Driving at night without lights - Thai's appear to consider them unimportant?

[NanLaew]

2 hours ago, Rimmer said:

We must be an exception then, we have two CRVs each fitted with two dash cams. (only 2 cams are Thai used and owned though )

• All four are not broken through heat exposure,
• The memory clears automatically when full,
• They stay plugged in and come on when  the engine is started,
• The on switch is always on

 

One would also wonder where all the facebook vids of road rage farangs chasing Thais come from as well

Maybe evidence (if it was ever needed) of what happens when there's a friendly farang involved?

 

As for the FB posts, I only claimed that the bulk of them are in the 5 stages of uselessness, not ALL of them.

 

I will only accept their broader use by the locals when the amount of dash cam, road-rage videos on FB equals or exceeds the amount of locally generated 'food porn' on FB.

[banjoe]

There was a 5 car pile up in that new Pattaya underpass in the Bangkok direction last night around 7.30pm. Loads of lights [emoji16]

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[NanLaew]

44 minutes ago, banjoe said:

There was a 5 car pile up in that new Pattaya underpass in the Bangkok direction last night around 7.30pm. Loads of lights

Sent from my SM-G950F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Sunday night... going home... twas ever thus.

[Techno Viking]

48 minutes ago, banjoe said:

There was a 5 car pile up in that new Pattaya underpass in the Bangkok direction last night around 7.30pm. Loads of lights

Sent from my SM-G950F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

caused by flooding ?

[banjoe]

It was dry. Probably by them all tailgating each otger

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[Daveyh]

11 hours ago, Get Real said:

Oh, I understand that. I was talking about the amount of them. It sounds like it´s an amazing amount according to all the posters here.
Still 17 years in Isaan, in many small villages too. Guess I must be extremely lucky to not see a big amount of this problem.
It can also be that I choose to not pick on everything like most of the people seems to have a need for here. Just a lot of sad people.

Living in a rural area of Thailand for 17 years can restrict your knowledge about what is occurring in the "outside world". Us "sad people" as you categorize us are genuinely concerned about the continuous loss of life due to this very important issue of road safety. This topic does not warrant glib remarks such as yours & I quote " I choose not pick on everything like most of the people seem to have a need for here"! This is a serious topic & you are evidently blissfully unaware of the dangers of driving at night to characterize this as "nit picking".  

[balo]

Buddha will protect you , so no need for lights .  

[Moonlover]

23 hours ago, NanLaew said:

And the wonderful Thai traffic law says that you MUST NOT turn on light as long as you can see a car in 150m distance. "must not"/"not allowed"!

 

23 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Section 11 of the Thai Traffic Laws states:

''If it gets dark and you cannot see clearly more than 150m, you must turn on the headlight''.

 

23 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

Where's the argument here? If you can see beyond 150 m, leave the lights off. If you cannot see beyond 150 m, turn the lights on.

 

More to the point, what part of Thailand's quaint cultural trait of "up to you" seems so hard to understand here?

'There is a significant difference between 'must not turn on your lights' and 'must turn on your lights'.

 

Turning on your lights when it's dark is mandatory, leaving them off when it's not dark is not mandatory, which is what you implied.

 

There is no argument.

[Rimmer]

A personal attack and reply have been removed, can we talk about the topic please and not other posters, thank you.

[Suradit69]

On 10/29/2017 at 10:32 AM, tingtongtourist said:

Nothing suprises me anymore with what they wil come up with.555

Especially what posters seem to imagine applies to all Thais and the supposed reasoning behind it.

 

The same people who have not managed to absorb more than a phrase or two of the Thai language and who are unable to fathom the immigration requirements and terms that apply to them directly elevate themselves to experts on all things Thai that seem fodder for Thai bashing. TiTV.

[anono222]

On 10/29/2017 at 10:20 AM, Pattaya46 said:

I don't know how it's possible, seeing that on most (if not all) motorbikes sold in Thailand it's not possible to switch off the lights...

I have five motorbikes and three have light switches.

 

[dotpoom]

It's that....or the opposite....all full head lights (including fog ligjts) blazing, like mimicing a christmas treetree

 Same with the motorbikes...full lughts blazing.When walking I cover .my eyes to give them a hint....makes not the slightest bit of difference. I think they think I don't want them to recognise me.

[HHTel]

On 10/29/2017 at 10:20 AM, Pattaya46 said:

I don't know how it's possible, seeing that on most (if not all) motorbikes sold in Thailand it's not possible to switch off the lights...

When I bought my last bike, a Thai neighbour told me that with newer bikes, you have to take the bulb out to save petrol!!!!

[robertson468]

Very, very nearly wiped out a motor bike taxi driver the night before last because he had no lights on at all at 8pm and lights from the other traffic distracted vision away from this black blob coming down the road.  My Wife nearly had a heart attack, but confirmed what others have said, if I had hit him, mea culpa.  Pity the Police don't spend more time checking all vehicles for safety instead of just fining people for not wearing a helmet!

[EcigAmateur]

When you hit hem just make escape and you will be fine !

 

 

[ThaiWai]

On 10/29/2017 at 10:20 AM, Pattaya46 said:

I don't know how it's possible, seeing that on most (if not all) motorbikes sold in Thailand it's not possible to switch off the lights...

Bulbs burn out bro.  You knew that right?

[ThaiWai]

1 hour ago, Jiggyfly said:

I have five motorbikes and three have light switches.

 

Make, models and photos please.  And this is for on/off not highbeam/lowbeam switches we presume.

[NanLaew]

2 hours ago, Suradit69 said:

Especially what posters seem to imagine applies to all Thais and the supposed reasoning behind it.

 

The same people who have not managed to absorb more than a phrase or two of the Thai language and who are unable to fathom the immigration requirements and terms that apply to them directly elevate themselves to experts on all things Thai that seem fodder for Thai bashing. TiTV.

You sound so like thaibeachlovers when you speak like that.

[NanLaew]

8 hours ago, Moonlover said:

 

 

'There is a significant difference between 'must not turn on your lights' and 'must turn on your lights'.

 

Turning on your lights when it's dark is mandatory, leaving them off when it's not dark is not mandatory, which is what you implied.

 

There is no argument.

Huh? I'm not implying anything, just pointing out that 2 other members were talking about the same thing which remarkably is the same thing you are talking about. To summarize:-

 

If you can see where you're going, leave the lights off.

If you can't see where your'e going, turn the lights on.

 

Who cares if the law translates into a specific distance reference with some vague inference about dawn and dusk driving but absolutely no reference to personal eyesight and abilities to see in the dark. If one can't see where one's going but nobody else has turned their lights on yet because the law says so, one would be a bit silly if one decided not to turn on the lights, no?

[KhunBENQ]

On 29.10.2017 at 12:02 PM, Scouse123 said:

It's a problem by and large confined to rural areas and villages. The drivers in Isaarn are particular guilty of this behaviour.

Maybe.

My car was one month old (2011) when I did an excursion to Pattaya and got a big dent by a careless motorcyclist turning into south Pattaya road.

Last occurrence: an hour ago when driving into the village. Lady left turning out of the tessaban without the slightest idea to look after traffic just staring straight.

A sharp break and swerve for me.

They do it everyday and whether it becomes dangerous only depends how far into the lane they move and whether you have oncoming traffic.

Of course I got used to and have kind of a sixth sense for the situation.

[JSixpack]

2 hours ago, Suradit69 said:

Especially what posters seem to imagine applies to all Thais and the supposed reasoning behind it.

 

The same people who have not managed to absorb more than a phrase or two of the Thai language and who are unable to fathom the immigration requirements and terms that apply to them directly elevate themselves to experts on all things Thai that seem fodder for Thai bashing. TiTV.

 

 

Exactly. There aren't many of these "no lights" cases nowadays (used to be lot more years ago) and they're mostly just owing to lack of maintenance. Not that it matters "why" in the slightest--that's such a FOB question from "The same people who have not managed to absorb more than a phrase or two of the Thai language and who are unable to fathom the immigration requirements and terms that apply to them directly elevate themselves to experts on all things Thai that seem fodder for Thai bashing. TiTV." So, just another thing to watch out for at night, as I've always done routinely. Can't handle it, don't drive. 

[KhunBENQ]

22 minutes ago, ThaiWai said:

Make, models and photos please.  And this is for on/off not highbeam/lowbeam switches we presume.

True for all newer models that I have seen.

We have a 2011 Honda Click and a new Wave.

Both like described and as far as I know it has been introduced as a rule of law.

Of course no problem: your Somchai mechanic will backfit if desired

[KhunBENQ]

5 minutes ago, JSixpack said:

Exactly. There aren't many of these "no lights" cases nowadays (used to be lot more years ago) and they're mostly just owing to lack of maintenance. Not that it matters "why" in the slightest--that's such a FOB question from "The same people who have not managed to absorb more than a phrase or two of the Thai language and who are unable to fathom the immigration requirements and terms that apply to them directly elevate themselves to experts on all things Thai that seem fodder for Thai bashing. TiTV." So, just another thing to watch out for at night, as I've always done routinely. Can't handle it, don't drive. 

It doesn't need Thai language to watch the madness.

100'000 km+ is worth more.

[Thaidream]

I see several motorcycles without taillights every time I drive at night.  In the city where there are bright street lights there is no problem but on rural roads- the hazard is obvious except to the cycle driver.

 

The only way to stop this is if the police actually did their job and there were public information spots continuously on Thai TV and radio.  I used to enjoy driving in Thailand but now since everyone has either a cycle or bike the roads have become very hazardous. Instead of slowing down- people speed continuously adding to the potential of accidents.

[Stuart21]

On 29/10/2017 at 9:54 AM, Peterw42 said:

Besides being to lazy (or no money) to replace broken globes etc. There are some Thais, being a superstitious lot, believe that lights off and a ghost cant follow you home. They also take off the mirrors because you may look in the mirror and see a ghost following.

Also young kids with no license or number plates hiding from police etc.

That means there are now some whose own ghosts would like to follow them home -

[glasswort]

On 10/29/2017 at 11:06 AM, Get Real said:

What number? This is a really small amount you are talking about. Sure, it´s wrong, but the problem is not as big as you try to make it.

 

 

is not as big as you try to make it. You have to be joking and clearly you do not use the roads during the hours of darkness.

[slippery snake]

Why do I need my lights on ?    I can see where I am going ! 

same same but different as,   Why do I need a helmet ?   My head is harder than concrete !

[slippery snake]

1 minute ago, slippery snake said:

Why do I need my lights on ?    I can see where I am going ! 

same same but different as,   Why do I need a helmet ?   My head is harder than concrete !

I might add, with this type of thinking, Thailand will have the highest number of road deaths for many years to come.. 

[sawadee1947]

On 10/29/2017 at 10:09 AM, Daveyh said:

This must change asap

55555, well, and how and who should initiate that? Prayut? He promises a lot but fulfill nothing. And the police finished their job already when it's getting dark. So what`?

[Pattaya46]

44 minutes ago, slippery snake said:

Why do I need my lights on ?    I can see where I am going !  //

 

That seems obvious,

and so I really wonder how these motorbikes can drive by night without lights ??

and even worse when in rural areas with few/no public lighting !?