Why do YOU think the Thais are such bad drivers?

[T.I.G.R.]

There are very simple answers to this we don't seem to ever think about:

No written traffic rules. Anyone that says they've seen them should put them on this forum as I've never been able to find any.

No driver training whatsoever. Young people watch a short film and are given a license after paying the fee. On the job training has never had a better example.

No traffic monitoring unless someone wants some extra cash for something.

No speed limit signs except for the ones in front of the Palace and the idiotic 80 kmph ones on the expressways.

So what can we Westerners expect? I used to get furious every time I drove anywhere. After a few years I finally got it into my thick skull I was expecting the impossible. If you don't learn how to drive properly or ever see any written rules what would anyone expect?

[Big Boy]

T.I.G.R., this forum has a sticky, which gives the Highway Code viewtopic.php?f=44&t=24868

[Nereus]

It has nothing whatsoever to do with training, education, law enforcement or any one of a multitude of other excuses related to driving.

It is a simple reflection of the general Thai attitude of: “ME FIRST”.

The biggest current example of this is the political situation. From there it extends to almost every aspect of day-to-day life in this country.

For sure there are other countries in the world where driving and road conditions are much worse than Thailand, but I do not know of another country that consistently claims to be the hub of the universe in all things from food to religion!

[Spitfire]

There is also no culture of driving here (in a modern sense) as pickups and cars only really started appearing in large numbers in the mid 80s. There are so many people driving here with little or no experience, training or knowledge of the skill and have only recently got behind a wheel of any description depite being in their 30s to 50s.

Agree with the other stuff like lack of enforcement and just brazen apethy/contempt towards everyone else (nothing seems to bring it out more visibly than when people are on the roads). You've also got stuff like thousands of under 15-year-olds zooming around plus the fairly sizable octogenarian (or close to) section still happily driving around without licenses, tax, insurance or awareness.

I mean.......things like being able to buy a car, drive it home (without a license) and then practice learning to drive on your own around small sois doesn't help either.

Generally, the locals don't give a damn about anything other than themslves and 'face'.

[dtaai-maai]

... but I do not know of another country that consistently claims to be the hub of the universe in all things from food to religion!

J'arrive à trouver un autre...

[Nereus]

... but I do not know of another country that consistently claims to be the hub of the universe in all things from food to religion!

J'arrive à trouver un autre...

Is that place still a country? I thought it was now a refugee camp for all that can arrivée.

[Gérard]

There are very simple answers to this we don't seem to ever think about:

No written traffic rules. Anyone that says they've seen them should put them on this forum as I've never been able to find any.

Can you read Thai ?

If you can read thai : ISBN 9-7450-3994-2 (120 bahts)
http://www.khiansapolice.com/e-learning ... page=p2522
http://www.kodmhai.com/m4/m4-4/H9/H-9.html

So, there are written rules, there are traffic signs, but nobody, or few people care about them...
This is "Amazing Thailand" !

[T.I.G.R.]

Thanks for the reference Big Boy. I had to chuckle when I got to Rule 67 though. I guess when they took down all of the speed signs they forgot about it.

For all of you who have nothing better to do than blame the stupid, ignorant, lazy, contemptible Thais maybe you should think about going back to wherever you came from. It must have been better than Thailand, yeah?

[crazy88]

Drunk in charge? Sieze vehicle
No licence? Sieze vehicle
No helmet sieze vehicle
Driving like a **** seize vehicle
etc the same

Sell vehicles at auction, nick half the money and declare the rest on the grounds of highway improvement and some random charitable causes so the office based staff get a chance to nick a bit as well. Train the police to stop using the iphone for Facebook and record traffic violations whilst sitting on their arses in the shade and send out massive fines. Only that won't work because central office won't share with the troops on the ground and/or Daddy and Mummy know people that can make the nasty ticket go away unless the officer doing his duty really wants a posting somewhere horrible with a severe lack of career opportunities.

Crazy 88

[Big Boy]

I know this thread is entitled, 'Why do YOU think the Thais are such bad drivers?', but now that high season is with us, many Farang visitors are making Thai Drivers look like experts.

If those bad Farang drivers are reading this, many will know who they are e.g.:

- There's the elderly gentleman with no sense of balance trying to ride a motorcycle. He manages to wobble about 10 yards at a time before having to stop (regardless of where on the road his vehicle has taken him), and put both feet on the ground to regain his balance.

- There are a couple of young lads who never wear helmets. Direction of traffic means nothing to them, they just jump on their bikes and move in whatever direction the bike is facing.

- I've been stuck behind a couple of cars at U-Turns for considerable periods. The Farang driver is petrified to move. This in turn encourages some bad Thai driving to get around them.

- There's the woman who drives her little car up Soi 88 doing 5KPH.

I could go on. Personally, I'll be glad when high season is over, and we can concentrate on Thai drivers. They may drive badly, but they are usually predictable.

One final thought - who says the Thai drivers are bad drivers? We are in Thailand, and the locals drive the Thai way. Yes, I feel that I can drive better than most Thais, but I am applying UK standards to my logic. My style of driving has been criticised by more than 1 Thai, so maybe we should remember where we are before we make derogatory comments.

[PeteC]

......- I've been stuck behind a couple of cars at U-Turns for considerable periods. The Farang driver is petrified to move. This in turn encourages some bad Thai driving to get around them.........

That happens a lot if the highway is 2 lanes or more. The inside track takes you to the fast lane, and the outside track to the slower lane(s). That method may actually be in the Thai guidelines, I don't know for sure. Pete

[buksida]

If you think the driving is bad here try Indonesia!

The major problem here is speed - everyone wants to get there 5 minutes ago, patience and courtesy just dont exist on Thai roads. Couple that with shiny new high powered trucks that every Steve and Somchai seems to have these days and you've got accident central.

[Big Boy]

I would love to drive courteously as I did in the UK, but motorcyclists here won't allow it. I know if I stop to let somebody cross the road, an idiot motorcyclist will come down the blindside and there could be an accident. Therefore my courteous side is left behind when I drive in Thailand.

[Dannie Boy]

I've driven and/or been driven in more than a dozen countries in the Middle East and Asia and the one thing they have in common is an absence of proper driving instruction, so they are never taught the basics of safe driving/road awareness. As other posters have mentioned, Thai drivers are not necessarily any worse than their counterparts in the region, just lacking the training that most Western drivers have been given. It's probably more necessary for us to modify our style of driving to fit in, than expect them to change to our style, but having eyes in the back of your head is definitely a plus.

[hhfarang]

I would love to drive courteously as I did in the UK, but motorcyclists here won't allow it. I know if I stop to let somebody cross the road, an idiot motorcyclist will come down the blindside and there could be an accident. Therefore my courteous side is left behind when I drive in Thailand.

I've been passed by 2 motorbikes simultaneously one either side of the car while watching one come at me head on on the wrong side of the road!