Classic Ray

The responsibility is firmly with the teacher/escort and the driver to check the van together. Also, why did no one notice the absence of the child from class? Don’t they tick a register, and make enquiries with the staff and parents if someone is absent? No action should be necessary from a small child to ensure their own safety, it is the job of the parents or the people paid to act in their place, in loco parentis, when they are not with their parents.

As I live 100m from an ARL station in Bangkok I use that and BTS/MRT if I’m not using my car. Used to use Grab when I was flying regularly Rarely use taxis unless with my wife to stop overcharging.

As he is still Defence Minister, why can’t he attend Cabinet meetings presided over by Prawit? Since the electoral process and make up of Parliament is so distorted, does anyone think this will make any difference?

Nothing will change due to lack of official concern ( only affects poor people) and lack of enforcement. This is the Thai way.

In that situation she should surely check in with the US passport, which satisfies the airline she is visa exempt, then on arrival in Thailand show only the expired Thai passport.

Not very effective when there are so many bikes that have no registration plate or whose registration/ownership has expired. Time to seize unregistered bikes and crush them if not legit. Only measure that works for unregistered or uninsured vehicles in U.K.

There are nine male Thai nationals on the current list of Interpol Red Notices. Boss is not one of them.

I am not a psychologist but I think part of the problem, due to lack of education, training and different culture, is that people do not transition properly from walking to riding motorcycles or driving. They think they can operate a vehicle with the same lack of care and consequences they have when they are on foot. I can see them gabbing on the phone as they get in or on and start driving. The phone, or the kids squabbling in the back, has their attention rather than the operating of an up to two ton lump of lethal metal. Stall holders load their bikes up with provisions for delivery and ride off one handed as they continue to chat to neighbours. While they take such little care or pride in driving, as it’s not instilled in them in schools or society, then the carnage will continue.

I had a quick trip to KL and back last week and found the departure from Suvarnabhumi quite quick and efficient. Just a visual check of boarding pass and passport to enter the Departure zone. Re entry permit process quick, hand baggage/body scanner included belt, watch, shoes, laptop and power banks out, bit more thorough than KL end, small queue for Immigration. on return, hand baggage scanned at KLIA departure lounge, Immigration queue at Bangkok quite short and desks well staffed. If tourist numbers increase may be different, but well done so far.

Every worker I have ever had work at my house has had to borrow tools, ladders etc from me. The same seems to happen on roads where contractors possess a minimum of safety equipment which they are reluctant to deploy. This is probably as their fellow contractors would nick it. Makes me cry to see the lack of concern about safety and their fellow inhabitants in Thailand.

Bail for murder (especially where the involvement is so clear cut) is almost unknown in the U.K. The opportunities to flee the jurisdiction, interfere with witnesses or dispose of evidence are too great to allow suspects to regain their liberty. But here, money truly talks.

Provided she has paid all the relevant tax on her income, no one can complain. I am sure the Revenue Department will be able to confirm this.

There is no official support for the banning of passengers in pickup beds as all the likely victims are poor, and thus of no consequence. Same for seatbelts and child seats. The rich and well educated will use them (except for the arrogant) but the poor, who really need telling of the consequences, will not through ignorance and apathy. Their children will be the victims.

Planning and risk assessment are sorely lacking in Thailand, with the notable exception of the railway industry of which I have experience. If the same standards were applied to the entertainment and other industries, quality and safety would soar. The problem is it costs money and affects greedy shareholders.

The agents could not operate without collusion from some officials. Whilst the envelopes keep flowing, nothing will change. Get Big Joke to sort it out.

In this case the teachers should be disciplined and/or disbarred if they do this. But when does it ever happen?

Back in the day I as a U.K. police officer used to join the fire officers when we inspected any licensed premises that had been constructed or altered. We used to look for any safety issues, including escape routes, places which could not be easily supervised by bar staff, materials etc. The brigade were very thorough and we used to refuse the bar liquor licences until they met the standards. i believe some years ago these inspections were curtailed. In Thailand it appears these have never been carried out as health and safety are two of the dirtiest words.

Nothing to do with it being peak holiday season in Europe so many might be visiting their offspring rather than attending Parliament?

I am surprised (not really) that maintenance work should be carried out above live lanes. I suspect they wanted to close lanes/carriageway, but were told to carry on to avoid traffic disruption and construction delay. As a result, people died.

Guinness used to be brewed both in Park Royal, London and in Dublin. The water of course was different, so some said the Liffey gave the Dublin brew a better taste. Now Park Royal has closed so U.K. Guinness comes only from Dublin.

In a country where everyone has a mobile phone or three, couldn’t the teacher have called or messaged (by text not Line) the parent?

Interesting to see the other day that drunk driving only counts as three of your twelve demerit points on the driving licence, so you can drive drunk four times in a year and still not be suspended from driving. Only if you drive for a fifth time and are caught will you be disqualified for 3 months. Ridiculous leniency that will not discourage the drunks.

This feeling encouraged by the Government who consequently can avoid responsibility to provide better education, training and enforcement to reduce the collisions. After all the vast majority of victims are poor people, who cares about them?

Someone I know well works for a Thai Govt department doing admin. Her job could be done completely from home but there is no remote connection available to their records system, plus all her work arrives on paper, not electronically. The quality of the IT professionals employed by the Thai Govt can be seen in the on again/off again online 90 day reporting, the inability to submit a tax return online in English (only in Thai) and the paper only visa/extension system. There is little incentive to computerize as people would lose their jobs for life with medical and pension benefits. This goes through Govt, including land offices, banks and utilities which all rely on people processing paper. The only parts that have been developed efficiently online are payments to get the money in quickly. There will be no changes whilst the education system discourages questioning of officialdom, and that will not happen soon.

I agree plus could have traffic lights with cameras, needed to stop drivers ignoring them. Also could extend use of red flags (originally from Japan) to establish pedestrian precedence, in holders each end of the crossing.