richard_smith237

I dont think we need to get hung up on the word Murder - it translates into Thai the same as Manslaughter (one translating as a verb the other as a noun).

Its pretty obvious that they mean the drunk driver is being charged with Manslaughter, which I believe is correct, through his poor choices and actions he killed an innocent child. 

I would like to see a lot more of these stories whereby in the aftermath of an accident all parties are automatically tested for drugs and alcohol and if not the BiB are charged for failing to do their job. 

Much can be improved to act as a deterrent for other self centered people who have no considerations for others no matter their mood / temperament at the time... 

1 hour ago, dfdgfdfdgs said:

Skip to 1:50 for the impact.

 

I don't understand what the black car is trying to do, overtake on the outside?

At would appear to me that the driver of the black car simply fell asleep at the wheel...   This is the only explanation I can think of which explains the deviation from the central lane along with making no attempt to slow down... 

Not the sharpest of responses in recognition of Thailand's second highest global road mortality stats.

While the chances are low, when compared to most other countries the statistics and recent history both show that she should have concerns and apply extra vigilance, especially by not traveling in the evenings (in the dark etc) and avoiding major high-ways etc.

Keeping to the edge of the road alone is not 'sufficient' vigilance against getting mowed down by a careless and ignorant day-dreaming idiot.... Rear View Mirror, even rear-facing Radar would aid vigilance an make the journey a little safer.

Good luck to here, I feel her response is more of 'fingers crossed and hope for the best' rather than a genuine evaluation of the risks involved. 

Choose the school first....  then find somewhere decent to live near it.

It's really difficult to offer advice unless the location is narrowed down. 

For example - Inner City (Asoke) - Millennium Residence (Condo) is ideal for kids... Pretty close to NIST and Bangkok Prep, it has a good pool, tennis courts, a good gym, little kids play area downstairs, large grounds (but not grassed). 

He was working here, was he not work permitted ? could his medical care be taken care of under the 30 baht scheme ?

2 hours ago, sturdyd said:

Adding to my earlier comment, I wonder how many users of Smartphones even understand them? An anecdote from just yesterday: I ordered something from Lazada which was supposed to be delivered by Kerry Express (whatever that is). I got a phone call asking me where my house was! Not being very fluent in Thai (I know; shame on me), I couldn't give them directions and had to go to a neighbor for help. So the point is, instead of calling me, I wonder why the delivery person didn't use Google Maps to find my house? Since he ostensibly worked for a delivery company I'd think he'd be aware of the app. But I suspect more likely that the thought of using his phone for something other than playing games (all with "in app purchases!") just didn't enter his mind.

Anecdotes prove nothing of course, but I'm thinking that the majority of people who use Smartphones really have no idea about the power they hold in their hands.

I'd agree with your last point that many are unaware of what the can achieve with their smart phone.

However, regarding delivery, the delivery driver it not familiar with reading maps - this is not uncommon here. I've had UBER & Grab drivers call up because they are unable to follow the GPS point on the map. 

6 hours ago, The manic said:

No need for these big, powerful bikes to be on the road. 

Spoken by someone who's only means of transport is a little wheeled hair-dryer.

Its not the vehicle, its the attitude of the person who drives it. A little scooter can readily get up to 'bike splitting' speeds.

Perhaps in the future all vehicles will be electronically limited to the speed limits, until then drivers & riders will continue to push the limits of their own stupidity. 

Regarding a previous question: Yes its SOP when a road fatality occurs that the surviving party is taken into custody (and usually bailed by his insurance company if you have 1st class insurance).

20 hours ago, johng said:

Well I was going about 60KPH at the time..and there wasn't a 40KPH limit
but even if there was and I was going that slow it would have been difficult to avoid a collision when something "magically" pops out in front of you with no warning.

While speed restrictions allow the driver to avoid an accident in many cases, the reality is that some accidents are unavoidable, as mentioned above 'when something "Magically" pops out in front of you'... It is in these circumstances that low speeds are the real life saver... 

For example....

If someone is hit by a car at 20 mph (32 kmh) there is a 10% likelihood they are killed. 

If someone is hit by a car at 30 mph (48 kmh) there is a 50% likelihood they are killed. 

If someone is hit by a car at 40 mph (64 kmh) there is a 90% likelihood they are killed. 

(Stats according to: http://www.safespeed.org.uk/killspeed.html) 

Thus, while killing your speed also reduces the likelihood you are able to react in time to someone 'surprising' you.... the real result of limiting your speed is that in the event of an unavoidable accident (i.e. Child running out into the road) there is a far less likelyhood of serious injury and death. 

It's all about what happen's when you do hit someone, not about whether or not you can stop in time. 

It would appear to me that following the argument that the driver who caused the accident was so unconsolably angry that he was unable to either calm down or think logically while driving. 

Unable to think clearly, with clouded judgement and in a haze of thoughts, fury and anger he was unable to compartmentalize and concentrate on driving... He simply turned right, put his foot down and drove off, quite possibly completely unaware he was on the wrong side of the road until it was too late....  or even thinking.. 'whats that car doing coming straight towards me'....

Many people here deal with confrontation incredibly poorly, the whole culture of face saving, kraeng-Jai etc means that when an argument does blow-up those involved are ill equip to deal with the associated stream of emotions. In this case, tragic consequences for an innocent party ensued. 

In the photo's it looks more like a Bin Lorry....

Bike going too fast - 1am, Alcohol involved ?

Clear lighting on the pickup (bin lorry) ?

That damage shows the bike must have really be motoring along at significant speed.

14 minutes ago, Global Guy said:

Ahh, a Thai apologist had to appear, thank you, right on time! Actually, I'm not the one who is blocking the sidewalk when I walk alone. Therefore it is the people who are blocking the entire sidewalk who are, what did you call it....antisocial (inappropriately used but I get what you're trying for) and whatever other names your brave keyboard warrior self throws out there. So, your rant is misdirected. Oh, and thanks for the language lesson too! Do you charge for such brilliance? I suppose you're one of those old timers who bows down to any and all treatment of farangs in the pursuit of trying to be as Thai as you can? There are many of us long timers who tolerate a lot, but rude behavior, no. If you think less of yourself and accept it, that's on you. Peace...

Thai apologist ?? where would you get that from any of my posts?....  This thread is about idiots glued to their cell phones, nationality is of little relevance other than we find ourselves in Thailand. 

Go to any city and you will find precisely the same behavior. Your own prejudices are slipping in if you think this has anything to do with treatment of 'Farangs' by Thai's... Quite frankly thats an astonishingly unintelligent and ill thought out response.

I criticise those who would choose to bump into someone to make a point rather than simply step aside, get on with their life and not engage in unnecessary confrontation.

I do agree with a couple of aspects of your post... Those who block the whole sidewalk / pavement are antisocial (i.e behaving without consideration of others), but those who promote physical contact, bumping into, even hurting those who are naively ignorant of others are worse in that they are prepared to deliberately hurt someone smaller... I bet they'd never attempt such tactics against a 6ft+ adult.

Now that said: If you think so highly of yourself that you feel it necessary to reeducate everyone who doesn't offer you the precise level of courtesy you feel you are owed you have a long miserable path ahead of you, for those who fail to leave the door open for you, those with noses in their phone who don't see your progression straight towards them, those who may bump into you when entering an elevator etc...  those kind of folk are completely indifferent to others, they are ignorant, impolite and antisocial... but you won't change them, there are too many of them... you may make yourself feel better but is it really worth it, is it worth making a stand every single day idiots who don't care?

Life is too short....  simply roll with it there are far greater issues to be concerned with. 

..... 

I find this thread highly interesting in that some can become so upset about these things....

2 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Fair enough on the mall push chairing.

 

Re wheelchairs, Thailand is NOT accessible, which is why the only people on wheelchairs I've seen on the streets are paras in Pattaya on Walking Street.

LOS might become accessible in about 50 years, perhaps. No point complaining about it- just the way it is here.

BTW they don't care about beggars or poor people either.

 

For the rest

Being an adult is vastly overrated. I had a million times more fun when I was a kid than after I grew up.

The world is full to bursting with tools, so I'm hardly unusual then. I used to care and make way for others, but getting the shaft for a lifetime makes one less so.

Frankly, if some tool wants to walk into me because they have their face in a machine instead of looking where they are going, I'll be a tool and let them walk into me. I always stop before they actually make contact though, so it's their own fault.

 

I like that... "Being an adult is vastly overrated"... !!! (I've ran out of likes !)

I also think 'fair enough' on your comment 'I'll be a tool and let them walk into me, I always stop before they actually make contact' which seems a far more balanced response than some posters who seem to wish to inflict some level or hurt, pain and revenge on someone just because they are spatially ignorant.... 

7 minutes ago, Saladin said:

Richard, I am afraid that your meek and mild complacency is part of the problem, not the solution.

Saladin... what solution is there? reeducate the whole world not to use their phones while walking around ?....   Ban phone use on footpaths?

Mild Complacency is the only valid response, what else is there? I'm certainly not going to walk around allowing people to bump into me or raise my elbows to face level just to make a point with complete strangers, that would be just idiotic.. it would also be aggressive, completely antisocial and unnecessary...

I get the impression that some of the posters would actually enjoy this little confrontation... the little immature 'Tete-a-Tete', the babyish 'argy-bargy'... walking around proving a point to all of those around them that they are right, they are the chosen morally upstanding few to reeducate the ignorant repugnant masses and awaken them from their cell-phone slumber... 

Get real, grow up, move on with life... relax and enjoy it, roll with it... smile !

3 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

He never said he deliberately walks into people. They walk into him. I do the same. I'm sick of making way for ignorant people that don't look where they are going. On the skytrain when I'm getting off I quite enjoy standing in front of people trying to get on before everyone gets off, and making them let me off first.

People just seem to never learn any manners these days, so I'm not going to accommodate them.

 

You use a push chair in Thailand!!!!!!

Few if any Thais use them for very good reason and would not even consider anyone using one. Seeing tourists trying to push such along the very narrow space on city pavements is either amusing or infernally annoying depending on whether I'm observing or trying to go in the opposite direction.

 

Ultimately its better to have no expectation of others.

A lesson that took me a lifetime of being taken advantage of by people that were supposed to care for me to learn.

I'll rephrase - deliberated permitting impact - its still the same, some guys (including the post I responded to) are colliding with others or allowing the collision to happen while walking just to prove a point... its childish and downright daft. 

As for the push chair in Bangkok...  Drive to a Shopping Mall... a push chair is a huge convenience. But walking the streets, thats pretty much a no-no, I feel for the guys in Wheelchairs attempting to navigate the streets, food carts, boiling oil at face height, parked motorcycles, put holes, no ramps, motorcycles etc etc...  I've digressed...  

If you're allowing someone to deliberately walk into you instead of doing your best to avoid impact you are a Tool, there really isn't more to it than that. 

Of course, the people walking around with their cell phones, or those who are so specially unaware that they make no attempt to avoid an impact while walking are also Tools... but you guys who deliberately allow impact have made yourself no better than the 'others'...  you can't re-educate the world, its easier to just roll with it than get uppity, annoyed or attempt seek some form of childish revenge for what really only amounts to the most minor of social injustices... 

3 minutes ago, thehelmsman said:

When people meet going in opposite directions, both parties bear responsibilities in avoidance. If the fellow zoned in on his phone makes no indication of being aware of his surroundings, does that put all the burden of avoidance on the fellow meeting him? No...  So, if you get shouldered by me as you're walking by. Som num na.

 

There is a lot of tough talk, I hate the phrase but this is real 'keyboard warrior' gold...  

.... I'm loving the 'social vigilante' aspect of guys who are dumb enough to walk around with this sense of righteousness when they judge others not to have taken their required degree of responsibility to have moved their 50% out of the way.... Almost as if these buffoons are walking around looking for the problem rather than being part of the solution by simply doing what everyone else does... as another, far more mentally balanced poster put it... ducking & weaving, avoiding contact and simply fitting in with society.

I sometimes believe in 'eye for an eye' justice... in this case I think a thrashing of the teacher in equal measure would be justified.

1 hour ago, Global Guy said:

There is little consideration for others in general in Thailand.  I walk down a sidewalk, coming towards me in the other direction are three people, walking side by side taking up the entire sidewalk. When they approach me, you would think that the person who is directly in front of me would move behind their friends so we can all walk by each other.

 

But no, they stay walking side by side, still taking up the entire width of the sidewalk. What am I supposed to do? I can't walk through the cement buildings on one side and I'm not moving over into moving traffic on the other. It is at this time I adjust my earphone and coincidentally my elbow is in front of me while I do this. If someone cares so little to move and they walk into my elbow with their face, that is their problem. So many people still don't move and yes, they elbow themselves in the face or shoulder.

 

I think this is stupid, but the only remaining alternative is let them smash into me. I can't just disappear and I'm not jumping to traffic to get hit by a car. 

 

It's particularly crazy when people have umbrellas. I constantly swat them away from my face because they'll walk with the point sticking right at people walking towards them.

 

Another daily stupid thing, but it is what it is...Thailand is filled with people with the intellect of puppies and Teletubbies. Impulsive and short-sighted with only instant gratification in mind.

No... the only remaining sociable alternative to say 'Excuse me'... or in Thailand 'Koh-Taught-Krup'... as you approach them.

Of course, the repetitive antisocial behavior of others wears thin and at times pushes us to breaking point. However, many of us enjoy living here for numerous reasons including the relaxed and non-confrontational way of life, yet you find it acceptable to behave in such an antisocial and confrontational way when it suits you.

3 hours ago, csabo said:

"Good for them because I am already bracing myself with elbows sticking out."

 

I have been doing this for years.  I am a big solid mass and I was zigzagging all over the place to avoid shoppers 1/3 my size to avoid collisions when walking through the mall.  I noticed people think if they keep their head down they can just walk straight and let everyone else get out of the way.  No more.  I have sent people crashing to the floor bags flying everywhere clutching their shoulders in pain.  I especially love the bonus rounds when I catch people walking backwards not looking where they are going.  CRUUUUNCH!  And how about the grocery store shoppers who stand in the center of an aisle deciding on an item while completely blocking other shoppers and ignoring them as they approach.  Imagine a steam roller vs a chicken.

A post complaining about the ignorant behavior of others while owning up to far greater and more deliberate antisocial behavior.

You are a complete and total tool if you think its acceptable to deliberately walk around banging in to people just to prove a point, even more so if you take pleasure in their pain following such deliberate collisions. 

Good rant... Your sentiments are almost universally understood and agreed with, particularly holding the door open for others...

However, You seem to be admitting to deliberately walking into people with is a pretty 'dickish' thing to do and seems to contravene your moral standards and up bringing.

Unfortunately, we're surrounded by people who are spatially unaware and ignorant of those around them.

There is one thing I do like about living here...  the ignorance is innocent, the carelessness is accidental, I compare this to Western cities where there is often an subtle level of aggression protecting a deliberate spacial definition which if imposed upon leads to an unwelcome verbal comment or look of complete distain...  Life is too short, roll with the minor stuff, it can get up your nose but the alternatives are often worse. 

---

That said, a couple of days ago I raised my voice at the guy in front of me, I was pushing my Son in his push chair, the guy and his GF in front pushed the door open and let it swing back into the push chair... agitated, I asked the guy "Whats wrong with you?"... his look showed he had no idea what he'd done !... 

Today in a similar situation as I passed through a door I left a trailing hand to keep it open for the woman behind me (Thai) who smiled and said thank you...  Not all is lost !

Ultimately its better to have no expectation of others.

The issue for me here is...  while driving around Bangkok it would be extremely easy to find myself in similar circumstances...  not knowing whether or not the other party is going to escalate, try and smash in my window, perhaps even be successful in smashing in my window.... I'd be inclined to try and drive off, in doing so I may accidentally driver over the aggressor.

In such circumstances - just sitting there doesn't really seam like a viable option, but any action such as trying to escape the situation may actually injure the aggressor - I may find myself open to greater charges than the initial 100B for carrying a knife and 1000B for brandishing it in a threatening manner.

In its simplest terms - the law in this case (and in many others) is far from a deterrent and does not protect the innocent. 

You have done relatively well in your GCSE's.... you have failed to apply yourself in your A Levels. If I'm not mistaken, you have failed your A Levels after 3 attempts? (or was it 2?).

A Levels and similar methods of study are clearly not for you, however, you present a level of intelligence which would be wasted should you give up your education now. 

You would do well to approach some Universities based on your GCSE results, chance your luck through clearing, you may well find yourself suited to an *HND in a subject you enjoy - You don't have much time, the Uni term starts very soon (this week) but you still could get on a course this year. 

(* HND = Higher National Diploma - 2 years study which involves mostly coursework and less end of term examination)

Following an HND (2 years) you may find the road towards a degree opening up by entering a 3 year Degree course in the 2nd year. 

As other members have mentioned, you are clearly articulate and intelligent. Use this advantage and take care of the next 4 years. Unless you are planning to run your own business a degree is often the 'yes or no' towards getting a decent job.

Buckle down, once you have your degree and a foot in the door the work becomes much easier... you just need your foot in the door and to do that the majority of positions require a degree, even for a Thai Teaching in Thailand.

I think you should 'own what you write'... by that I mean, if you choose to be offensive then do so under your own name, not through a anonymous user name. 

Note: I also don't write under my own name, the reason for this is that some forum members can be so baiting, so childish and trollish that I imagine they may potentially troll 'real life' social media accounts just to win. 

The Thai forum panthip.com must be joined with government issued ID - meaning that posters can be held accountable for what they write. 

Here, on ThaiVisa.com people write freely, within the bounds of legality or face a ban as the owners of the forum may be held accountable. Freedom of speech is one thing, but a little dance must exist to maintain open and honest opinion. At the same time, trolls ruin it for many, interesting threads are destroyed by trolls and childish idiots who can't agree to disagree.

More on topic - there is a difference between an out and out Thai bash and on topic criticism of topic related issues which would be repeated, agreed with and often discussed with more venom by our Thai friends.

Intelligent discussion is one thing... An out and out generalized bash against a whole country is something entirely different and often borne of intensely sour emotion and a poorly balanced opinion. 

4 lanes straight on, over the Bridge towards Bangkok. 

1 lane left towards Nakhon Ratchasima.

The only issue I see is that the drivers entering the main highway from the left and wishing to head straight on over the bridge toward Bangkok have little space and a very poor line of sight to enter the highway. 

(this entry from the left would appear to be a recently built U-turn under the bridge over which the 'camera vehicle' as just passed). 

As usual, shoddy and careless road planning creates a potential for accidents... other than that, this is pretty much on par with regular shoddy road planning...

(Not sub-par, as that would be better in golfing terms, so perhaps 'over par' !!!)

It appears that the 'complete and total utter moronic, brainless fool' pulled out of a side street and turned right, the wrong way onto a dual carriageway thinking it was simply a normal road and not knowing it was divided carriageway and they needed to U-Turn before heading in the correct direction on the correct side of the divide. 

Tragic consequences resulted from what is ultimately pure dumbness.

*Additionally and even more tragically so, perhaps the infant may have survived had they been secured 'rear facing' in an infant car seat

(*someone is going to pick up on the fact that I don't know this, they will be correct, but having lived here for a number of years it still astonishes me that an overwhelming percentage of Children are not safely secured in seatbelts or when younger in child seats when in cars).

7 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

The french guy seems really annoying….if someone started filming me like that, I would take it upon myself to administer justice in the way I sought fit. This may include a broken phone or a broken nose for the offending party, or maybe both.

As I see it, this is the issue...  You can't respond to some 'annoying, whiney, whinging little weasel' at all... they will just bring you down to their level and play the victim. Any physical response will surely result in this sort of character crying foul and you on the wrong end of legal proceedings...  

In this situation, its already too late, you've entered the line with 14 items !!!!... you've make the mistake. Perhaps right response is complete and total ignorance of their presence... you don't acknowledge them, you don't hear them, you don't see them...

You may want to smash in their face, but they want that confrontation too... they want to win, to win at all costs no matter what scene they make, no matter how petty.... make no mistake, these people are not 'fighting for our rights'... they are not trying to make the world a better place, they are not protesting against minor injustices... they are simply irritating petty little weasels.