It scared the hell out of the wife and I. Teach your kids good about traffic here and that being late is better than being dead.
PeteTale of Warning
Tale of Warning
I've felt ill and shaky all day after seeing an accident this morning. 5th grade girl at my daughter's school (Rayong) crossing the street. Small pick up truck had right turn signal on. Girl thought turning into the Thai noodle place we were seated, but he was turning into the next road beyond the restaurant where the school is. The girl was late for class and ran right out in front of him. Threw her a good 5 meters and broke the front headlight and dented the trim. The girl rolled and then just sat up in shock. Within 15 minutes she was up but limping badly in pain and off to hospital for a check and xrays. Her young, elastic bones probably prevented worse damage.
It scared the hell out of the wife and I. Teach your kids good about traffic here and that being late is better than being dead. Pete
It scared the hell out of the wife and I. Teach your kids good about traffic here and that being late is better than being dead.
PeteGovernments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
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chopsticks
- Guru
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Yes, I hope so too. We see the Mother everyday as there are two more younger kids in the family. Why this older one was not with her and her siblings as usual this morning on the walk to school I don't know. I hope I can report back good news when we get to talk to her. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
The/A highway code is a western concept that has evolved in the west over years in societies that have a long culture of driving. It is not just Thailand that has this sort of regular chaos on their roads but pretty much all Asian countrys, and many other places too. These countrys have really only had large scale personal motorised transport for 2-3 decades. Safety and common sense, in a western fashion, is not really compatable to these places or cultures, especially when they all suddenly can control a mechanical vehicle for their own ends and until recently they were unaware of it's existance or it was the preserve of the rich or elite. Kids with new toys springs to mind.
Many of the Thais, whether on bike or pickup/car, often rely on the fact that the other person will simply not want to cash into them, hence the rude way so many drive. This, and a few other cultural influences like face/religion/nurture etc, encourage this sort of risk taking behaviour or encourage them to be oblivious to danger.
I think, still only 50% of bike riders wear a helmet and a good percentage of that 50% are wearing the plastic free one you get with the bike that only protects you from the police.
Anyone ever seen the "theory" side of gaining a drivers license here.
Woeful hardly does it credit.
The girl in Pete's story is lucky.
Many of the Thais, whether on bike or pickup/car, often rely on the fact that the other person will simply not want to cash into them, hence the rude way so many drive. This, and a few other cultural influences like face/religion/nurture etc, encourage this sort of risk taking behaviour or encourage them to be oblivious to danger.
I think, still only 50% of bike riders wear a helmet and a good percentage of that 50% are wearing the plastic free one you get with the bike that only protects you from the police.
Anyone ever seen the "theory" side of gaining a drivers license here.
Woeful hardly does it credit. The girl in Pete's story is lucky.
There's more concerning the mentality after an accident as well. This morning the driver, passengers of the truck and other bystanders were immediately trying to get the girl back up onto her feet. I had to scream at the top of my lungs in my best Thai to leave her be as no one knew the extent of any injuries, spine problems, broken bones etc. Just damn foolish, uneducated reaction.
This is the second time. The first was in Pattaya (story on here somewhere) man on an MC, slipped on loose stones going fast and went head first into a concrete road divider. I was there in 2 minutes as in front of my house but by then they were trying to get him up as well. He was unconscious and bleeding from everywhere. No idea what happened. They eventually took him away in a rescue truck. What the hell are these people thinking!?
Of course no ambulance this morning, or even a rescue truck. They had no choice but for a neighbor to transport her to the hospital, but at least they waited until the girl felt better, tested her leg strength and was able to walk to the car. She seems lucky as apparently when she rolled she somehow kept her head up. Only bleeding was legs, arms, shoulder etc. Pete
This is the second time. The first was in Pattaya (story on here somewhere) man on an MC, slipped on loose stones going fast and went head first into a concrete road divider. I was there in 2 minutes as in front of my house but by then they were trying to get him up as well. He was unconscious and bleeding from everywhere. No idea what happened. They eventually took him away in a rescue truck. What the hell are these people thinking!?
Of course no ambulance this morning, or even a rescue truck. They had no choice but for a neighbor to transport her to the hospital, but at least they waited until the girl felt better, tested her leg strength and was able to walk to the car. She seems lucky as apparently when she rolled she somehow kept her head up. Only bleeding was legs, arms, shoulder etc. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Good news to end this one. Girl has a slightly fractured femur and a lot of bruises and bumps but otherwise OK. Pete 
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
