Driving in Bangkok!

[Ian]

Sawadee Villager. Thanks for the rather light-hearted reply to my posting. 4-10 unlicense bikers were not in my unofficial survey rating. Thought that was a given.[/quote Hey Eric , no probs , but the simple truth is that what i described is an every day occurrence on Thailands roads, hence the horrific accident statistics(700 fatality's under the age of 15 per annum) , which if the truth is known you could safely double, as many accidents, even with loss of life go unreported , you could stand at the entrance to ANY soi , coming off a main road to comprehend the total stupidity unfurling before your very eyes.

In my village of about 500 people, we have a 50Baht whip round everytime someone gets totalled. As I was getting asked to contribute about every 3 months I suspected I was getting ripped off But having read previous comments and figures I guess perhaps not.

[polapatl]

I have nothing but praise for the Thai driving etiquette. Rotten 'driver' apples and corrupt cops are everywhere in most Asian countries. I am impressed with the courtesy and good driving manners. Say you want to get out from a sol to the main road, most of the time the cars on the main road will stop for you. Try that in Malaysia, Philippines or Indonesia. Cars will pick up speed to block your exit. Honing is another bad habits which I don't find too much here. Try Indonesia and Philippines, horn is a major body part of their car as they will horn at just about anything and just for the love of it. Malaysian drivers are known for their impatience and will beat the lights if they can. Don't be too harsh with Thai drivers. May not be fair to compare them with the Japanese or British drivers but in the context of Asia, I rate them high in driving etiquette.

I quite promptly would like to disagree with you Eric. Why do we settle for 2nd best when we should all aim to be the best in driving etiquette? Why would we want to compare ourselves with Indonesia or the Philippines? If you drove away from the scene of an accident in Australia and were caught, you would also be fined something pretty hefty.

[sbeckett]

Well, I'm driving here since almost one year now and my impressions are pretty much mixed. I experienced an incident in Minburi a couple of months ago -- It was already dark and we stood on the left lane and wanted to turn right (blinking was on) as out of sudden two kids on a motorbike without any lights crashed into the front of the car. Neither my wife nor me were able to recognize them. Both kids survived without any big injuries.

The best thing was as the insurance guy arrived: after he was finished with his pictures, he wanted me to declare that I was guilty to 50% since I have a car and a light and I should have seen them. If I don't, I would need to go to the police station which could be pretty bad for me. Excuse me? They had a) no light and b) were drunk (and no driver license and insurance as it turned out later), so WHY DO I have to say I am guilty as well?

Some of the kid's family members together with some of their friends came along and made stupid comments like "of course, he is a farang" and even lovely remarks like "if I see you driving I will hit your car and kill you".

Since our daughter was with us, and we already waited for more than three hours, I decided to sign the insurance papers and sort out things the next day.

However, when we arrived at our home, the insurance guy came to us and he wanted me to give him the signed copy of the insurance paper back. My wife and me looked surprised at each other and he said: "You are not guilty and I know that. You did nothing wrong. Take this one since it shows the truth."

I don't want to comment the western system, but the Thai system certainly has some space for improvements.

[Sean Moran]

Well, I'm driving here since almost one year now and my impressions are pretty much mixed. I experienced an incident in Minburi a couple of months ago -- It was already dark and we stood on the left lane and wanted to turn right (blinking was on) as out of sudden two kids on a motorbike without any lights crashed into the front of the car. Neither my wife nor me were able to recognize them. Both kids survived without any big injuries.

The best thing was as the insurance guy arrived: after he was finished with his pictures, he wanted me to declare that I was guilty to 50% since I have a car and a light and I should have seen them. If I don't, I would need to go to the police station which could be pretty bad for me. Excuse me? They had a) no light and b) were drunk (and no driver license and insurance as it turned out later), so WHY DO I have to say I am guilty as well?

Some of the kid's family members together with some of their friends came along and made stupid comments like "of course, he is a farang" and even lovely remarks like "if I see you driving I will hit your car and kill you".

Since our daughter was with us, and we already waited for more than three hours, I decided to sign the insurance papers and sort out things the next day.

However, when we arrived at our home, the insurance guy came to us and he wanted me to give him the signed copy of the insurance paper back. My wife and me looked surprised at each other and he said: "You are not guilty and I know that. You did nothing wrong. Take this one since it shows the truth."

I don't want to comment the western system, but the Thai system certainly has some space for improvements.

Minburi is a very gentle part of North=eastern Bangkok and it is a shame to see that people are killed there, but nevertheless, as you mentioned the injuries you inflicted were were luckily slight this time, and so let that be a warning to you and your wife.

You should both be give the option of two penalties:

A: One year in prison for each of you.

B: FIVE years of riding a bicycle. (NO CAR FOR YOU, you potential murderer!)

That would help those who have suffered from your negligence to believe that the World is a just place to commute in.


Welcome to the forum.

[bristolgeoff]

if you like driving in bumper to bumper traffic.then bkk is for you.i would like to have a go next time i visit.but the public transport system is getting better now

[Non Aligned Bangkok]

I don't really see the problems should be targeted on the drivers but rather the Law enforcements, it's a law that's been abused with a 100 or 200bth return and blind eyes were laid. One wants the drivers to behave on the road, tough laws should be enforced. If I'm the PM, the transport Minister will be the first one on my list that I'll sack as this guy is totally brainless, all he can come up with is putting all blames on alcohol where the true facts of most traffic accidents are cause by reckless driving, speeding, mishavior using the road.

The recent suggestion of banning alcohol during SongKrang is even rediculous, just simply compare the accidents with drunk driving and reckless driving and you'll get the answer. If anyone of you had sat on a long distance bus to your province, please tell me the speed that you felt sitting in it and all that twist and turns that throws you from side to side. One of the reasons that they speed is because either the transport company demands the numbers of trip they have to make in a period of time or their pay depends on how many trips they can make. This is the transport system in this country. Scary?

I have been driving in the UK and Europe for over 30 years and never received one bad driving or speeding ticket, yet I come to Thailand, where the standard of driving is completely awful, and i get ticketed all the time. For sure it is not the standard of my driving! it is because the police are corrupt and want money from a foreigner.

[Nukul]

Before I study my Dr degree overseas, I only drive in Thailand.
After years in a country where the law works, I see a number of problem.

Law enforcement or the lack of law enforcement is a major problem

Car prices is another. When we can afford to buy a car, not easy due to very high price,
We think we are part of the upper class where laws do not apply for us..

Divided society, laws are not uniform. Priveledged people for position or wealth believe the law does not apply to them. Law on the road must apply to everyone. Oversea, I was stopped and charged for ‘impersonating a policemen’, because I stop my car to give way to a car who should by the law give way to me. When I do this, explain the police, no one know I change the law, no one expect me to change the law, and this make accident.

Emgineer make the road to good standard, but police block the road to stop car from right turn and u turn so driver must travel long way to go to anywhere. Some road made for three car wide have line to make four car wide, making car too close. Traffic light use poor by Police, so traffic is too long too many car together.

road user.

[N0CIJ_Mark]

As a CDL driver here in the USA and have driven in Thailand, it's like night and day.
Now in the out-back, still have to watch out in both countries, Water Buffalo in Thailand and Cattle in The US.
Here is a link for a Driver's License Information Commercial Handbook here in the USA.
Driver's License Information Commercial Handbook: http://www.ksrevenue.org/dmvcomhandbook.htm

Who cares if its left hand or right hand driving. Just watch the intersection's...........

Here in the US driver's don't use signals all the time, unless the car was made without then, which one knows better.
Maybe just lazy finger's, or just stupid.

Driver's License Information Commercial Handbook, read it, it will make you smart........ I hope.

[villager]

As a CDL driver here in the USA and have driven in Thailand, it's like night and day.
Now in the out-back, still have to watch out in both countries, Water Buffalo in Thailand and Cattle in The US.
Here is a link for a Driver's License Information Commercial Handbook here in the USA.
Driver's License Information Commercial Handbook: http://www.ksrevenue.org/dmvcomhandbook.htm

Who cares if its left hand or right hand driving. Just watch the intersection's...........

Here in the US driver's don't use signals all the time, unless the car was made without then, which one knows better.
Maybe just lazy finger's, or just stupid.

Driver's License Information Commercial Handbook, read it, it will make you smart........ I hope.

Hey Mark, i was,nt aware that any day in the week in the USA you could observe 4 10 year old kids on ONE motor cycle ,riding on the WRONG side of the road in the dark with no lights , no license, no insurance , no safety helmets, with complete immunity from the police who look on with complete disdain.

[ardipi]

I would like to thank Thai drivers for never using the left-most lane on 3 and 4 lane highways all over Thailand. This gives me my personal fast lane and I have no complaints about driving in Thailand whatsoever.
Except maybe this: now that cheap Corollas and the likes for some reason have rear fog lights their drivers think they must be switched on at all times, even on clear starry nights....