 1ST. this day, Cabbage looking I may be green I am not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Songhua Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 LoL. Good one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeverSure Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 HELL! thats gonna be dangerous . Anyhow, a large % of them drive on the wrong side already. Dang, beat me to it. So what will change? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bigbamboo Posted April 1, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted April 1, 2013 To change sides overnight would be too much of a culture shock. They should follow the Irish proposal and introduce it gradually. 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ThaidDown Posted April 1, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted April 1, 2013 Yes, too obvious. If you had said that on even dates you drive on the right and on odd dates you drive on the left, then it would have sounded perfectly logical and I would have believed it completely. 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loptr Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Err, someone check the date. This isn't going to happen... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddy B Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Happy April 1st!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 The last country to change was, I believe, Sweden in the late 60s. Italy changed between the wars, and in typical Italian fashion, changed gradually. Cities with trams were allowed to continue driving on the left (Rome was one) provided they posted signs at the city limits. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunPer Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 »It is also hoped that the change will increase the safety of tourist, as most tourist are used to drive on the left.«Great – why then change to drive on the right? Ops – It's April 1st today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrendsd Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Always some that will fall for stories like this, anybody know the date today? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post otherstuff1957 Posted April 1, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted April 1, 2013 My next car.... 28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ricardo Posted April 1, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted April 1, 2013 So in future, when I want to drive Thai-style against-the-flow, on my local dual-carriageway, I'll have to drive on the Left ? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
assayer Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Another very good April Fools joke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratcatcher Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Well done Lite Beer!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doggie888888 Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Happy April 1st 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisY1 Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 April 1st....seems even the Thai Government has a humorous side! Can you imagine if this was real??...<deleted>..!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBlake Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 april fools Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantbkk Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 If it wasn't for the date it's totally believable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flightcrew1 Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 LOL!! got me!! April fool on me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SolarGolf Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 April Fools! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrantSmith Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 BOOM! April Fools kids... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post IMA_FARANG Posted April 1, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted April 1, 2013 And today is the 1st of April. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KBAA Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 APRIL 1 FOOOOOOOLS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurentbkk Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 A very funny joke on April's fool day .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristopherKorp Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Isn't it April Fool's Day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Fairfield Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Good one! The best April fools I've seen so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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