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Home » Reader Submission » Submitted: Concerns falang in traffic in Thailand
Submitted: Concerns falang in traffic in Thailand
When will the editors pay attention to the cowboys (foreigners) who drive around here in Jomtien and Pattaya? They drive like crazy and pretend to rule the streets.
These falangs have adopted the bad habits of the Thai people and think that anything is possible. I get really annoyed when I have to cross a street; this is really dangerous.
Some time ago I had to scramble not to be run over by a falang on a moped. It drove in the opposite direction. When I commented to this person about it, I got this polite response…..I quote 'FUCK YOU!'.
Where has the dignity and respect for other road users gone?
I wonder what these madmen do when they return to their homeland? Do they do the same (I don't think so)?
Regards,
Chris
Do you really think this is just there? No.
It's the same with me in rural Nongkhai. There they also drive you around the calves with mopeds and even with bicycles, the people of local and farang descent. It's like that everywhere, nothing new under the sun. Traffic education doesn't seem to be part of it these days. And sometimes I wonder if there is any education at all.
Dear Chris,
what do these “crazy people” do once back in their homeland?
Well, drink beer in their favorite pub, roll biscuits, boastfully show off their new tattoos ("I swear to you, they were hit with bamboo darts by a real Thai monk, and it hurts") and show photos of both the ladies of merit that hung around their peeling and red-burnt necks, as well as the overweight moped with which they made the streets of Pattaya unsafe, and gave respectable holidaymakers the fright of their lives.
THAT is what these cowboys do.
It is of course also possible that this smooth young man was sent for the upcoming lunch by his (very short-lived) Thai girlfriend, for a bunch of Thai long beans, also called Fak Jaaw. Indispensable in the local cuisine.
Of course you can't blame our mobile farang for not mastering the language in a jiffy. We should be happy that he has adapted his driving style to the local criteria, can't we?
After all the haggling on the busy market, he obviously has no time for explanations and shouts the only Thai words he has been given. Blame him, the poor stressed soul.
But joking aside, you're absolutely right, and it's just a matter of decency (or lack thereof) and the "I'm far away from home, and everything is possible here" syndrome of some farangs, where I I've had worse for years, but it will probably never get better, because it's a combination of empty-headedness, holiday hubris, and booze.
None of these are lacking in some parts of Thailand, in my experience.
Mvgr, Seven Eleven.
Hello Seven Eleven, you are talking very generalizing here, I happened to have a tattoo done in Thailand and I like to drink a beer in my pub, which is also my right.
I also have my Thai driver's license and adhere to the rules.
MVG Marco
Morning Chris,
Yes, I know exactly what you mean.
We have also experienced this many times (car) and you can only see this if you can take a look in the windshield or it hangs with an arm through the window.
These falangs think they are as agile as the Thais, but they never learn that.
The Thai gets it with the mother's milk in his system.
They are also very fatalistic: “It is not yet my time”
And the difference between thai and falang is that with the falang you always have to give a bigger stroke to the steering wheel and that the thai do this much more smoothly.
You can also usually see it coming while the Western bobos are in the famous elephant…. are.
The Thai, also dangerous, but in a different way.
I don't know exactly how to explain this, but I hope people understand me.
LOUISE
Think it's highly exaggerated that the Thai would drive better than most farangs. I spend a lot of time on the road in Thailand, have been driving accident-free for almost 15 years, but always thank Buddha that I wasn't run off the road by such a nice Thai road user who bought his driver's license for 500 Bath. There are certainly ASO farangs, but don't go proclaiming that the Thai has received driving with their mother's milk haha because they drive absolutely less safely than the average farang.
Hello.
@Louise.
You hit the nail on the head… although I have more than 30 years of experience with the heaviest bikes, and you don't see them here, you will never be able to maneuver like a motorbike taxi driver…
They were born with a scooter and a mobile phone… you never imitate them, and I can really drive a bit, believe me… To stay on topic, I really don't argue here, but most of the falang who Driving around Pattaya like crazy, and there are indeed many, only staying here for three weeks, and have no idea about the traffic here..
It's really not to boast, but if I didn't have my experience, I never drove around here on a scooter because it was dangerous, and not just because of falang ...
You just have to drive around at 8 o'clock in the morning at rush hour on Pattaya Thai, or Second road, and I know, because every morning I ride my 15-year-old Thai stepdaughter to school via Pattaya Thai on my bike, then I even keep my heart is tight, and that means something… by the way, she was run over 3 days ago, on the bike together with her girlfriend and that was by a Thai in a pickup who then just drove on… apparently there is no hit and run here, I heard
and at that hour you don't see falang, because they sleep it off… the only reason why I survive every day is because of my experience, otherwise you will never survive… also Thai riding like crazy, and they come from all directions… they just don't fall on your head, although some do succeed...
It's every morning: eyes open, mind at zero and throttle...
But you're right, like a Thai, and even the Thai women I'm going to be able to drive with all my experience, but as you say, their turning radius is half the size of mine, and without their feet on the ground…
Kind regards from Pattaya.
Rudy
I keep saying it over and over: flying has become too cheap. It's too easy for all kinds of scum and slums to go on vacation. A normal person would not do such a thing. And by normal I mean someone who can also behave on vacation. You are not alone in this world.
I also think the behavior is terrible…. not only the aggressive selfish driving, but also the way of dressing, behavior…. they really need to deal with this kind of thing.
Anyone who drives on the road without a shirt in public had to be fined immediately, someone who caused an accident was imprisoned. Even if it is only for a few days… but then also give the bill for it.
I really don't care that those crazy people kill themselves, but I think it's worse that they involve innocent people...
Unfortunately, often the young people who let themselves go, you can look in all directions here and that is not enough.
Also because of red, I think it is becoming a popular sport, always say to my daughter; green is only green as long as nobody flies through red !!!
The bypass is also a disaster; drive over the intersection as quickly as possible then you have priority unfortunately a lot of white paint in these places or accident with personal injury
Dear Chris,
I would like to respond by saying that it is not the job of the editors to solve this problem, but of the Thai and / or the Tourist Police. You can be annoyed by the English-speaking farangs (given the reaction), but Pattaya in particular also attracts a large audience that does not care.
In addition, the behavior of the Thais in traffic also irritates me a lot and it would not surprise me that Thailand goes from number 3 to first place on the list of most fatal traffic accidents.
But there is hope with the Junta in power and the statement by them that they will fine everyone who crosses the white line with a 1.000 baht fine, you can already see improvements and if they take a tough approach, things might turn out well one day. I'm trying to get less annoyed about it and you should too because we can't help it and getting annoyed is bad for your mind and health.
Piet
FARANG but that aside there are also plenty of Thais who are guilty of the same. I would also like to mention the great noise nuisance and the speed demons. Especially at night when the bars have just closed / are closing, Tough has to be done. That others try to find peace does not apply to these crackers. But if it takes place on their doorstep, then the muscles count. And they have more than sense.
Personally I NEVER drive in Pattaya, I just don't dare, and then it's better not to.
that it takes me a little longer to cross: a pity then. I'm on vacation and I think I always have the time. The above talks about “falangs” driving so badly and dangerously. Now not everything white is a falang (farang). At the moment they are very often Russians and these are really not called falang by the Thai population. Even they make a distinction, and I don't like to be compared to a Russian either. Of course it remains the case that Pattaya is dangerous on the road, well it has been for years.
You are right when you say that (most) farang behave pretty rude on the road.
They drive around with the idea that everything is possible and everything is allowed and especially the motto of ME FIRST plays a major role.
It is generally known that people who come back from eg the TT in Assen or any car or motorsport spectacle still have a bit of a racing feeling and therefore start driving like that.
I myself have been a professional driver for 30 years with a number of accidents that you can count on one hand, but here in Thailand I am regularly reprimanded by my wife for my reckless driving.
Everyone will adapt to the rest of the traffic. If you don't do this, you will be a nuisance on the road and often more dangerous than those who adapt to the traffic. This is absolutely not an argument for the driving behavior of the Thai and the farang. good because it is and remains a top sport to move through the traffic here.
Hank, you took the words right out of my mouth.
"If you don't do this, you will be a nuisance on the road and often more dangerous than those who adapt to traffic. I definitely do not condone the driving behavior of the Thai and the farang because it is and remains a top sport here"
This sentence, perhaps slightly modified, would not look out of place in a Thailand information brochure.
This is only because the FALANG sees no different from the THAI driving on the sidewalks against traffic and they turn the wrong way and see driving like an idiot and small children riding with four five on a moped without a HELMET and nobody hurts them.
And now they all drive without a HELMET because there is no police that gives a ticket so everyone can do what he or she wants.
chris, the contributor of the posting hits the nail on the head when he immediately answers his own question (“I wonder what these lunatics do when they return to their homeland. Are they going to do the same?”) with “I think of not”.
I also think so.
And the reason for this is very obvious: in their home country there are not only traffic rules, they mainly work on the (repressive and preventive) ENFORCEMENT of those traffic rules
In Thailand there is also a (very thorough regulation) Unfortunately, that regulation in Thailand often remains a dead letter because there is an almost complete lack of police enforcement
Only yesterday I witnessed at least four cars still driving through the red traffic light (the orange had really been extinguished for a long time), under the apparently approving (at least silently, because they did not react at all) eyes of two policemen who were just past the intersection drawn up.
A little later I saw a policeman whizzing around on his scooter without a helmet…
Furthermore, I don't have to tell anyone how "creative" the Thai deal with the public road (roadway) when it comes to finding a parking space in a busy place, or to put down their food stall annex tables and chairs. Indeed: then you simply occupy part of the roadway.
The fact that this can lead to dangerous traffic situations for others, because oncoming traffic must thus drive on the lanes that are actually intended for traffic coming from the opposite direction, the person needing parking or tradesman (in the first case usually and in the second case Thai road users only) is a real concern.
Mai pen rai, remember…?
Is it then surprising that the tourist who arrives here quickly adopts that selfish traffic behaviour?
But believe me, the example was always first given by the locals (with the police in a very prominent role, see above two examples from an endless series).
Best regards from someone who drives an average of 14000 km per year on a scooter within the triangle Sri Racha – Sattahip – Bangchan (Pattaya and surroundings).
Kito
I would like to summarize here some of the comments.
Do you want to go to Thailand :
Minimum age 50+
No tattoo
From a good background
Only fly if you can afford business class
MAW if it's up to some commenters it's getting very quiet in Thailand.
Moderator: please don't chat. Your comment is no longer about the article.
Another sound….
I have been coming to Thailand every year since 2006 for a month or more. I move around with a rental car and travel from Chiang Mai to Hua Hin and from Korat to Pattaya. Of course I know that the Thai can drive dangerously. This is especially true for mopeds that reach speeds for which a motorcycle license is normally required. But you can only get on the road (and get off without damage) if you adapt your driving style to the other traffic without ignoring the ¨official¨ rules.
Yes, I was once hit by a Thai with a new ¨taxi¨ converted pick-up without a license plate. Of course the driver blamed me. Of course, I had no witness passenger with me at the time. Nevertheless, the damage showed that the fault could not lie with me. Coincidentally, a former American soldier who remained in Thailand walked by and watched the incident. When I asked if he wanted to help me, he nodded in the affirmative. Then we walked to a traffic regulating agent. This agent promptly left the traffic for what it was. Together we went to the nearby police station to draw up an official report. I insisted that I was not guilty of the collision. In the end, the driver of the pick-up agreed with me. But that wasn't enough for me. I wanted to be sure that I had not lost my deductible. A little later I was guaranteed this by the insurer by telephone via the police. My hats off to the helpful police.
Of course, situations like the ones readers described above occur everywhere. That will be more common in Pattaya than in places where few tourists or expats live. When I am in Hua Hin, Chiang Mai or Korat, I usually do not recognize the described situations and behaviors. In fact, if I make a driving mistake, the Thai are often helpful to repair my mistake or prevent damage.
My impression is that the descriptions are mainly a problem in Pattaya. This is not to say that somewhere else it is always cake and egg. I don't want to negate the experiences of others. But a lot also depends on our behavior.