richard_smith237

There seems to be an increasing number of aggressive a-holes on the road here... 

Just yesterday I was driving with my Wife and Son in the car along a Sub Soi in Bangkok, this Sub Soi is just about wide enough for two cars to pass each other with caution, I was also following a motorcycle which was following another car. 

A Wife Toyota Mini-Van was extremely close to my rear-end, then tried persistently to overtake me. In the end I indicated and pulled to the side as much as possible to let the twit pass, which he did at speed before slamming on his breaks so as not to rear-end the motorcycle. 

As the road widened the driver pulled up to the right side of the road and stopped, so I slowly drove past the Van on the inside (left side), the passenger window was open and the Van driver was screaming profanities at me.

I've no idea what the guy was on, or what I did. But his driving and attitude was nasty... I don't want to mix with people like this, they probably carry weapons...

A couple of weeks ago it was a couple of girls in a Mini who drove around the outside of queueing traffic then tried to push in nearly scratching my car. At the time I was a bit of a jerk because I didn't let them force their way in. After the queue moved along they'd pulled in, then pulled across to the inside lane and level with me, lowered their window and shouted at me !!!... 

Too much aggression on the roads... too many poor drivers....  too many selfish and inconsiderate drivers who get angry at others... too many careless drivers who block innocent others at box junctions... IF traffic is an indicator, parts of society have gone to the Dogs.. fortunately, for the most part people are polite on very busy roads. 

Yes, I know, I'm not a cross section of Thai society, but I am an example of someone who lives in Bangkok, as are my family, and Thai and Western friends. 

In this cross section of people I know, in Bangkok, I see people using their Cards 'most of the time' when paying for a meal in a restaurant (or Mall restaurant) unless of course buying from the market or street food. 

When shopping, unless at a Market of MBK etc the transaction is by card. 

Shopping at Villa, Big-C, Tesco's etc a card is used. 

Shopping online, Tesco's delivery etc a card is used. 

Taxi unless using a regular taxi using *UBER and GRAB the payment is via Credit Card (Account).

Paying for Bills, TrueMove, Internet, True Visions, HDPrime, Water Bill etc - All paid with online Banking.

School Fees - Paid with online Banking. 

Fuel for the Car - Paid with a Card.

Income is received not in cash, but directly into the Bank. 

The Card is paid off at the end of the month using Online Banking.

The majority of our transactions are Electronic, we recently discussed this with our Thai friends who also have similar 'payment' experiences. 

This article, while it may not be entirely accurate for all sections of society does outline a shifting trend, a modernization of our spending methods, it is directly related to the rapidly growing 'middle class' and while some foreigners are only exposed to the poorest of society and fail to recognize that this growing middle class compete with our own levels of income / wealth it is fact that today in Thailand there are more people with exposable income than ever before and for the most part this exposable income is spent electronically rather than in cash transactions. 

On 6/24/2017 at 0:31 PM, starky said:

Mate these threads are all the same. Some will call them ugly, others say they look like lady boys, someone will bag for having too much plastic surgery and of course the old "the girls in my village.." It's hard to crack a decent compliment on TV too many narcs.

Agreed... but it is entertaining that some will comment that these women are ugly or that they have seen 'better looking women in villages' as if these critical posters would have ever stood any chance whatsoever with anything other than a poor undereducated rural girl in need of a financial boost...

4 minutes ago, RikDao said:

On just a practical level, Thais rarely seem to want to slow down on the highway. They try to change lanes no matter what, even if it means the car right behind them will run into the car making a right turn right in front of them. 

 

They don't seem to care. Well, not all of them are this way, but plenty are. 

 

My wife's brother drives like he has the brains and decision-making skills of a 9 year old, but there's a big hush in the car if I tell him to slow the f*** down, like I've questioned the King or something. I'll say, "His wife, sister, mother and son are in the car! Not to mention me!" Answer: "Brother know how to drive."

I tend to agree with this observation that in general Thai's hate to slow down for anything... they will speed up to block pulling into another lane, they will speed up as the lights turn amber, they will speed up in so many situations where a cautionary touch of the brakes is a far more appropriate and safe approach. 

In fact, the only thing they do slow down for seems to be the speed bump where they forget that their vehicle has suspension and they almost come to a standstill as they crest the sleeping policeman.

It could be that it is this reluctance to be cautious and slow down that increase the frequency of accident and also exacerbates the injuries.

However, in truth the fundamental issues are a very basic: Lack of adequate enforcement of traffic rules, lack of general education, lack of driving education, poor road design (frequency of U-Turns).

3 minutes ago, Rumbleg said:

It might not be poisonous gases but the lack of oxygen.

Quite right, it could have been lack of O2 or the presence of H2S.. but one thing is for certain, there was no consideration for Health and Safety at all - Confined entry is deadly, yet many laymen are completely unaware of the risks, in this case tragically so. 

2 minutes ago, how241 said:

Not a bad idea to embarrass them into doing the right thing. next time.

But its not embarrassing them... They'll laugh about it...

Really, its not a bad idea for the BiB to actually enforce the law and which will save lives. 

This isn't one of those grey areas where kids cannot get to school or a family does not have any alternative means of transport, this is simply about wearing helmets - in which case following the law is incredibly simple.

On 6/22/2017 at 9:23 AM, Srikcir said:

And to whom she wai's. Do not wai children.

Who makes this crap up... Of course you can return the Wai of Children !... 

I think she made a reasonable effort of being polite, although she did present somewhat of an effervescent over reaction of surprise with the two children in Thai dress who met her. Thai Social Media has been having a little fun with that.

This is simply idiotic... 

FINE them - It will ultimately save lives !!!... 

The shortsightedness of some frequently astonishes me - These people believe they are being clever in their thoughts that they are seeing the bigger picture.... They are just DUMB... If the BiB really, genuinely cared the would educate these kids, FINE them for no helmet and take measures to ensure that these kids (and anyone else on a motorcycle) follow the laws. 

The existing road laws in Thailand are actually very good. It is the shoddy, absentminded, careless and often absent enforcement of the existing laws which leads to the majority of Thailands traffic woes and is a fundamental factor in the high mortality rate on Thailands roads - This is a perfect example of such. 

It amuses me that a number of posters have felt the need to express that they don't care what others think of them and wear what they like, yet at the same time feel the need to express that they don't care on this forum !!!... 

With regards to the op, each to their own... However, my personal rules. 

1) Never socks with Sandles... Ankle socks with Trainers when wearing shorts, or just birkenstocks.

2) Never tuck a shirt in shorts 

3) Horizontal strips ok if slim enough

4) Dying your hair looks as if you are trying too hard (I've been grey since 30 !)

5) Shorts are fine in the city if in a casual place. I wear shorts most of the time these days (knee length). 

6) Facial Hair - no issues - you can have older fashionable hipsters, its about your style.

7) Ear & Nasal Hair - urgh.. trim it !

I see guys that are clearly trying too hard and fail, I see guys who look very comfortable in casual kit. I see scruffy scummy looking guys and guys well over dressed... But, it doesn't really matter at all... The most important thing is a healthy attitude and decent behavior in public... 

I too am wondering about this.

I'm holding the S.E. Visa from Thai Elite (renewable every 5 years - Original Member, Life time for 1 MB).

My 5 year DL will need to be renewed in November. I'm hoping to receive a 5 year renewal rather than a 2 year.

To avoid headache I will obviously have to clarify exactly which DL I am permitted (5 or 2 year) before applying for the renewal.

On 6/21/2017 at 8:31 AM, rkidlad said:

The great thing about never driving in Thailand (apart from the obvious) is that I don't have to deal with these buffoons. My friend drives a lot and seems to often have run-ins with them. I've never uttered a word to a policeman and never had him utter a word to me. It's fantastic. 

Unless drinking I drive everywhere myself in Thailand. Which means in the evenings either my Wife drives or I'll take a taxi. 

I've never been asked to 'step out the vehicle' when driving myself. In fact when driving myself I hardly ever get stopped by the BiB (I think the last time was about 4-5 years ago).

However, as a passenger the Taxi I've been in has been stopped three times by the BiB - On two of those occasions I was asked to get out of the taxi... 'for a word'... both times I refused. One of those times in a sub soi between Ekammai and Thonglor the BiB just rode off after I'd said no... The other time I was on my way out, the taxi had stopped at the lights at Asoke Junction the BiB we more insistent and I had to 'phone a friend' to get them off my back (they were just being a pain in the backside, probably wanted to pish test me etc... I couldn't be bothered with the unnecessary hassle & they had no cause, I was simply sat in a taxi !).

Thus: With 'some' of these chancing scum, it doesn't matter if you are driving or not - If they choose you as a mark, whether you are Thai or Western, driving, a passenger or walking they can become a pain in the backside.... its best to have a 'friend' to help deal with these despicable creatures. 

I fancied doing the same when buying a car...  I wanted to put a large amount on my Credit Card to build up my Thai Airways Air-Miles...  I quickly forgot that idea when the dealer told me that they would charge an additional 3% if using the card (which would have equated to an additional 36,000 baht).

So, First double check if they will charge you anything for using your CC. 

This is pure showmanship, a media bite.... 

So many posters have already identified the simple solution here, this very same simple solution could also be employed to reduce the carnage on Thailands roads nationwide. 

Under 15's caught on Bikes - Confiscate the bike (i.e. for a Month), Fine the Parents who are ultimately responsible for a minor. 

15's + riding dangerously or breaking traffic regulations - Fine them, if they cannot afford the fine, confiscate the bike until they can. 

Riding without a license etc - Confiscate the bike until they can produce the correct paperwork and fine them. 

Of course, this takes leg work, actually work, physically moving and doing something which also involves independent thinking.

Until a morally sound work ethic exists within the Police force nothing much will improve - it's is very sad state of affairs when the future is so predictable with these issues. 

14 minutes ago, Naam said:

you need to get your information straight. as already mentioned Thai does not offer first and the flight BKK-FRA is a 12 hour long day flight with passengers having the shades open admiring the Himalayas and hostesses running back and forward to cater for the various requests. i have no problems sleeping on an aircraft but i'd like to meet the passenger who can sleep uninterrupted for 12 hours during a day flight.

TG920 - Departs Suvarnabhumi Airport at 23:45 hs / Arrives Frankfurt at 06:00 hrs

28 minutes ago, Naam said:

the "downside" is that i am flying next week Emirates first class to Frankfurt via Dubai and pay 23,000 Baht less than Thai charges for business class. go figure!

Indeed... However, for some the direct route would be worth the additional cost. 

Thai have a direct route to Frankfurt...  In business (or First) many would not like to be woken up 6 hrs into a night flight, especially in First where its more like sleeping in a bed and a decent nights sleep can actually be achieved. 

IF Emirates had the 'non-stop' routes they would be better hands down, but would they still have the same cost saving compared to Thai ?

It's not quite comparing apples with apples when making a comparison of non-stop vs flights with a stop. 

Why run the same topic twice ????

There are so many property agents in Bangkok alone... 

Try Remax, Century.. Or just run a google search and contact some with your requests. 

The issue I have with property agents here is that the majority are fundamentally lazy... they don't tend to listen to specific requests and bombard to you properties which do not match. 

It may be a good idea for you to search on hipflat - find an idea of what you like and contact the agent. 

No defence of what happened here, this is tragic... 

The Foreigner had a mental illness - how was he allowed a license to drive ?

Did he have a license to drive ?

Can the Hospitals here report patients to the DLT to prevent them from driving?

Surely the onus is not on someone with a mental illness to show responsibility about driving?

Did the lady on the motorcycle have a license?

She was illegally carrying two passengers (yes, I know this is quite normal and widely accepted).

There is a lot wrong here... As always, with 20/20 hindsight these tragic consequences are as easy to avoid here as they are anywhere else in the world. 

Unfortunately, in this case it is a mentally unwell man driving a vehicle which in the wrong hands can kill... WHO allowed him to continue to drive ? or... WHO, knew of his illness and did not act on their responsibility to the public ?

22 hours ago, Bonefish said:

The price they quote you when you order an Uber car is only an estimate. The price that they charge you, after your trip is finished, is a combination of actual distance and time, plus a fixed fee. The little scam by the driver consists in passing your actual location without picking you up (feigning not to see you), then driving somewhere in a big circle and coming back to your location, picking you up and charging you for the whole trip (distance, time and fee) since first passing your location. You can see it later on the map that comes with your bill. The big circle the driver drove, without you in the car,  is part of the price they charge you.

 

As I said, this happened to me twice in a short time, with different drivers, different pick-up locations and different destinations. The first time they overcharged me for a little over 30 baht and reimbursed me when I protested, the second time the overcharge was 25 or 30 baht, but I was tired of sending them a protest email for such a small amount. I simply decided not to use Uber anymore

 

I also have a personal, ethical issue with a giant US corporation (which is not even a profitable business, Uber makes enormous losses) disrupting local transportation industries worldwide, with a total disdain for local and national laws and regulations. I observe the same situation in France and in other European countries, where taxi drivers become more and more agressive in their resistance against the illegal encroachments by Uber.

 

Uber, imo, is just another typical example of American arrogance and blatant disregard for the laws, regulations and business structures of other countries. Uber will go down the drain financially, the losses which they are accumulating will not be accepted by their shareholders forever,  and the resistance movements organized by local taxis and other transportation businesses will only become more virulent over time, not only in Thailand, but everywhere else as well. 

 

These little scams used by the local Uber drivers are also an indication that their "business model" is falling apart. They simply do not pay their drivers enough money, and they basically force them to use such scams to make ends meet. There are only victims in this whole Uber enterprise - the local taxis, the Uber drivers and the Uber shareholders. The only ones who made money out of this giant scam are the  "genius" who "invented" it,  and his accomplices.

The examples you provide show how in Thailand it doesn't matter how careful you are 'the scams can come at you from all angles' !!... 

Without wishing to Thai bash, this is simply the way Thailand works, people here seem incredibly created in spotting or creating an angle. 

Fortunately with this UBER Scan there is a form or recourse, drivers also have to maintain a rating, so if they Scam or make questionable charges you can down vote the drivers. With this in mind the majority of drivers are courteous and professional...  The Gulf in serviced standards between UBER (& Grab) and regular taxis is huge, I suspect most of this comes from the fact of this accountability. 

23 hours ago, CGW said:

Feel free to abide by the speed limits, I wont be! The problem in Thailand is traffic bunches up, then they all drive so close together its the ideal scenario for an accident! I prefer to get by the traffic and have some road to myself!

You've received a few negative responses to this... But I kind of agree with driving philosophy that its safer to drive away from a group of bunch up vehicles than be caught within it or behind because other will 'bunch' too tightly and leave little room for safe manoeuvring and very rarely permit a decent gap between yourself and the car in front. 

IMO: It is better to gently get out of the traffic into a patch of clearer road. 

The key word there is 'gently', which doesn't mean bullying your way through traffic, not that I'm assuming you do, but its clear that some posters read too much into posts and see that as you have mentioned that you will 'stretch' the speed limits to escape bunched up traffic you are clearly a driving hoon, which you have not provided any evidence of. 

When driving beyond city limits on the open road we all have to drive with a level of common sense and practicality given the driving conditions in Thailand, not everyone else who passes others is a hooligan or dangerous driver, they may be applying common sense in getting out in front of the bunched up pack. Lagging behind will only lead to further tailgaters, so that doesn't really work. 

On 6/18/2017 at 9:00 PM, Chou Anou said:

Ha!  I wouldn't be too sure about that "not hurting the passenger" idea, especially if the passenger is a farang.  Everyday Thais will often try to collect damages from a farang passenger in a taxi that's involved in an accident with their car (that's why, in case the taxi you're in ever has an accident, you throw a few hundred baht at the driver and get the hell out of there, FAST)...so why would the mafia hesitate at injuring a farang passenger in a taxi encroaching on their territory?

 

Anyway, Uber is not long for this world...they're taking a real publicity beating in the US right now for their unfair treatment of drivers, sexist comments by board members, and high incidence of drivers raping passengers.

Where do you get this utter tosh from ?...  it seems that some guys must be walking around in perpetual fear of Thai's at all times.

If you are in a Taxi which is involved in an accident, regardless of what you heard in your local beer bar you are not at fault, you cannot be blamed, you do not have to or need to pay anything other than the meter rate shown. Alternatively, if you have a pre-agreed fare just pay that or a reasonable amount for however much you have travelled (i.e. 50% etc).

There is no way you can be blamed for the accident if you are passenger, to think so is idiotic and if someone has paid under such circumstances they are so wet behind the ears they are also getting shafted and scammed in every other aspect of their life.

Anyway - Back on Topic: I don't think anyone is scared of using UBER. So far there is no precedent of attacks on passengers which could happen but it hasn't so far and until it does the assumption is that UBER is perfectly safe for a passenger, Thai or Western.

You mentioned 'high incidence of UBER drivers raping a passenger'. Yes, this has happened in various countries. Is this 'high incidence' any greater than regular taxi's ? 

While I'm not trying to defend UBER I do see your comments as quite bias against UBER which in balance offers a great service and most importantly dual accountability for everyone who uses the service both passengers and drivers are registered so any criminal activity can be readily traced. 

Slow off the mark at the traffic lights is the adapted 'common sense' approach here... 

If you are first away from the lights the instant they turn green you are the guy who gets cleaned up by the Truck which jumped the red. 

3 minutes ago, Lammbock said:

The Suvarnabhumi Airport is not that bad. They just need to get the immigration queue for economy travelers under control and offer better food selection in the Thai Air lounges.

Agreed... For the majority of passengers the overwhelming issue is with the often lengthy immigration queues upon arrival and departure.

Otherwise, Suvarnabhumi Airport is quite decent, food courts are ok, prices quite reasonable. Duty free while large is not too invasive as with other Airports, there's fast food, Pharmacies and some (but not a lot) of resting areas. 

It does seem strange that a relatively new airport relies so heavily on 'bus gates' and those busses get hot. So, at least have some better Air-con tunnels to and from the Bus Gates.

They could also improve the time it takes for regular passengers to wait for a Taxi. The Scamming taxi's is a Thailand issue, there is not much the Airport can do about that other than use the 'ticket' system and not allow Taxi's to return to the Airpot queue if a complaint has been made against them. 

It's just typical and very poor driving all around.

...  As the road merges from 3 lanes to 2 lanes, the the Very slow pickup occupying the entry lane merges into the lane in front of the black pickup who makes no attempt to slow or allow him in. Instead the Black Pickup simply merges into the outside (right most lane), forcing the pickup in the outside into a dangerous position, he had not choice but to pap his horn to avoid an accident or break extremely hard. 

The whole issue use caused by the Pickup on the very inside lane not getting up to 'driving speed'... the rest is caused by both the Black Pick up and the Cam car not reading the road ahead and not being prepared to give way. 

The Black pick up then creates an extremely dangerous and potentially deadly situation by stopping in the outside lane (we saw the video of a Mercedes driving doing the same the other day). In this case, the Black Pickup driver is placing his family in extreme danger by stopping in the outside lane. 

Then the knife incident proving that the Black Pick up driver us a total tool who has just created an extremely dangerous road situation and threatened someone with a machete.

He needs to loose his license for a while, he needs to learn and a clear message needs to be sent out that this behavior is unacceptable and will be treated harshly. He also needs to be charged with carrying a weapon and threatening someone with it. 

Perhaps its time the BiB carry out more road checks and search vehicles for weapons - Confiscate the weapons, fine the carriers and we may find that these morons drive more carefully when they know they don't have a sword to use as backup.