Life as Bos in Thailand (2): The Thai is not a master of traffic
Admittedly, some farang also make a mess of it in Thai traffic. Away from the European home front with sometimes stifling rules, they behave like cowboys on the road in Thailand. They do everything that is forbidden in their home country, from cutting and speeding to riding a motorcycle or scooter with a bicycle helmet, construction helmet or even an old helmet from the Waffen-SS.
But the average Thai beats everything on the road. Just drive 120 on a road where 60 is allowed. Swinging from one lane to another, of course without a flashing light. Ditto when turning, afraid to wear out the turn signal or just laziness?
On the bike I regularly hear a tearing pick-up approaching me from behind. I then drive as far to the left as possible, but still regularly expect to fall victim to a power-hungry young man who thinks he is the king of the road. And of course he doesn't care about such a stupid cyclist who has to breathe in the black diesel clouds because he simply wants to compensate for his repressed inferiority complex.
One half of the driving Thai does not have a driver's license, the other half has bought one and has no idea of traffic rules. A continuous white line in their eyes the shaft of an arrow that takes you somewhere. You wear a helmet to avoid getting a fine, not for your own safety. And if you wear one as a driver, the wife and children have to save themselves if they fly through the air after a collision. Ear glued to the smartphone and the buckle loosened, so that your head faces a different direction than your helmet in the event of a collision.
Saint Hermandad is hardly seen on the road, at most on a scooter and of course without a helmet. Because what's a cop without a hat? At most, they post in fixed places, preferably shaded. You don't wear a helmet? 200 baht and then cheerfully drive on. Someday someone will come up with the idea of holding the motorbikes and scooters until the drivers come back with helmets.
No driver's license? Also a fine and drive through. At most, the agent checks whether the compulsory basic insurance has been paid, but often not even that. The police force is a kind of pyramid scheme, where the ordinary cops collect money for their superiors.
Many foreign tourists rent a scooter for the time they are in Thailand. They forget that a motorcycle license is required and that basic insurance covers a maximum of 50.000 baht damage to the other party. That's not much (1250 euros)! The travel insurance then pays nothing in the event of an accident because the foreigner is in fact driving around uninsured and often without a driver's license.
A rental scooter is never really insured. And that in the idiotic Thai traffic. How stupid can you be!
And the legally required Thai insurance only pays the damage to the occupants of the other party. NOT the material damage to the other party's vehicle. And then, if you want to be able to claim that insurance, you DO have to show a valid international motorcycle license….
You can only buy additional insurance if you own a motorcycle, but you must also be in possession of a valid International or Thai motorcycle license.
Old article, but this comment “And then, if you want to be able to claim on that insurance, you MUST show a valid international motorcycle license….” is not correct. This insurance, Porobor, always pays out, driver's license or no driver's license.
And Dutch health insurance also covers, of course, up to a maximum Dutch level.
But even if they have a driver's license, which you earn by watching a video for 1/2 a day, then answering questions in a computer, until you have 45 points out of 50 questions. Then the next day on a closed circuit, make 1 lap the size of a stamp. Successful, then you can participate in the big world. If you failed, you drive home by motorcycle or car and come back after 3 days.
Furthermore, all Salengs (motorcycle with sidecar) are illegal and not insured. If a car is 6 years old or older, it must be inspected (APK or TUV), but it is not certain, there are pick-ups with wood or fruit, the chassis of which is broken, but are still running. Mandatory is front lighting, there is no mention of rear. A helmet is mandatory on the motorcycle, can be a construction worker helmet or a bicycle helmet.
Michel, may I say that I find this [paraphrase a bit cheap. You are undoubtedly concerned about the large number of asylum seekers. That's your right. But to use a story about traffic in Thailand for that seems inappropriate to say the least.
Dear Michel,
I do not know where you live in the Netherlands, but only the fact that we in the Netherlands have clearly fewer road deaths to regret indicates that the Netherlands is clearly doing better in terms of road safety. types of commenters, namely those with an honest opinion, and those farangs, who have lost all reality due to their Thailand fever, and try to justify everything with the well-known rose-colored glasses. So that I end with the same 2 words, HOW STUPID CAN YOU BE ?
Driving a Thai car has nothing to do with whether or not you have a driver's license.
Anticipation is a word they have never heard of.
I sit next to the driver and the road is narrow. A car is coming from the other side. She passes a widening but just continues with the result that it is extremely difficult to pass each other. This is just one example and I could go on and on. If the mentality of the Thai does not change, this will always be the case, I fear, and I then decide not to get in and go with my own car.
More than 500 deaths per year, on Koh Samui alone. I lived there for 4,5 years and you heard the ambulance siren every day.
I always say: “They just do whatever” And also in traffic!
No, this number is made out of thin air, and can be roughly divided by 10.
Dear namesake,
Even though there are many accidents here in Thailand, partly because the roads have to deal with both scooters and cars, your story does not apply to the Isan where 80 km/h on the highway is already quite a lot. And when I ride my bike on a two-lane road, the overtaking traffic always drives in the right lane, while I still neatly keep to the far left. And so I can give more examples.
No, I don't have rose colored glasses, I just live in the right place in Thailand. And of course fools live there, just like in the Netherlands.
I (unfortunately?) missed Michel's reaction.
An illustrative (?) example from the Isan:
We (my wife) run a modest fishing pond that attracts quite a few anglers. Unfortunately, a traffic accident occasionally occurs in our parking lot. Fortunately, only three in the past four years:
1. Someone drove into a parked car.
2. A car hit a sliding door with quite a lot of speed, which was therefore in the creases.
3. A car drove into a boulder marking a parking space.
All three cases involved the same man, a farang (a 74-year-old Swede). And that while 99% of our visitors are Thai. I don't think calculations are necessary.
The same Swede, for example, also claims that he sees better in the dark without glasses than with them and he does not use those glasses (a bit stubborn?). He has also been chased by a Thai in his car for 2-3*, while that is actually unthinkable here. He has also had (caused) several fairly serious accidents and also hospitalized scooter riders. I explained to him that for him (with only a few years to live) it is cheaper to sell the car and just take a taxi. However, he thinks a taxi is too clumsy and risks are part of life. And that while he drives a heavy pick-up and the Thai on a scooter (what risk does he mean, I wonder).
After the third time insisting that he should take a taxi, he understood that he was no longer wanted here in his car. So he won't come again.
I have been coming to Thailand for 16 years now but have never seen a middle finger raised or excited Thai in traffic. It is here to take priority and give priority. As Dutch people, we can take a little more of this. If you make a mistake here or do something wrong in the eyes of other road users, you will immediately get all kinds of curses thrown at you
Video of a busy evening in Soi Buakhao. As you can see and hear, people beat each other's brains, curses are shouted at each other, they honk exuberantly, they reprimand each other, they try to hinder those who do not follow the rules as much as possible and to scare the hell out of them. hunting, everyone is on their right, driving is way too fast, it is life-threatening and the atmosphere is definitely threatening and intimidating. 🙂
.
https://youtu.be/B1Ocyl-NXUU
Dear French, you should watch Thai TV almost every night you see excited Thai traffic participants.
Or watch video recordings taken with a dashcam on thaivisa.com regularly, be it attacking each other with large knives or even with firearms.
Aggressiveness in traffic is gradually increasing here .
Have already gained personal experience with this myself.
Jan Beute.
After 14 years in Pattaya I have to say… I could have been dead 5 times already.
I always cross where there are traffic lights.. when you cross here you have to watch out because most Thais drive through a red light.
Even the farangs do the same…I almost got run over by a farang…he said…I hadn't seen you and neither had the red light!
Still happening this week in Pattaya.
A Russian on a rented Kawasaki 900 with a Thai girlfriend on the back of the piljoin .
A Korean tourist was hit and killed at a crossing point , killing himself and his girlfriend .
In addition, the rented bike was not even insured.
Jan Beute.
We never come to Zandvoort on the circuit. but live on the tapraya Road. drink in the evening
Please have a delicious espresso. What you see passing by (flying) everyone pales
Zandvoort. If you don't understand this yet, come and have a look and entrance is free.
Regards Theo
The young people have been put on the front of the motorbike since childhood. No helmet, no protection and go with that banana. When you grow up like this you know how things will go. There is no more land to sail with. At a very young age already independently on the motorbike through the city, encouraged by mom and dad because they don't know any better or don't want to know any better. Doesn't really matter that much either. Driving license who needs that. The vehicle really drives without such a piece of paper in your pocket. Insurance who needs that. The time you get caught just pay the ticket and then it's free to do this again. One does something and of course not all, because I never generalize and if I do then the first rule comes into effect again. Nothing human is alien to me. Every day with my wife through traffic and the situations can no longer be counted that there are accidents and certainly near accidents. Aggressive behavior galore. Continuing to drive after a collision is also common practice. I had my first car sprayed five times in five years and sometimes dents because of all the damage caused by the great unknown. My new truck yesterday again provided with scratch damage at the front by some miscreant. The culprit is in the cemetery. Am already saving for a paint job because the car is still too new to leave it like that. It is a prayer without end.
It is best to drive an old pickup truck or car that is in good technical condition.
Believe me, I drive more relaxed in the traffic here than with a brand new car.
Scratch or dent no problem.
And if you want to print something in between in a file, let them come.
The Thais are also afraid of scratches and dents on their top - financed new Fortuners and Pajeroos .
That's why I drive my 16-year-old Mitsch Strada more during the week than my new Ford Focus.
Jan Beute.
Last week, a car stopped in front of a zebra crossing in the right lane, and the motorcyclist who was driving shortly behind it crashed into it. I saw the young man fly, fortunately without much trouble, but he was taken to the ambulance for examination. as usual the helmet loose on the head. Extensive damage to the scooter. (plastic).
This morning by bike I have to turn right. Stick my arm out as far as possible as a turn signal, lucky I still have my arm now. no one makes any effort to slow down, on the contrary, they accelerate to get over the intersection before the red light turns red again. Then I drove myself to the intersection and waited until it was green again.
You are also not allowed to point (extend your arm) in Thailand, except to point out an apprehended offender to the police. So next time get off and wait until the road is clear.
And the motorcyclist can sue the suto driver because ... in Thailand you are not allowed to slow down or stop unexpectedly. Because then you endanger traffic coming from behind. That's a traffic rule.
How did you get that wisdom? And how does a driver indicate that he is going to overtake, brake, stop, turn, etc. if he is on a vehicle without light signals? Shout loudly or make a wai and do what in the hope of blessing? 5555
—
Thai land traffic act 1979:
Section 36 (500B)
[When a driver is to turn the vehicle, let another vehicle to overtake, change traffic lane, reduce speed or stop the vehicle, he shall display hand signal (Section 37) or light signal (Section 38). When the condition doesn't permit the visibility of hand signals (like at night), he must use the light signal.
The driver must display the hand signal or light signal not less distance than 60m before turning the vehicle, changing traffic lane, or stopping the vehicle.
The hand signal or light signal must be visible to other drivers at not less distance than 60m.]
Section 37 (500B)
[How to make hand signals:
a. to reduce speed, …
b. to stop a vehicle, …
c. to let another vehicle pass, …
d. to turn the vehicle right,…
e. to turn the vehicle left, …]
In case that the automobile has its steering wheel at the left-hand side, the driver shall use light signals instead of hand signals.
—
Source:
http://driving-in-thailand.com/land-traffic-act/#03.3
And also in the Netherlands you are not allowed to endanger other traffic by, for example, suddenly stepping on the brakes without a valid reason:
“Article 5 of the Road Traffic Act:
It is prohibited for anyone to behave in a manner that causes or may cause danger on the road or that hinders or may hinder traffic on the road.”
See: https://ak-advocaten.eu/een-kop-staartbotsing-wie-aansprakelijk/
Section 37. Hand Signals.
1. If a driver wants to brake, he/she must extend the right arm at shoulder level and move it up and down repeatedly.
2. If the driver wants to stop, he/she must extend the right arm at shoulder height and point the forearm at right angles upwards with the palm stretched.
3. If the driver wants to overtake, he/she must extend the right arm at shoulder height and repeatedly move his hand forward.
4. If the driver wants to turn right or move one lane to the right, he/she must extend the right arm at shoulder height.
5. If the driver wants to turn left or move one lane to the left, he/she must extend the right arm at shoulder height, make a fist and move to the left repeatedly.
Source: asean-law.senate.go.th
I always let my love drive me in Thailand. Me as a passenger on the back of the motorcycle or on the co-driver's seat. A true lady in traffic, no fussing but also no rush. One of the first times together I asked her about a number of traffic rules: what does that yellow/white curb mean (no parking, loading/unloading is allowed for a while), what does that red/white curb mean (no parking, not even for a few seconds) , who has priority? She rattled off the answers like it was yesterday she got her driver's license. Never made any strange maneuvers. Excellent anticipation of the other traffic that was regularly in violation. Never had a clenched buttocks or sweated carrots. On the road with that sweet darling was a pleasure.
I always try to be a gentleman in traffic here, but that is not always possible.
And why is it not always possible, because the thai make traffic violations where they have to
react to it and commit a traffic violation.
How many times have I not had to commit an offense and thereby endanger my Own
I can't count and this with bike or car.
For example, I come outside my gate with a bicycle or car, what do I do, look to the right wall, they come from the right. Some idiotic Thais simply drive from the left, resulting in a very dangerous situation.
me.
I'm not on the public road yet and I already have a price.
What does a Thai do, that idiot laughs for a moment.
One can write a telephone book full of their idiotic behavior here, or not.
Never seen a Thai stick out an arm in traffic to indicate direction. Even in the Netherlands it is becoming a rarity.
In addition, in the Netherlands there is a requirement to keep sufficient distance so that you can stop in time. So the car behind you is pre-eminently the cause of an accident, unless you can prove otherwise. In Thailand, the driver in front will have to prove that there was a good reason to stop. Actually a better arrangement than in the Netherlands.
The annoying thing is that as a good driver you are almost forced to adjust your driving style... if you don't do that and stick to the rules, it can easily cause accidents.
A good example of this are the zebra crossings… I can stop very stubbornly to let people cross, but because I know that I will be sailed left and right by idiots in pick-up trucks etc. (if they are not already on the back bangs) I think it's safer to just keep driving. If I stop for Thais, there is a good chance that they will just cross the road without expecting (speeding) traffic in the lane next to me…I don't want that on my conscience, even if I mean well and I am officially to the rules.
Why is there whining here about not wearing a helmet, buckle loosened, own safety. FIRST LOOK AT MOST POLICE OFFICERS, they set the example of driving completely without a helmet.
They are above the law and do not need it, and the higher the position, the more arrogant they are, the higher the cap, the less they need to set an example.
I can certainly not respect people like that, I think they are just a bunch of arrogant people.