Bad luck on the highway (but not quickly away…)
This was a Christmas I will not easily forget. The day before the party, I had driven to Hua Hin to celebrate my friend Willy Blessing's birthday. An impossible day, but his party would take place on it beach and I didn't want to miss that. Wife, child and mother-in-law stayed behind in Bangkok. A fast ride, of course with the necessary 'near-death experiences'. My goodness, what cake bakers Thai drivers are.
The party lived up to expectations, although the owner of the beach bar, made of washed-up wreckage, had put the prepaid sum in his pocket and 'forgotten' to buy the ordered beer. In the end everything turned out fine. The food was excellent, the company entertaining and the drink flowed as freely as the water in the neighboring Gulf of Thailand.
The return journey with my Toyota Fortuner would, depending on the crowds, again take about 2,5 hours. The ride went smoothly via the 4 and the 35 to the Outer Ring Road towards Bangna. Halfway through this road on piles, the engine suddenly stopped, while I was driving at 120 on the (fast) right lane. So quickly to the emergency lane on the left. Without an engine, the power steering and power brakes do not work; some strength was required (can't imagine this had happened to my frail wife). I was about 300 meters after a toll house, with adjoining police station. Nobody showed up. I can tell you that it gets quite warm in the car, without air conditioning. From Hua Hin I had not only brought brown bread, but also fresh crabs, fish and mussels. Luckily everything was in a cool box, filled with ice.
Then walk to the emergency telephone 100 meters away and see what happens. Nothing! No answer. The operator was supposedly having lunch. So I called the emergency number, 1543. The other side turned out to be unintelligible due to the noise of the traffic. Then to the police station and tried with hands and feet to make it clear that I was stranded. Lots of understanding nods, but little action. Mind you: around the place where I stood there were at least about five cctv cameras. But what good are they if no one is looking at the screens? My wife tried to offer help by telephone, made more difficult by the fact that my phone card was also about to expire. By now I could have earned a monthly salary if I had been allowed to hand out tickets to traffic sinners on the spot.
After an hour and a half a tow truck showed up. The man fiddled with the diesel pump, but decided to take me and the car to a garage. I have to say: sitting in the towed car was a nice experience. Finally I had time to look at the surrounding landscape, which I usually tear past at 120. You're under the smoke of Bangkok, but still in the countryside.
The garage turned out to be a shed, but with a mechanic who knew the ins and outs. The diesel filter was clogged with black goo, the Toyota garage may have either not replaced the filter at the last service or I have filled up with dirty diesel somewhere. The official towing service turned out to be free (a private company wanted to do it for 1500) and the garage charged me 400 THB. With my route planner I was able to find my way home. I arrived there three hours late. Maybe time to set up a Thai roadside assistance?
Thai roadside assistance will not work. Then you have to organize and deliver teamwork. They will probably learn that one day, but we won't experience that again.
Don't fall off your seat, but there is already a Thai roadside assistance, CWC or CarWorld Club. It has a nationwide network and this organization functions well. Small repairs on site, towing, if necessary transport of the car back to the place of residence, a free replacement car, etc. We often offer CWC to people who take out insurance that does not include this. A number of insurance companies offer the same “roadside assistance” service free of charge.
CWC rate for a car aged 0-9: 1,990 baht per year (10-15 years 2,990 baht).
Hi Matthieu, where can I take out insurance in Hua Hin for riding a scooter? I am going to ride a rented scooter in Hua Hin for 2 months, but I don't know if there is a good insurance policy there. I would like some information about this on the Thai blog or an email ([email protected]) bvd
Will put it on the Thailand blog, others will also benefit from it.
In principle, you can assume that every scooter you rent has the legally required insurance (compulsory). You can see this from the end date on the sticker on the scooter. This sticker is proof that the road tax has been paid, but in general this is synchronized with the insurance, because road tax can only be paid if you can show proof of insurance. Unfortunately, this compulsory insurance covers very little, only physical injury or death of third parties, and even then the amounts covered are still quite low. Damage to third-party property (such as a car you hit) and damage to your own scooter are not covered.
This can be additionally insured for a private individual with a good third party or even first class (all risks) insurance, but unfortunately not for scooters that are rented. In principle, you will therefore have to make do with only the compulsory insurance.
Keep in mind that you must also be in possession of a valid MOTOR driving license for this. And valid is an international (available from the ANWB) or Thai driving license. Your Dutch driver's license alone is therefore not sufficient.
Are you going to Hua Hin: Be careful, they have recently introduced alcohol checks here. Furthermore, in Hua Hin you are expected to wear a helmet as a driver, but not as a passenger. I once asked an officer how that was, his explanation was that the driver should hold the steering wheel, but that the passenger has his arms free to protect his head.
Have a nice time in Hua Hin!
Thank you very much for this information and quick response. I don't know if you have a special wish to have taken with you from Holland because I am January 7. 2011 in Hua Hin If you have special wishes I can take it for you, thanks again for the info kick ( [email protected] )