It makes no difference whatsoever what the speed limit is when you get one asshole siplor driver swerving into the fast lane doing 57kph trying to overtake another asshole siplor driver doing 55kph.
Just done over a thousand klicks on Thai roads and these are by far the most hazardous things out there - far worse than the Ford Ranger (the new Fortuna) drivers doing 150 everywhere.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
The one issue with the Ford Ranger or Fortuner driver doing 150, is that he won’t stick in the outside lane and will dodge from one lane to another to keep going, with the risk that an “unaware” driver will get caught out
I don't disagree with hazards caused by many Fortuners and Rangers (basically all SUVs and pick ups can be included). However, I find the most frustrating trait is a convoy of buses in the outside lane, often under police escort (FFS ) travelling at a crawl. It only takes one slowish vehicle inside of them, and the tailback goes back for miles. You can maybe undertake the first 5, encounter the legitimate slower vehicle and sit there while the 5 buses you've undertaken go past you, and you start again. I've played this game for over an hour before.
It will be interesting, with the new law to see if the police actually comply and escort these convoys in a lane more suited to their speed.
buksida wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 10:56 am
It makes no difference whatsoever what the speed limit is when you get one asshole siplor driver swerving into the fast lane doing 57kph trying to overtake another asshole siplor driver doing 55kph.
Just done over a thousand klicks on Thai roads and these are by far the most hazardous things out there - far worse than the Ford Ranger (the new Fortuna) drivers doing 150 everywhere.
Seems that according to you all drivers are assholes, except you. A wonderful stupid comment .
europtimiste wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 3:08 pm
Seems that according to you all drivers are assholes, except you. A wonderful stupid comment .
I'm not going to take the bait. Driving skills in Thailand are well known around the world and even within Thailand the view is the same from their own officials.
Yes, I drove to Ratchaburi and back yesterday. Nothing changes. Sunday afternoons are particularly bad until the Bangkok junction.
Usual thing, SUV and pick-up drivers thinking they own the road, bus convoys (not as bad at the moment, but still exists with shorter convoys) and Somchai driving his 1950s pick-up at 40KPH in the outside lane.
I actually said to my son about the outside lane minimum lane speed limit yesterday. If you're doing the correct speed and get slowed down by Somchai, who will be in the wrong if stopped. Somchai or the person with the white skin.
Actually encountered my first road block for months coming home last night. Outside the palace. Police and army. Not actually stopping anybody, but making traffic slow right down, and shining torches into the car as if looking for somebody.
buksida wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 7:38 am
Eurotwat is clearly someone that spends all his time in a bar, and none of it on the road.
Of course i am a bar lover, but since 25 years I drive all around Thailand, Malaysia, Laos. I don't know how many km. If you don't like the Thai behavior on the roads, don't drive. You have to adapt to the Thai style driving and not ask 66 million Thais to adapt to your driving style. In EU the driving style is also different in many countries. You will not drive in Spain, Italy and Greece same as in Germany or Switzerland.
OK, this is the most recent figure I can find, and I think it gives 3,692 reasons a day why we shouldn't be adapting to driving in Thailand, but they should adapting to Western standards.
To turn a blind eye to 90 fatalities a day, and just say we should simply adapt is madness. There is clearly something seriously wrong, but the saying goes, 'There's none so blind as those who won't see'
As much as we’d all like to see Thai drivers adopt western style driving habits (the sensible ones that is), unfortunately it’s not going to happen, definitely not in the short term and probably not in our lifetime!! The only advice I can give, is assume all other drivers are potentially dangerous and drive accordingly
You will not drive in Spain, Italy and Greece same as in Germany or Switzerland.
What a load of crap. I've driven in all those countries as well as many more around the world. Thailand is near the bottom of the list when it comes to driving competence. Even the Thais agree with that.
Why do you think that the police are sent to Malaysia to learn to drive before they're entrusted with the 'highway cars'.
If I was to blow my own trumpet, I'm a qualified advanced driver. I passed that test in the UK so I believe I'm qualified to give a reasonable critique.
Damn! I said I wasn't going to bite and I just did.
Last edited by HHTel on Mon Mar 15, 2021 11:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
I don't think these are a single day's figures, as the note across the middle makes clear. Being a Monday report it probably includes weekend figures that have been reported late.