kwilco

China is hyper efficient and authoritarian they have a massive untouched internal market and maufacture a huge range of things America wants (tesla car and Apple Mac for a start.) US hasn't a hope - they have no industrial base and a market that expects goods at cChinese prices and a growing percentage of the population that want him gone.

thanks - I'll watch this space.

Which ones, and why via air? - all the ones I've read were all out of date and I have a government official talking about the 60 libralisation but that was a few months back - now the new policy is to go to 30 days but I can't find any info on when or what thet entails - do you have any references?

one of the great things about the 60 day was more than 60 day - it was the unlimited re-entries - which meant you could stay in thee region and visit multiple countries without worrying about multiple re-entry visas. Basically it gave/gives great freedom of movement. Whereas few people may stay for the whole continuous 60 days, it's nice to be able to stay 31 or 40 without worrying.

Does anyone have a date for when 60 day visa free entry will be reduced to 30 days? At present this is a sword of Damocles hanging over anyone making long term plans to visit the country? What other restrictions will or will not be introduced?

that' what I've just told you! Duh!

There's no point in discussing with you because you understand so little you can't make a relevant comment.

I've seen the site..I think it's a translation problem Form, before, by, between and until are commonly misused on Thai government sites

Yes - there is a change - not significant but as you point out, the nature of traffic has changed. There are more cars - this is the normal criteria (ownership per 100k) used in road safety NOT deaths per 100k/pop. more cars, better safety features both active and passive. on the other hand road design has increased te number of unsafely designed roads - people are more experienced drivers than 30 years ago - back then the motorcar industry was in majority and "equipment" market now people are buying 2nd and 3rd cars.

and thois is in English?

Yes - it is a symptom of ALL Thai authorities web site that they are badly designed, ill-thoght out and often grossly unreliable. I get the impression that when a site is needed some nabob tells everyone that his son is an IT wizzard and can build the web site for them - the inevitable result of nepotism is a site built by someone who just hasn't the skills to do it.

so the headline is incorrect?

...but you can?

how do you know this or are you just making an assumption?

I read this a while ago, but was told that they meant UP TO 3 days before arrival. Is this real or a translation problem? - I think requiring it to be filled in a minimum of 3 days before arrival could raise all sorts of practical problem - not least people who didn't know and turn up a Suvarnabhumi without. the old system of cards would allow you to fill your card in at a bench in the airport itself. I'm sure there will be many people whose travel arrangements change at last minute - altered flights, different hotels - a lot can happen in 3 days. It sounds like a recipe for disaster.

red my post - "members of forums like ASEAN NOW dive in with their own well-meaning but hopelessly anecdotal takes—"It’s all about helmets!" or "Ban alcohol for a week!"— and in your case "How about the most basic of all rules, speed limits" - as if a single-issue fix could somehow resolve a deeply rooted and complex problem. It becomes a chorus of misinformed hot takes, each more simplistic than the last, revealing a widespread lack of understanding about what actually works in road safety policy and practice." - your comment just shows you have very little understanding of the issues and trying to make a false dichotomy out my comments shows youy have no realargument.

You really don't geddit, do you??? thet's exactly the rubbish I'm referring to.

Every year, like clockwork, the Thai authorities launch their annual Songkran road safety campaign, and every year they manage to demonstrate just how profoundly uninformed they are about the fundamentals of road safety. We see the same tired slogans, police checkpoints that appear more performative than preventative, and a flurry of short-term crackdowns that fail to address the systemic issues at play. Equally predictably, members of forums like ASEAN NOW dive in with their own well-meaning but hopelessly anecdotal takes—"It’s all about helmets!" or "Ban alcohol for a week!"—as if a single-issue fix could somehow resolve a deeply rooted and complex problem. It becomes a chorus of misinformed hot takes, each more simplistic than the last, revealing a widespread lack of understanding about what actually works in road safety policy and practice. What’s missing from both sides—authorities and commentators alike—is any serious engagement with proven strategies: things like consistent and fair law enforcement, urban planning that prioritizes safety over speed, public transportation improvements, proper driver education, and long-term behavioral change campaigns. Instead, we get reactive theatrics and internet armchair experts yelling into the void, year after year, while the body count climbs.

what do you mean by that?

basically you can drive in Thailand if you are a competent driver - someone who has the knowledge, skills, and attitude to drive safely, responsibly, and confidently in all road, traffic, and weather conditions. This applies to driving all over the world but most people are useless at self assessment. Many people overestimate their driving skills due to overconfidence and routine. It’s the Dunning-Kruger effect in action. Just because someone’s been driving for years doesn’t mean they’re skilled—they may have just spent years reinforcing bad habits. Experience isn’t the same as competence, especially if no one’s corrected those mistakes..

What is your definition of "defensive driving" and why would you reserve it for Thailand or not do it anywhere else in the world?

err

Don't know this place. I always stay at Ao Kung Kraben - I have a car and find it is essential to get around. Any of the inlets and estuaries have villas to rent but you need to be able to drive around to see them. You realise that from May onwards that area gets very wet?

Can someone say concisely, how will the USA benefit from paying all these tariffs?

sorry can't delete.