peterpaintpot

During my 18 years living in Thailand I have noticed that pedestrians have no ideas of safety on the roads. In the UK we are introduced to the Highway Code whilst we are at junior school and are told all about safe walking. On roads with the no pedestrian walkway you must walk facing the oncoming traffic so that you are aware of the vehicles and drivers are aware of you. Here it is very rare to see any Thais walking facing the traffic, often not even in single file and maybe up to ten abreast. This morning whilst at the Doctor's surgery I saw something that I found unusual, a car stopped opposite where I was sitting and the lady passenger undid her safety belt before getting out. It occurred to me that I couldn't ever remember seeing that before in Thailand. Except for passengers in my vehicle, where the rule is No Seat Belt - NO Ride!

When I started primary school in London in 1948 we would have at least one visit from the local policeman each year to tell us all of the dangers for pedestrians crossing the road. These were the days that you were respectful of the police, because they might apply light physical punishment, and if necessary visit your parents at your home to let them know what you had been up to. Retribution from your father often followed. When I was a bit older the BBC television had a series of Information adverts concentrating on road safety, such as: Clunk Click, Every Trip so you remembered to use your seat belt. All the Brits that remember that ad know that the narrator was a notorious paedophile.

As a South Londoner who has lived here in Saraburi Province for 18 years I predict that Bangkok will be under water before they can implement this plan. Recently I have realised that Saraburi Town is only a little higher than Bangkok over sea level. The land doesn't rise dramatically till on Highway 2 you are passing the two cement works. Flooding of Bangkok will be extensive.

A great Police Officer, doesn't even get his wife to use a seatbelt. Wonderfully well trained!

Good to see that the Police know how to handle the gas containers. They should be chained to a concrete or brick wall when standing upright, and always chained to to the trolley used to move them around the premises. When transported by road or train they should be chained up securely. Standing up as seen in the picture if they fall over and the valve at the top is damaged they will take off like a missile and have been known to go through brick walls without slowing down.

Methinks that there is a big gap in the Immigration system if she overstayed for 4 years and went in and out of the country 26 times. The rules need to bed changed if they cannot implement the current rules.

The motorcycle careened off of nothing! Police found it still on the overpass, it was only the rider that left the roadway. Another wonderful rubbish headline!

As a third party may I point out that the figures in the report are meaningless. Forget about the race of the riders/drivers because the important thing is to get drunk drivers off of the roads. The important information is the number of tests carried out and the number of those who failed, it wouldn't surprise me if the minute number quoted was the correct number. So few tests. The police on traffic duty have a duty to remove all drivers breaking the traffic laws from the highways. But the RTP do not do that!

Blackboard duster! I assiume that was the felt in a wooden block. In a carpentry practical lesson the master threw a small wooden block plane at the head of a student, but missed. I don't agree with violent beatings and before using that technique an escape lane should be offered so that the violent conclusion can be bypassed. Therefore no violence is needed.

Starting April the first - April Fools Day. Think about it!!

Earlier in December I drove frome Muak Lek, Saraburi to Mae Sot in Tak. I was absolutely horrified to find that many prolvices were not following the rules applied to the 120 kmh as I understood them. Which is if a highway had no level U turns the third lane could have a max speed of 120 kmh limit. I joined H1 close to Singburi and found that there soon was a 120 limit and undergroundf U turns, perfect. But further north some provinces only had level U turns but believed that it was OK to use the 120 kmh speed limit and still have level U turns - the exact opposite to my interpretation of the law and increasing the risks of high speed accidents. All of us who have lived here for some time know how well the Thai drivers have been trained and tested in a car, and the authorties in some provinces think that increasing the dangers on the highways will make the driving safer, reduce accidents and save lives! TIT

Surely they are a private enterprise, that is the problem. In the UK the police are overseen by the Home Secretary and uphold the law If you don't believe watch Motorway Police on You Tube you will see actions by the officers that cannot be imagined by Thais.

The highly intelligent Anutin states that: hub for collecting information to prevent and reduce road accidents during the New Year period! A person with average intelligence will be able to understand that it is impossible to collect information, analyse what the major problems are, and act on this information within 6 days. Sorry Anutin you are only 12 months too late!!

I am retired and have been a resident in Thailand for 17 years. In the Uk the last time I was in a hospita before I lived in Thailand I was 9 years old. During the 17 years here in Thailand I have often visited my family in the UK and twice I have been admitted to a National Health Service hospital, have been well treated and not paid any charges for my treatment. The rules then were as a person that was registered with the NHS was allowed free treatment whilst on holiday in the UK, unless it was a medical situation that had been identified before making a trip back to the UK. I think that rule is still used, but if you are interested you should check, maybe info available from the Bangkok Embassy.

Yes, I agree with you I did not look for sloppy reporting, I concentrated on the Official Comments and clarifying what other comments I saw. And also tried to point out the need for blood donations.