Foreigner stabbed to death in Bangkok after argument with taxi driver (video)

Sad reality but not really something Thai, it is generally known that in the world in the taxi industry you have to watch your step, only in one country people grab weapons a bit faster than in the other country, because they are easy to obtain and to protect themselves.
It is true in Thailand that the taxi driver in Thailand has to do a lot of work to get his daily income, if the driver has rented the taxi, he alone pays 600 baht rent per day, and they often drink drugs or energy. use to stay awake, because they work long days yes and if you don't want to pay for your ride then it can quickly escalate.
In addition, taxi drivers in Bangkok are robbed almost daily, which is why they are often armed.
We live in Bangkok ourselves and therefore often go by taxi, we have also experienced quite a few incidents with taxi drivers in the past.
Like a driver who already bumper glued and raced on the toll road at 200 km per hour and did not respond when my wife told him in Thai to take it easy, then we made him stop at the first exit and paid him.
Or drivers who drive to make more kilometers, we have also experienced that several times, because my wife grew up in Bkk, she knows the road very well, so that kite never goes up. And then the taxi driver who started driving with one leg on the dashboard. And so I can give various examples where it can also escalate if you approach it the wrong way, if you disagree with something it is best to just let the taxi stop pay what is on the meter, even if the amount is not correct and take another taxi, don't argue because you will never win.
Here are some tips if you want to take a taxi in Thailand, especially in Bkk, it is best to take a dark green-yellow or light blue-red taxi, these are taxis that are owned by the drivers themselves, these are the most reliable. private owners who are either connected to a power station or drive independently, because there are a lot of cowboys driving around in Thailand. Make sure that the driver turns on his meter, the starting price is 35 bath, write down the taxi number on the picture on the door, if an incident occurs, it will be quickly traced thanks to this number. If you want to stay in Thailand for a long time and you are satisfied with a taxi driver, ask for his business card, we have also done this and now we have several taxis up to our disposal that we know to be reliable.

Dear George

I myself have had a collision with a taxi driver in the past. Yes that can be high. I have therefore been using the theorem of Peter and Tjamoek for many years
Pay but you won't win anyway. It's annoying but it's no different.
We also have a regular driver when we are in Thailand. Just like John above
The advantage is that he lives in the same street where our house is.
We always report in advance if we want to go somewhere. And so we are always assured of transport and a reasonable price. And just as important a good driver
I don't need to blast down the highway at 200 km per hour.
It is therefore good advice for people who come to Thailand on holiday every year. find a good driver. If you call him, even if it has been a year since he drove you, he will be at your door in no time. Of course it is not something that only happens in Thailand

Dear Hans,

I completely agree with you, you should always keep your hands off someone else, the border is always light with violence.
What I now understand is that the American man did not agree with the amount on the taxi meter, and this caused an argument between the Taxi driver and the American man MR (Troy) Pilkington, the latter apparently then had coffee and a spa in the to have thrown the Taxi driver's face.
You see that violence never solves anything (two losers), but you also have to remember that you are in a different country where different laws apply on the street than you are used to.
And I don't want to justify it either, I also recognize the feeling when you are sure that you have been treated unjustly or robbed, the first reaction is always yes, but I don't accept that, and you want to go against it at such a moment it is in Thailand better to count to ten because you really don't win you are there at such a moment alone no one will come to your aid, that's why I think that in this case too this gentleman would have been better off just paying and then he still had lived, even when he was sure he was robbed, because your life is worth more than those few baht
You should also know that a taxi license in Thailand means nothing, anyone who has a medical certificate that he is healthy and in possession of a valid driver's license has a license within 5 hours, yes and unfortunately cowards too because that is unfortunately enough in advance not to check.

The taxi incident:
I have seen the movie [the first 15 seconds] several times. What struck me personally is that the Farang [American in this case] behaves very aggressively/authoritarian towards this Thai driver; and therefore immediately goes on the attack.
I have experienced the same situations with a friend of mine, who gives massage and wants to haggle the Farang when paying and then makes the biggest problems; and I also know some Russians who do not want to pay in a restaurant. I sat there for a few tables next and my blood really started to boil. Is that my Thai girlfriend told me not to interfere / but different!
I've really had it with the Farangen [I don't write it with a capital letter anymore] in Thailand!
That's why I'm happy to be in Isaan / luckily [yet] not bothered by it!
Gr;Willem also Scheveningen…

I also had a run-in with a taxi driver a few years ago, when we arrived at the hotel in the middle of the night he said the meter was broken and he wanted more money, as I had taken that route before I knew the meter was good and so refused to pay extra. I then asked the head of security to solve it or call the police, he was able to arrange it with the driver. When I read all this now I realize that situations like this can get completely out of hand very quickly. Now if I want to leave a hotel with a taxi, I let them order a taxi, then you usually get a reliable one.
If the Thai government takes tourism seriously, they will tackle this very hard. In the event of misconduct, I would say immediately withdraw the permit and impose a high fine. It seems to be commonplace with these types of aso drivers.