Surasak

8 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Typical knee jerk reaction from the govt. 

And typical knee jerk reaction from the bus companies, also.

2 hours ago, hitext said:

How are the F1 drivers going to react when they see a 1982 Honda Wave coming the wrong way towards them...

 

...with Dad (no driving license) driving and a toddler standing in front of him, Mom (no helmet) sitting behind carrying a baby, 3 kids clinging on for dear life behind her, and several chickens in a basket out front? 

You exaggerate, surely!🛵

1 hour ago, Elkski said:

Public punishment matching what the victims endured.   Sounds like 5 buses can be used for all the crooks involved.  

 

 

Now that would be a scream!

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has expressed disagreement with suspending educational field trips for students, saying that the measure does not solve the basic problem.

 

She said that such trips are not harmful to children and blamed poorly-maintained public transport for road accidents, adding that all transport used for educational field trips should be properly checked, especially for long journeys.

 

The prime minister made the comments after the Education Ministry ordered the immediate suspension of all educational field trips by schools under its supervision, except for trips which are deemed necessary, and that the trips should be confined within the schools’ province.

 

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit announced today that all the 13,000 plus public buses which use compressed natural gas (CNG) as fuel must be subjected to thorough checks within 60 days.

 

Photo: Thai PBS World

 

Full story: Thai PBS World

-- 2024-10-02

 

 

If this is implemented correctly and followed thru with on a regular basis, it is only half the problem solved.

Drivers with no full and proper training is the other half of the problem. But, who will train the drivers, and who will train the trainers!?   

3 hours ago, brianthainess said:

He got out to try and extinguish the fire twice, so your saying he should have just stayed on the bus without trying to put the fire out.................

Yes ,he should have stayed on the bus, to assist where possible to get as many off as possible. But he fled the scene. Was the result of his fleeing, a contributing action of more deaths than necessary?! The answer to that we may never know. However, self preservation is a very, very strong instinct. 

4 hours ago, brianthainess said:

Stupid statement IMO to enter an inferno like that would be impossible, your face would be burnt off at the door, even if you could get that close. 

Referencing the driver should have, 'The driver was already in the bus, not trying to get in.

4 hours ago, scott1999 said:

The very first job of any driver is to check the emergency doors before the customers enter the vehicle. Having held  PSV license which was replaced by the Operator’s License (O-Licence) Which then became the PCV. 

As I said on my Facebook post

(Just to add to this video as a driver I would rather have died in the fire trying to save the children there is just no chance that I could have left anyone on that bus, impossible)

 

Any driver worth their salts would never leave the children on the bus they would get them off first, before trying to put the fire out. 

The things that surprised me the most about these buses and coaches are the paraphernalia hanging from the ceiling flammable flags plastic fans other ridiculous mementoes it make the Vehicle a tinderbox. 

 

Here's an idea instead of spending 300,000 on a respray with cartoon characters on the outside buy some new tires get some flame resistant seats train your drivers what to do in an emergency and have a government agency come on a regular basis to check the vehicles.

 

 

 

 

Who will train the government agency staff? Who will train the trainers!?

6 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Actually the driver's version sounds very believable.  If lost control and couldn't come to a rolling stop, think I'd be thinking about hitting something to slow down or stop with.

 

Unfortunately, that put the bus doors against the wall, and possible trapped the folks in side, depending how the doors actually operated.

 

Would think the following bus would have had a dash cam, hopefully.  If open road, can't see any CCTV being available, unless very lucky.

 

Just need to figure out why he lost control, and what actually ignited the fire.   Could negate 3 of the charges.

Actually, the door is on the near side (left) of the bus, so the door was not obstructed. The driver sits on the right, but it can be difficult to get out that way for passengers.

3 hours ago, Nemises said:

They knew their pensions would freeze if they left the UK.

Next.

Possibly not!

45 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Google is your friend.

 

Fees, charges and exchange rates for using your Revolut card abroad

Now, how much will it cost you to use your Revolut card abroad? Here are the key costs and charges you need to know about:

Transaction	Fee
Currency exchange - Monday to Friday	Free⁵
Currency exchange - weekends	1%⁵
ATM withdrawals up to limit (£200 to £2,000 a month, depending on plan)	2%⁶
Spending more than your plan’s exchange limit a month in foreign currency	1% for Standard plans; 0.5% for Plus plans; Free for Premium or Metal plans⁵

One of the most important charges to pay attention to from the above is the 1% fee for currency exchange at weekends. Revolut doesn’t charge fees for spending or withdrawing in a foreign currency during the week, but this fee could make it more expensive to spend at weekends. Which unfortunately, is when many people like to take mini breaks to foreign cities.

 

Revolut exchange rates

Revolut uses their own Revolut exchange rate which they set themselves.⁷ It can differ from the mid-market exchange rate, also known as interbank rate, which can be considered as the most up-to-date rate you can get, but are only used by a handful of money services providers, including Wise.

If the exchange rate used isn’t the mid-market rate or an interbank rate, you may find that it includes a margin or a mark-up to the mid-market rate. This is how some banks and service providers make a profit, but it means you essentially lose money on the transaction.

 

International spending and cash withdrawal limits with Revolut

To help you choose a Revolut plan and watch out for extra fees when spending abroad, here are the main limits you need to know about:⁶

Plans	ATM withdrawal limit	Foreign currency spending limit
Standard - free	£200/mo or 5 withdrawals	£1,000/mo
Plus - £3.99/mo	£200/mo or 5 withdrawals	£3,000mo
Premium - £7.99/mo	£400/mo	Unlimited
Metal - £14.99/mo	£800/mo	Unlimited
Ultra - $45/mo	£2,000/mo	Unlimited

 

SO? Currency exchange Monday to Friday.  FREE!

I don't change at weekends......

ATM charges. Very rarely use ATMs.

I spend within my plans limit.

I Did incur a fee last week @B44.75 making an exchange late on a Friday, =£1:00  BIG DEAL! I had to forego my Magnum on the Wednesday.

I use the card to best advantage, which suits me.

Let me just say, don't judge others by your own way of living or standards. I do what I do and am quite happy doing it at minimal cost to me and my family. We have a very good business which provides well for us all. It wont make us rich, but equally we don't go without.

I have no intention of telling you how to spend your money, and I'm damned if I will take instruction from you on how to spend mine.

Equally, you have a choice to block me.....

3 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Which bank?

Revolut.

4 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

There is always a fee for transfers from your home country to your Thai bank account.

Popular option is WISE even though using mid market rate they have steep fee for large amounts.

 

Some of the posts have been about chump change ATM withdrawals

See how helpful that is for eg buying a condo and needing bank cheques for settlement etc etc

Dr Jack, The only fee involved in transferring £600 to BHT on my UK card via the bank app was B44.75. Peanuts, it equates to £1.00.

I have no need or desire to purchase a condo, and I haven't used cheques in 20+ years.

15 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

No, fact according to the OP.
Read the opening post > 3 years ago ....................

Please explain ludicrous not to have a Thai bank A/C.

The only bank A/C I have in Thailand is a FIXED DEPOSIT A/C for Immigration purposes. The last Savings bank a allowed to laps as I had no need of it.

7 minutes ago, Captain Monday said:

What is the benefit of not having a Thai bank account as na expat in Thailand? 

No transfer fees.

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I'm well aware of the facts.

I'm aware of the options to live in Thailand without a Thai bank account as per the chap mentioned in the OP.

I'm also aware that's it's a silly option to not have a Thai bank account for ongoing living in Thailand.

Possible to not have a Thai bank account: Yes

Stupid option: Yes

 

You obviously don't want to accept the FACT I use a UK debit card, which I use very regularly to make purchases in stores paying in Thai Baht. The card is issued by Revolut bank and I can transfer UK £ to THB on that card via their app and pay my way using THB. Simple really, so don't tell me I HAVE to have a Thai bank A/C. That is total BULL.

15 minutes ago, asean said:

Actually no... the landowner can only lease the land for use as designated by local zoning laws. Putting 99% leased land in govt control effectively retains the land in Thai ownership. It is a good idea. I cannot see who is being greedy here.

I did state 'Under normal circumstances. This is Thailand after all.

4 minutes ago, Captain Monday said:

Can you link foreign credit card to automatic debit monthly of Condo maintenance  fees, Pea electric payments and 3bb internet services? 

I have never had the need to pay those kind of bills, so no.

3 hours ago, Caldera said:

I know a few foreigners who reside in Thailand and who neither want nor need a Thai bank account. I think that's fine and it's ridiculous to criticize their personal choice. They all have means and ways to access funds when needed, and it really isn't rocket science.

 

Would I want to do it, personally? No, I like the convenience of QR code payments, free cardless ATM withdrawals and debit cards in the local currency for hotel bookings etc. All that requires having a Thai bank account.

 

But that's the thing, anyone who lives here and wants any of that can and will open a Thai bank account. Without being told by strangers on the internet that they need one.

"debit cards in the local currency for hotel bookings etc. All that requires having a Thai bank account." 

I will contradict that part of your post. It IS quite possible to to use a foreign debit card to make payments in Thai Baht. And as stated earlier in a reply to Dr Jack, I do NOT have a Thai bank A/C for purchases.

6 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

The bloke the OP referred to has been living in Thailand ongoing for 3 years.

To not have a Thai bank account is ludicrous. 

In your estimation only.

20 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

For posts above re marriage.

Ok... Hopefully divorce never happens.

For the many using extensions based on retirement how do they live in Thailand without bank account.

I hate the tax topics however ongoing transfers to Thai wife or Thai partner might end up problematic in future. 

It is actually quite possible to live long term in Thailand without a Thai bank A/C. Admittedly you did not state 'Thai bank'. I have a UK visa card which I use on a very regular basis, to make purchases in store in Thai Baht, and at ATMs. The down side to using an ATM is the charge they make. The only Thai bank A/C I have is a fixed deposit for the purpose of Immigration.

Not wanting to be difficult Dr Jack, but you should check facts before making statements.

Under normal circumstances the owner of the land decides to whom they lease their land, to what purposes it is put too and for how long. What the hell has it got to do with the government!!?? One thing and one thing only.... GREED!!

6 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Wow so it's against the law to tell people there is a checkpoint. What utter nonsense.

In point of fact it is against the law in the UK.

10 hours ago, rattlesnake said:

 

Yeah definitely, we do it all the time in France. I was surprised by @richard_smith237's account that they do in the UK too, I though it was essentially a South-European thing. I would be interested in knowing whether Germans do it (I would think not).

It has been the thing to do in the UK for at least 60+ years since I got my UK license. It is also a thing truckers do when one overtakes another. The one being past will flash to passer, so he knows he can pull back into the left lane.

Wwich two years would that be!?