richard_smith237

You'll need to do a better job of explaining that... as its my understanding that after 3 years residence in the UK, a UK student is eligible for UK Uni rates.

So you are saying that its perfectly legal for a cars to blow through this junction at 80 kmh.... ? .... you and anyone like you are a dangerous idiot on the road.... you'll kill someone - just like this SUV driver nearly did.... IF you are saying the white lines should be ignored because they are old and no longer denote a 'stop line'... then there are not stop lines or marks, on the other road indicating they must give way either.... Thus: the roads are of equal 'status'... and as the Trike was already in the junction, the SUV still had to give way.... Now think about that ya daft toaster...

the stop junction that has not stop signage ? Yeah, right-oh champ.... ...You're still struggling I see.. out there is a hard working tree producing the oxygen wasted on you....

The size really isn't the issue... The vehicles all have to pass various safety rating to be road legal.... (NCAP / ACAP etc)... and pedestrian safety etc... The Swiss Guy was going to get severely injured if it were a Honda Jazz blowing through a 'stop junction' at speed and hitting him.... The the only facet of size that was going to make a difference is if the Swiss man was also in another car, thus protecting him - bit it still would have been a side impact, so the safety of the care (i.e. curtain airbags) would then make a difference, especially if there were a passenger). Regarding pedestrian safety I agree.... Sales matter... I'm not putting my family in something tiny.... Example at hand Volvo-XC90 is the only car in the UK in which no passenger has died. The whole point is off topic anyway....

YAWN... "Champ"... keep trying.... that only works on other bogans.... As pointed out earlier... I really hope you don't drive... I can imagine you.... after running over a mother and child while blowing through a junction....... "But there was no sign to tell me not to" !!!! Road markings are there for a reason and do not need a sign to make the valid....

Got a link to these Big C electric scoots that are road legal ? Does Big C provide all the required documents for the DLT to supply a book and plates ? Its widely known (perhaps not by you though) that these electric scooters that have been around for more than a decade can be used around the Soi's - but not on main roads such as Sukhumvit road etc... I think the legality side of it is more of a grey area than actual law, I was using the wrong term with legal - I should have mentioned 'accepted within limits by officials and law enforcement in Thailand'....... The police just wont bother you unless you are out on the main roads....

You seem to be of the opinion that lines on the road are only valid when they are associated with a sign.... (slightly different scenario) I received a ticket for crossing a solid white line changing lanes into the next lane - but there was no sign to state I cannot - I wish I had you there to argue that the Police were wrong because there was no sign !!!!

I wanted to add to this... Looking at and comparing the the photos and seeing whats available to purchase in Thailand the Mobility Trike in question (otherwise called disability scooter etc - just semantics).... appears to be the Fengchi electric tricycle. Its 500w and has turn signals / brake lights etc... has a 40-60km range. It also has a place for a licence holder which implies it is designed to be road legal. Whether or not road legalisation of these trike is possible in Thailand is different matter (and depends on the DLT). Here's some photos.... it certainly looks like the tike in the video (of the incident). This is no way diminishes the point - the SUV blew through a junction at speed, IMO, illegally. I just wanted to point out that those who are using the flawed argument that the Trike should not have been there because its not road legal are throwing up red flags for some reason to defend a reckless SUV driver.... That said: I also agree the Swiss Trike rider could have been a lot more careful in his riding.

Apologies if I took your question within the context of your usual facetious and literal approach to these discussions.... >> Fixed White Line / Solid White Line / Unbroken White Line / Thick Solid White Line

Is it...where can that classification be seen? Looks like an electric trike to me. Does that mean IF we cannot see a classification then its just an electric trike ?? - they're actually called Mobility Trikes (and most of them are road legal in other countries). IMO - It is an Electric Mobility Trike which is being used by an old fella with mobility issues.... Does it need to be road legal in Thailand - thats a grey area (they're road legal in many other countries) We can purchase electric scooters from Big C that a road legal but not on major roads... perhaps this falls into the same category.

Fair enough then.... describe it as a scooter.... describe it as a motorcycle..... The Swiss fella was on a 'vehicle' and already in the middle of the junction when another vehicle approached that junction at speed and wiped him out. It doesn't really matter what the vehicle was... there were motorcycles following it (the scooter).... they would have been wiped out too if they were further ahead or if the SUV was a second slower....

Agreed... and these scooters theoretically, as disability / mobility scooters need to be 'fit' to ride around shopping malls etc... I'm not so sure this one was in this case - so its certainly in that grey area. BUT... the legality of the scooter itself is still not the whole issue IMO.... I pointed out earlier, that the speed at which the SUV approached the junction highlights that it was going to blow straight through the junction regardless of what was in its way. It could have been anything... a pedestrian who'd tripped over, just a slow pedestrian, a motorcyclist, another car, a lorry, a samlor, tuk-tuk... Anything at all.... the SUV was belting it through that junction without any intention to slow down. SAFETY FIRST drew the parallel with Sukhumvit Road, which clearly is a road that has priority, its marked as such, has lights and junctions which denote such... This is a back-road which through poor design and poor policing allows drivers to travel quickly.... But that does not mean blowing through any junction, particularly a 'blind junction' is legal and it certainly is not safe.

I'm not as sure as you are that the driver needed to be insured, licensed or that the vehicle required blinkers... But, just like a road going trike and motorcycle - a seatbelt and bumpers is not a requirement..... you over egged it there. As far as the 'mobility scooter riding recklessly'.... I'd agree... he's certainly abandoned regard for his own safety... I'm in agreement with all posters who suggest the scooter rider was unsafe. I disagree with all posters who are implying the SUV rider has done nothing wrong.... I'm also disagreeing with all posters who are implying that the road the SUV was on has priority, this doesn't appear to be the case.

YES. they are not registered have no number plate, the same as a bicycle. ...except, unlike bicycles, they are motorised vehicles. are they not? Its a mobility scooter and classed as a medical-device.... just like an electric wheel chair - its not illegal to take one on the road when there is no pavement. That said - looking at the video this 'mobility scooter' was travelling at speed... thus, it could be argued that it was just a three-wheeled scooter. Thailand legislation has not matured enough to specify legality in these situations.

...as opposed to a loose, all-over-the-place white line? We feeling a bit 'literal' today LL ??? - take a sip of your juice...

As I understand it - as a mobility scooter is classified as a medical device, where there is no pavement (sidewalk) riding one on the road is legal without the need for it to have road tax or the rider to be licensed. That said - this is a grey area in Thailand, one that has not been covered in law, in much the same way 'regular electric scooters' have not been covered in law. So... as its classified as a disability scooter and as there is no pavement, the presence of this disability scooter on the road at this location is no less legal than a labourer crossing the road with a cart. The point IMO is somewhat Moot as the SUV was 'blasting through a blind junction'.... The only valid point I have seen so far, in defence of the SUV driver is that the 'white lines' (which appear to denote primary and secondary roads) are a remnant of an older traffic system and have not been removed (that doesn't surprise me for Thailand). But, there were no white lines 'added' to the other road to denote primary and secondary thoroughfares (roads) - thus, the roads are either of equal status, or the above comment is from Ralf that the 'The white lines are leftover from before the bypass was dual carriageway' is not true. BUT... IF the roads are of equal status... the point is still moot.... the 'mobility scooter' was in the middle of the junction when the SUV sped through it so it has priority unless the junction is controlled by traffic lights. The SUV driver was still reckless and driving dangerously.

No, the water pump runs the same as always. Not so often. Then the leak is between the tank and the pump.....

I thought everyone would be piling in with square-jaw and splayed toes..... No ???

The danger then being.... IF you [SAFATY FIRST] T-bones a motorcyclist while driving this way..... what defense will you have when the Police want to charge you for death by dangerous driving ???? - But everyone was doing it your honour... is not a valid excuse. ----------- The Road markings 'could' to be reversed to match the way people drive the roads, by switching the primary and secondary roads (from a legal perspective) such that those driving North-South parallel to the rail-tracks have legal right of way... and clear Stop Signs and Solid white lines to denote 'Give Way' on the East-West road.... BUT... as there is also a crossing - in busy traffic forcing the East-West vehicles to give way has a potentail catastrophic impact when the train barriers are in use (and a train in coming) as the North-South traffic not giving way would block the cars attempting to clear the rail crossing. Thus: The junction has to be set up this way - the issue of course is everyone ignoring and breaking the law and the Police doing nothing about the road law.... .... Poor road design, poor policing, poor drivers ignoring the rules, rider not riding defensively.

You are indeed right Sir, I stand corrected. Yield to the LEFT is the general rule. (Seems to be a lot of confusion about this. I was even taught the wrong way here..) And of course at a traffic Island (roundabout) when people misunderstand and quote this law and state that those on the roundabout must yield to the vehicles entering from the left. In the case of a traffic Island (roundabout) - the traffic Island (roundabout) becomes the principle roadway and 'entering traffic' must first yield to the traffic on that. --------- In the case of this accident - there are 'stop markings' on the 'North-South' road (parallel to the railway line) which highlights the 'East-West' road is the designated principle road way. What some are suggesting is that the 'markings don't matter' because people use the 'North-South' road (parallel to the railway line) as if it is the primary road and drive and speed along it accordingly, apparently also blasting through blind junctions. I think the confusion, poor road design, complete ignorance of the road markings and ensuing debate is a perfect example of why Thailand suffers such a high accident and road fatality rate. Even when there are laws, there are posters on here suggesting they should be ignored because everyone else does !!! In some cases I don't disagree, as 'driving too differently' itself can cause issues, but blasting through blind junctions in a 2 tonne SUV is not one of those situations.

Question for you SAFETY FIRST - would you have driven across this junction in exactly the same manner that the White MU-X SUV did ???

It certainly was not defenicive riding from the motor-scooterist (swiss guy). When approaching any similar junction in Thailand, regardless of road-markings we have to assume someone will ignore them and ride or drive defensively, which means slowing down and ensuring no one is blasting through - as many often do. Other posters are using local knowledge, but that is not a defence for breaking the law and not yielding when you should just because others haven't.... Others also drink drive, park illegally blocking traffic, in many area's riding the wrong way down a one way street becomes the norm because not doing so means taking a long way round.... that doesn't make it ok.

Agreed.... And this rule exists for cross-roads where no markings or signage exists and the roads are of equal status. I've seen collisions at small cross roads where a bike is cleaned out by a pickup - both the bike and pickup riding through the junction without any intention to stop... In this case - there are road markings.... and yes, as SAFETY FIRST has pointed out, who bothers with road markings etc ??? But, as an accident occurred, the law comes into play and the SUV blew through a junction it was 'supposed' to stop at. Equally, so, as SAFETY FIRST has pointed out, the Swiss-guy on the disability scooter was riding at a speed and a level of disregard for his own safety that makes him morally complicit in the cause of his injuries, although I'd argue, not legally responsible.

No vehicle should 'assume' right of way.... no vehicle should blow though a junction with that lack of visibility at that speed. The Swiss-guy on the disability scooter should never have been crossing that junction at that speed, neither should a motorcyclist or cyclist etc... All should be crossing with greater caution. & 100% the SUV driver should never be blowing through a blind junction at that speed without any caution or consideration for others. The swiss guy is complicit in the incidnt because he was not riding with full regard for his safety. But, IMO, the SUV driver as at fault for blowing through a blind junction at high speed (relatively) without any consideration for the safety of anyone else. In many country's the SUV driver is charged with dangerous driving causing and accident and injury to others.

A bit of 'whativery' here... what if it were a motorcyclist crossing the junction, or a child running across ? The SUV shows no intention to stop of slow down.... This driver will kill someone if they continue to drive like this. The fact also remains - that the because a disability scooter is a vehicles for the disabled, it needs no licence or tax and no licence to ride it. Switching this up a bit, with a bit of whatifery... What IF a Lorry were traveling 'East to West' (yellow arrow) across the junction, entering from the left and the SUV drove in the same direction, speed and manner 'North to south (red arrow) and didn't stop at the white across the road and impacted the lorry.... Who's fault then ? the lorry or the SUV ???