Classic Ray

Thai drivers are not taught to plan their manoeuvres, so they never have time or skill enough to check mirror and indicate before changing lane. They generally only use indicators when trying to force into another lane when they have failed to plan their move. Motorcyclists should not filter between lanes unless traffic is stationary, but they all do and take the risk of being knocked off. it’s all down to a lack of driver and rider awareness and education.

It’s a bit of a stretch to define sex toys as pornography, unless the translation is wrong. Making the circumstances fit the crime, instead of the reverse.

Charging failing batteries can produce quantities of flammable hydrogen gas. one spark and Goodnight Vienna!

As Citizen Smith would say “Come the Revolution, things will change!”

Maybe the lack of an efficient and affordable small claims court where people can raise these issues and get some mediation leads them to take drastic measures? I am also surprised that she did not involve her son in law earlier, before the shooting, to help resolve the issue.

Since Covid and the explosion in Grab etc delivery services, there has been a massive rise in motorcyclists riding the wrong way, through red lights and weaving in and out of lanes. Police ignore this behaviour. This has translated into the behaviour of the majority of motorcyclists. No wonder they get crushed and die. I would not be surprised if these girls were riding against traffic, but it’s still the drunk driver’s fault.

I’ve had a Toyota Avanza for ten years from new. Utterly reliable, slow and boring, but cheap to run and service with amazing interior room and seven seats. Tyres last for ever as rear wheel drive. Only ever had to replace two light bulbs, one just a couple of months ago. Let’s see where these cheap Chinese EVs are in ten years time!

I had 40 years collision free riding in the UK, came to Thailand and knocked off my bike three times in seven months, twice whilst stationary, then by an unlicensed female who drove down my side of the road, dragged me twenty metres, breaking my wrist. She said she mistook the accelerator for the brake. This convinced me that my life was too valuable for motorcycling here and my bike is reserved for very occasional short shopping trips. The combination of dangerous road design and maintenance, ignorant and aggressive local drivers, and complete disregard for the law due to different culture and lack of enforcement means I am reluctant to take the risk on two wheels. The rate of deaths backs me up.

These materials just made it worse. Once a cylinder, valve or piping failed, highly compressed natural gas ignited like a flamethrower and turned the inside of the bus into an inferno. As the installation of the extra cylinders was unauthorised, I doubt if any of the internal piping was flameproof, so would have burst and added more gas to the flames. Whether the proper report will ever be produced or published, we will see. CNG should really not be contained within or fitted to a passenger vehicle, although this would be a major change for Thai taxis that all seem to have a tank in the boot. i am also concerned about the lack/failure of emergency exits which may be connected with the rebodying of this 50 year old chassis. If they had worked properly many more lives could have been saved.

If they find out where he is again, maybe send someone round the back before raiding the front?

I have reacted to the sudden price rises on imported food by not buying it. There are local alternatives for a lot, eg cheap local tomatoes instead of expensive canned, and I just stopped buying imported meat, more local chicken and fish. But many local foods eg eggs have also risen rapidly. The economy is poor and retailers will eventually have to eat their cost increases to maintain sales.

We had 6 to 9 inches (over 20cm) of flood along On Nut Road etc in Prawet/Samut Prakan border last night. When does it become a flood?

Why make an announcement that a warrant has been issued if there is a thought he might flee the country? Giving him time to pack his suitcases?

It’s down to lack of education, lack of regulation/enforcement, and lack of will to campaign for change. Many parents let their kids ride motorcycles to school under age and without helmets, multiple passengers. Even those with cars rarely have child seats or make their kids wear seat belts. in the U.K. they regularly had informative and graphic campaigns pointing out the dangers. I’ve never seen any of those here. I blame the Government’s concentration on looking after the rich people, since it’s mainly the poor whose children are the victims. You can also see it in footpath (used by poor) condition compared to roads (used by rich). Also why allow explosive CNG installations on coaches carrying the public. This has been done to increase profits at the expense of safety. Until the majority of Thai society wake up and insist on these changes, nothing will happen. They thwart attempts by progressive parties to govern to protect their profits.

My 12 year old son was on a similar trip at the same time, fortunately returned home safely yesterday. I would have been devastated if he had been involved in a similar incident and my heart goes out to the victims and their families. Luckily all the buses on my son’s trip were diesel powered. It strikes me that CNG fuel is inherently unsafe for coaches, especially with the low standards of installation and maintenance here, and the unregistered tanks that were fitted. Rather than “checking” these CNG powered buses, surely they should be banned? There will be push back from the owners, but they are not the ones suffering the tragedy of losing their children. My kids will certainly not be going on any trips in a CNG powered bus or coach. Our school uses all diesel buses even for to and from school.

My 12 year old son is currently on a similar trip outside Bangkok, luckily not this coach. we are urgently attempting to discover whether any of the coaches carrying him and his fellow pupils are LPG powered. I think this fuel should be banned for coaches, diesel is much safer and less flammable. Quality of installation is also often a problem here, and with the tyre burst, maintenance may also be in question.

I count myself lucky that I get sleepy rather than violent when I drink too much. But I spent thirty years dealing with the after effects of those who were the opposite. If alcohol made me violent I wouldn’t drink it.

Site engineer? I don’t think such a sensible occupation exists here.

Is this the bridge that collapsed a few months ago? No barriers on the entrance/exit?

For self-defence? If I was attacked with a machete, I would certainly defend myself with whatever was available. Likely the account is true as an assailant would not use a fruit knife.

When I arrested an Irish itinerant for trying to steal a roadworks compressor, he crapped himself in the police car. On arrival at the station, we threw him in the shower, squirted him with washing up liquid and scrubbed him with a broom. The bugs flew off him. At least the smell went away. i believe they treat detainees better in the U.K. nowadays, we were a little more direct in my time.

Most democratic societies separate the military and the state, with military and the police forbidden to take any active role in politics. They are seen as the servants of the society rather than the masters. Unfortunately they don’t seem to take this role in Thai society, with even teachers and civil servants wearing military style uniforms.

Certainly the police (including Immigration) already have to supply their own uniforms, weapons and equipment including some office supplies. With their low salaries, it encourages corruption to supplement their income. Reform would entail much higher salaries similar to what happened in Hong Kong and Singapore. Better to concentrate on the higher management in education and the civil service who are in charge of the budgets and ensure they spend the money on providing services to the public.

Would be better to stimulate the economy by supporting manufacturing, agriculture and higher education to enable competition with other developing countries. Casinos are just a short term boost, come with their own addiction problems and the main customers, the Chinese, are subject to their own economic downturn and restrictions. Thinking casinos will remove underground gambling is a fallacy. Most Thai gamblers are low end and will not travel to casinos.

In some Middle Eastern and Asian countries they would be subject to the death penalty for proselytising, luckily Thailand is more tolerant.