Video: Thai media call for justice as "farang knocks Thai off motorcycle" - You decide!

[webfact]

Video: Thai media call for justice as "farang knocks Thai off motorcycle" - You decide!

 

video screenshot

 

Pattaya news have produced a video that claims a foreigner in a pick-up is responsible for knocking a Thai man off his motorcycle in Pattaya.

 

They begged for justice in the matter saying that CCTV and witness statements were ignored by police. Pattaya News claimed this evidence pointed to the car driver's guilt.

 

The CCTV footage shows a coming together as Surasak Sutham rides his bike on the inside of the pick-up that is turning into some shops on the left on Chaipornwithee Road heading towards Sukhumvit.

 

Surasak came off and suffered facial injuries.

 

The video subtitles claim police did not use CCTV evidence. Surasak says they told him the "flash drive could not be viewed".

 

A female witness at a paint shop claimed that the foreigner had not indicated he would turn. She said she ran out and didn't see the indicator on.

 

Surasak said that the foreigner didn't turn up to a meeting to sort out the matter.

 

In big red letters accompanied by dramatic music Pattaya News called for justice in Nong Prue police precinct.

 

No one mentioned that the motorcyclist might have been undertaking.

 

Source: Pattaya News

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-11-22

 

[janclaes47]

My decision : Som Nam Naa

[ezzra]

For starters, you not allowed to drive/ride parallel/abreast another

vehicle on a single lane, but in Thailand as in Thailand, all road

rules are advisory only and you do pretty much what you want

on the road until you get caught by the police or be involved in an

accident,

in this case, this is a minor traffic accident, and no matter who's at

fault here, the farang will almost always end up wearing the blame and pay for damages...

Edited November 22, 2017 by ezzra

[wgdanson]

Six of one, half a dozen of the other. Fine 'em both.

[faraday]

Car drivers fault.

Also, because motorcycles are small & cars are big, we have a greater responsibility to drive with 'due care & attention'.

The indicators weren't used.

[observer90210]

How about applying the standard procedure used for locals...?...Public appologies, waïs, a symbolic fine and some petty cash ?!!...

 

But if severe, democratic and blind justice must be applied,  so be it...but make sure it is applied to all in the future....Thaïs and farangs, rich or poor....that would be a clear signal of a developped society.

Edited November 22, 2017 by observer90210

[Peterw42]

What is it with westerners and the need for gigantic pick-up trucks. 

A common accident in Thailand given that motorbikes are supposed to travel to the left. As a car driver in Thailand its one of the first things you pick up, check that blind spot for bikes. A lot of Thais will come to a stop, check, then turn left.

If you are going to drive a gigantic pick-up, just to go to BigC once a week, be proactive and realise you are sharing the road with hundreds of small motorbikes.

Edited November 22, 2017 by Peterw42

[PatOngo]

How about applying the standard procedure used for locals...?

You mean....driver flee's the scene?

[Dave67]

He tried to shoot on the inside when the pick up was clearly turning in, should have slowed down, his own fault.

 

In the car with my wife and some <deleted> on a bike cut across us to get to a right-hand turn while we going straight no time to brake and he missed us by I would say less than 10mm

Edited November 22, 2017 by Dave67

[Dmaxdan]

Last year a friend of mine knocked a motorcyclist off who was undertaking him. He was doing a left turn off a main road at the time. There was no video footage of the accident but he was told by the police when he was summoned that motorcyclists always have right of way and it is perfectly legal to undertake a car that is signaling to turn left (or right).

 

I wasn't there at the time of the accident but I went with him to the police station and  was present when the translator explained this to us.

[Dave67]

Just now, Dmaxdan said:

Last year a friend of mine knocked a motorcyclist off who was undertaking him. He was doing a left turn off a main road at the time. There was no video footage of the accident but he was told by the police when he was summoned that motorcyclists always have right of way and it is perfectly legal to undertake a car that is signaling to turn left (or right).

 

I wasn't there at the time of the accident but I went with him to the police station and  was present when the translator explained this to us.

Even it is legal to undertake a car on a bike, normally self-preservation or common sense kicks in, They have a similar Law in China about pedestrians crossing the road so they cross without looking. When I pointed out that someone could be killed the person i mentioned it to said "Yes but its the driver's fault"

[Peterw42]

4 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

Last year a friend of mine knocked a motorcyclist off who was undertaking him. He was doing a left turn off a main road at the time. There was no video footage of the accident but he was told by the police when he was summoned that motorcyclists always have right of way and it is perfectly legal to undertake a car that is signaling to turn left (or right).

 

I wasn't there at the time of the accident but I went with him to the police station and  was present when the translator explained this to us.

There is actually something in that, the law states that bikes, tuk tuks etc must travel to the extreme left of a roadway. It is somewhat the cars responsibility to merge with and give way to the bikes.

[stanleycoin]

if you go for it,   up the inside of a vehicle,   you better be sure you can stop or 

miss the vehicle you just tried to undertake,  if he starts to turn.

you may be  in his blind spot.

One more silly fool on the road, no sympathy at all. next 

Edited November 22, 2017 by stanleycoin

[asiaexpat]

Thailand rule #1, Farang is always in the wrong. Rule #2, motorbikes always have the right of way, even on the pavement. Pay the fine and go on with life. 

[lust]

I’m a motorcycle rider and I’d say that motorcycle is 100% at fault. 

[smedly]

The video is not long enough to identify if indicator was being used and is of poor quality, the car was obviously slowing down for something - caution required, I would never pass a car like that unless I was absolutely sure what he was doing, the Thai guy just sailed on through at speed. 

 

The Thai guy was overtaking on the inside which would normally require some care and attention since the car was slowing down - he just blasted on through regardless - Thai guys fault

 

The injuries are facial and the Thai guy was not wearing a helmet - Thai guy at fault

 

If indeed the car was not indicating then he shares some of the blame - 50/50

 

If the car was indicating the total blame goes to the Thai guy for his absolute stupidity

[stanleycoin]

29 minutes ago, faraday said:

Car drivers fault.

Also, because motorcycles are small & cars are big, we have a greater responsibility to drive with 'due care & attention'.

The indicators weren't used.

Yes like all Thais use there indicators before they turn !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

[simoh1490]

Farang is at fault for not checking, this is Thailand not the West.

[faraday]

1 minute ago, stanleycoin said:

Yes like all Thais use there indicators before they turn !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Yes but..yes but, he did use his indicator but it didn't work.

Not his fault. It was the m/c fault.

[MuuDaeng]

Years ago was in accident exactly like this, only difference is I was turning right when motorbike tried to bypass at relative high speed. He flew over the hood with his motorbike, and I thought that now it happened, probably dead Thai and I'm in deeep s*it.

But, luckily nothing. Not even visible scratch in his bike, just a little dirty clothes, no blood, even a drop, and nothing broken (they landed motorbike on top!). Only damages was in my pickup.

Of course family came and started to claim money, police came....

Long story short; first thing on station he got ticket due to driving with no driving license, and after paperwork something more to pay, and we signed documents and just took my car to shop for repairing side mirror that was broken, some paint work etc, insurance company paid all.
 

Edited November 22, 2017 by MuuDaeng

[smedly]

10 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

There is actually something in that, the law states that bikes, tuk tuks etc must travel to the extreme left of a roadway. It is somewhat the cars responsibility to merge with and give way to the bikes.

and when there is only one lane ?

 

The Thai law does not state it is ok to undertake a vehicle that is moving and that applies to motorbikes unless it is clearly turning right and indicating - common sense 

[janclaes47]

4 minutes ago, simoh1490 said:

Farang is at fault for not checking, this is Thailand not the West.

Motorbike was not there when the card driver started his manoeuvre.

[steve187]

26 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

What is it with westerners and the need for gigantic pick-up trucks. 

A common accident in Thailand given that motorbikes are supposed to travel to the left. As a car driver in Thailand its one of the first things you pick up, check that blind spot for bikes. A lot of Thais will come to a stop, check, then turn left.

If you are going to drive a gigantic pick-up, just to go to BigC once a week, be proactive and realise you are sharing the road with hundreds of small motorbikes.

they are not gigantic trucks, they are the trucks sold here and used by 50%+ of the population, and well suited to the roads here. its not a f150, don't blame the truck, blame the driver. he should have looked and signaled, not saying the bike would have taken any notice of the signal, in his quest for the land speed record. unfortunately an everyday occurrence in Thailand.

[colinneil]

10 minutes ago, lust said:

I’m a motorcycle rider and I’d say that motorcycle is 100% at fault. 

I agree with you 100%, but the pickup driver is a farang, so in a Thais eyes he is to blame.

If he stayed in his own country the accident would not have happened.

That is what the police told my wife after my accident.

[simoh1490]

1 minute ago, janclaes47 said:

Motorbike was not there when the card driver started his manoeuvre.

Perhaps not in your version of the video but in the one I've watched half a dozen times he is. I drive a pickup and the side mirrors are large, he could easily have seen the bike and should have too. Whether or not the bike rider did something wrong is irrelevant, this is Thailand, drivers know that bike riders do silly things and also do the unexpected, car/truck drivers need to drive with that in mind all the time.

[RichardColeman]

1 hour ago, faraday said:

The indicators weren't used.

Be fair, Thais drive on with their indicators for miles ! I think they see them as some kind of built in light show !

Edited November 22, 2017 by RichardColeman

[Peterw42]

Even on a single lane road, the law states that bikes must travel to the left, so as a car driver you need to be aware that there is almost an invisible bike lane at the left of any roadway. If you watch Thais, especially trucks and buses, they will often come to a stop, check for bikes, then turn left.

Its not uncommon to see a car stopped and waiting to turn left with a stream of bikes on the inside, the car waits for a gap. 

Dont forget most Thais are bike riders before they are car drivers, unlike westeners who may only be car drivers.

 

Its pretty much the law (or practice) in Thailand that a car merges with or gives way to bikes on the inside, as thats were the bikes are made to travel by law.

 

If you havnt picked up on the local practice, maybe its time to reconsider driving in Thailand.

Edited November 22, 2017 by Peterw42

[nausea]

1 hour ago, observer90210 said:

How about applying the standard procedure used for locals...?...Public appologies, waïs, a symbolic fine and some petty cash ?!!...

Agree, and this is how it would probably have been resolved, the problem is:

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Surasak said that the foreigner didn't turn up to a meeting to sort out the matter.

Well that wasn't a good move, what was a minor incident is now a big local news item.

[FolkGuitar]

42 minutes ago, lust said:

I’m a motorcycle rider and I’d say that motorcycle is 100% at fault. 

 

I, too, ride a motorcycle every day.  I don't know Thai law well enough to say that he violated any, or assign legal fault,  but I can say for certain that the motorcycle rider in this video is 100% stupid.

 

... A shoe-in winner for a Darwin Award.

Edited November 22, 2017 by FolkGuitar

[300sd]

28 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

Even on a single lane road, the law states that bikes must travel to the left, so as a car driver you need to be aware that there is almost an invisible bike lane at the left of any roadway. If you watch Thais, especially trucks and buses, they will often come to a stop, check for bikes, then turn left.

Its not uncommon to see a car stopped and waiting to turn left with a stream of bikes on the inside, the car waits for a gap. 

Dont forget most Thais are bike riders before they are car drivers, unlike westeners who may only be car drivers.

 

Its pretty much the law (or practice) in Thailand that a car merges with or gives way to bikes on the inside, as thats were the bikes are made to travel by law.

There is no such thing as stop here. Sign or no sign, Thais do not want to stop. 

 

Thai riders rarely use helmets, like this guy, they ride with blinders on, ride too fast for the conditions and expect that everyone needs to stay out of their way. They also seem to come out of nowhere.

 

I have been riding a motorbike and driving my own car for years in this country. When you ride a motor scooter make sure that no one goes where you are going! Passing a car on the inside is suicide. 

 

The scooter rider is at fault.

Edited November 22, 2017 by 300sd
not complete.