Prayers won't get you safety on the roads

COMMENTARY

Prayers won't get you safety on the roads

Published: 30 Nov 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Even though I am not a gambler, my last trip to Siem Reap in Cambodia, through the Aranyaprathet checkpoint which is just a stone's throw from a casino complex, made me feel very much like I was taking a gamble.

My "gambling" had nothing to do with any of Poi Pet's casinos, however. Instead, it was about taking the road from Bangkok to the border town in Sa Kaeo province.

Anyone would probably have felt like I did if they took a public van, a popular choice with travellers.

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tomb
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Discussion 7 : 30 Nov 2012 at 09.197
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Very true and pointed article about the lack of safety and dangers of vans.

However, I'd like to point out that the blame is not only the driver's. there were 15 or so passengers in the van but apparently NONE of them spoke up to tell the driver to take it easy!

As a paying customer you should stand up for your rights, not let the silly traditions like don't get in an argument and avoid loss of face at all costs get in the way of your safety!
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dinosr
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Discussion 6 : 30 Nov 2012 at 09.156
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Victor ... my GPS gives real time speed that is rarely more than 1kph different from my car speedometer. Trucking companise around the world have been using GPS to monitor location and vehicle speed. The refresh rates are high enough that weaving has little effect on the overall speed reporting.
But I do agree that safety is of little concern the the drivers and owners of most transportation means in Thailand.
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sibley
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Discussion 5 : 30 Nov 2012 at 09.125
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Only yesterday I witnessed another crash between a car and a motor bike fortunately no one was badly hurt, but some thing needs to be done about motor bikes going the wrong way down the street and on the pavements, it is crazy just crazy and what do the police do nothibg just stand and watch then do it.
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Victor
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Discussion 4 : 30 Nov 2012 at 07.034
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What's written here had been going on for years and years, and it is getting worse even with the use of GPS which is, by the way, quite useless to prevent traffic accident because speed can only be measured in a straight line from point A to point B, when in real life the road (and the van) can be weaving in every which way. Safety is not the priority in this country.
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robins
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Discussion 3 : 30 Nov 2012 at 05.573
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Like so many other people, you risked your life by silently allowing this driver to be reckless instead of demanding he slow down and calling the police emergency number 191 if he refused. The Thai culture of avoiding confrontation whenever possible really is charming, but sadly carried to extreme it can be deadly.
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nicholas
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Discussion 2 : 30 Nov 2012 at 05.332
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This comment accurately shows the sheer incompetence of VAN drivers ( most of them ) it is the same for the vans that take school children ( who by the way have no other option ) . Van drivers should be subject to stricter licensing and safety rules as WE the passengers are paying to travel from A to B safely, the same can be said for bus drivers as well.
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whathe
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Discussion 1 : 30 Nov 2012 at 03.221
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Heres a "concrete measure". Put a slab of concrete in each van so it doesnt go over 100kms per hour. Are these guys paid by the km or by the hour ??
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