Video: Selfish Thais slammed by their own people for not getting out of the way of an ambulance

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Video: Selfish Thais slammed by their own people for not getting out of the way of an ambulance

 

Image: ThaiRath

 

A video of a ambulance trying to get past traffic on a road received much adverse comment as the Thais turned on each other.

 

In the dash cam footage the driver of an emergency vehicle, with its lights flashing and an injured person on-board, is getting more and more frustrated after trying to get past for ten minutes.

 

No one will pull to the left. No one coming up ahead on the right will pull over either.

 

Thai Rath TV featured the story quoting a doctor saying it was selfish and disgraceful. He said it was very, very, very important to show some manners and pull over as it could save a life.

 

Netizens also commenting on the footage tore strips off those who would behave in such a way.

 

While the presenters implored people using a Thai expression that translates as "good comes to those who do good".

 

Thai Rath TV reiterated that the law allows for fines of 500 baht for those who don't pull over. 

 

Though they said that this was far too little as lives were at stake and the fines should be raised. 

 

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-01-18

 

[Thaiwrath]

7 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

the law allows for fines of 500 baht for those who don't pull over. 

250 baht, if you offer a wai !

I am sure the word "deterrent" does not exist in Thai law.

[richard_smith237]

Its difficult not to 'Thai Bash' when commenting on this thread....  

 

It could be said that the 'true measure of society is in the behavior of its traffic'...  Thailand is left sorely wanting and this level of selfishness is readily apparent - it really is such a shame. 

 

A start at least would be placing educational measures on TV at peak times. Teach people that its antisocial not to pull over for emergency vehicles.... so much more can be done and very easily so if only those in positions of decision making power cared enough.....

[Dario]

When I hear or see an ambulance coming, I immediately merge away, so the ambulance can pass. I always imagine that I myself, my daughter or my wife could be in distress in that ambulance. I have escorted an ambulance in Pattaya several times to Samitivej Sri Racha and once from Pattaya to Bangkok to Bumrungrad Hospital, each time with my mother inside.

Moving out of the way when an ambulance is coming is PARAMOUNT. Why the Thai drivers don't understand this is simply beyond me ...

[maxpower]

Lack of common sense lack of common courtesy.

[shady86]

Ambulances are at the mercy of traffic and drivers here.

[chickenslegs]

When there is a cement truck coming the other way in the wrong lane they move over quick-sharpish. So I can only conclude that it is an attitude of self before others.

 

Having said that, I have noticed that things have improved slightly over the years in Pattaya. On a couple of occasions recently I have seen busy traffic on Sukhumvit road part to make an extra lane and allow ambulances through.

 

 

[kotsak]

A word springs in mind that was used by Trump recently but I bite my lips..

 

[KMartinHandyman]

How about forward looking traffic cameras onboard and a bumper guard on the front. If vehicles don’t move in reaction to the sirens the ambulance driver gently taps the rear of the offender. If they still don’t move over review of the cameras will get them a visit from police or a significant fine in the mail.

[Artisi]

1 hour ago, Dario said:

When I hear or see an ambulance coming, I immediately merge away, so the ambulance can pass. I always imagine that I myself, my daughter or my wife could be in distress in that ambulance. I have escorted an ambulance in Pattaya several times to Samitivej Sri Racha and once from Pattaya to Bangkok to Bumrungrad Hospital, each time with my mother inside.

Moving out of the way when an ambulance is coming is PARAMOUNT. Why the Thai drivers don't understand this is simply beyond me ...

Me, me, me - I'm too busy, important, stupid, selfish, tough titties - it's not me in the ambulance. 

[overherebc]

Might sound harsh but I really want to read a story about someone not pulling out of the way and then finding out it was his mother/wife/child who was dying in the ambulance.

[luk AJ]

To give way, I think ambulance need to use siren.


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[longtom]

When there is a cement truck coming the other way in the wrong lane they move over quick-sharpish. So I can only conclude that it is an attitude of self before others.
 
Having said that, I have noticed that things have improved slightly over the years in Pattaya. On a couple of occasions recently I have seen busy traffic on Sukhumvit road part to make an extra lane and allow ambulances through.
 
 

You are right, definitely improved a lot on Samui the last 2/3 years!

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[Peterw42]

4 minutes ago, luk AJ said:

To give way, I think ambulance need to use siren.


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Yes, I thought the same, the OP doesnt mention having a siren on. In the rear vision mirror its just a van with 4 way flashers on. 

[Thian]

i agree but the ambulance-drivers also need a course in how to use their wailinglights and sirene properly.

 

Same goes for the police and firemen...

[Peterw42]

3 minutes ago, Thian said:

i agree but the ambulance-drivers also need a course in how to use their wailinglights and sirene properly.

 

Same goes for the police and firemen...

I think there is something in that. If the local ambulance drivers go everywhere with flashing lights on, the public get complacent. Or worse if you pull over only to watch them go into mcdonalnds drive through up the road..

[Kinnock]

I think the uncontrolled use of sirens and flashing red/blue lights is part of the problem.

 

90% of the time the 'ambulance' is one of the commission-based freelance 'rescue' vehicles rushing to the scene of a reported incident hoping to get a commission from a hospital or an insurance payout.

 

I was on the scene of a hotel fire a few years ago - and the fire trucks and the real ambulances could not get near the scene due to the 20+ 'rescue' vehicles blocking the road. One person died on the site, no other injuries ...   and over 20 bogus rescue vehicles with lights flashing and sirens blaring jamming up the road.  After the Santika new-years-eve fire, these vulture rescue trucks were still 'rushing' to the scene with sirens sounding long after the unfortunate victims had all been taken away.  And then when they fail to pick up any injured people, the head off with lights and sirens still on to help them get through the traffic jams.

 

So it's no wonder some people don't move over.  Crying wolf with lights and sirens is leading to many people ignoring them.

 

[White Christmas13]

So I guess a life is worth 500 baht in Thailand then

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, maxpower said:

Lack of common sense lack of common courtesy.

some of the early epiphanies of learning thainess; some thing i wish i never knew

[Psimbo]

54 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

Yes, I thought the same, the OP doesnt mention having a siren on. In the rear vision mirror its just a van with 4 way flashers on. 

Errr- if you actually look at the video the strobes on the back and the roof ARE on.

 

How do you know there was no siren as this was filmed from another vehicle?

[evadgib]

I'm not sure what the official line is but i doubt if anything has RoW over oncoming traffic simply because the muppets in their own lane won't pull over.

 

(Bloody dangerous & leaves very little time for unsuspecting drivers to react!)

Edited January 18, 2018 by evadgib

[Peterw42]

1 hour ago, Psimbo said:

Errr- if you actually look at the video the strobes on the back and the roof ARE on.

 

How do you know there was no siren as this was filmed from another vehicle?

Just that the OP says "emergency vehicle, with its lights flashing and an injured person on-board" , no mention of siren on.

In Australia you see ambulances with just the flashing lights and no siren, I had always taken that to mean they are going somewhere but not urgent.

Edited January 18, 2018 by Peterw42

[Thian]

1 hour ago, Peterw42 said:

I think there is something in that. If the local ambulance drivers go everywhere with flashing lights on, the public get complacent. Or worse if you pull over only to watch them go into mcdonalnds drive through up the road..

Yes or sometimes they race on the highway with only sirene, no wailinglights...or only lights and no sirene.

 

Or they just drive slow in traffic with wailing lights, when i stop for them they even wave to me to go....they are not in a hurry.

 

In our moobaan they picked up my dead neighbour with wailing lights and let them on while loading her body, why is that?

 

Also firetrucks i see with wailing lights, driving very slow on the most righthand lane so i pass them left on my scooter and laugh at them.

 

They all are not professionally trained in how to drive in emergency.

 

In Europe i have never ever seen those guys do anything wrong, they are very professional..and that's why they get so much respect....nobody will block an ambulance in Europe, even not the son of the policechief.

[Airbagwill]

The emergence services in Thailand are essentially not even emergency services....ill equipped, untrained and inconsistent there isn't even a national code of practice or a central call service.

On top of that the number of ambulances that drive around with their lights flashing when they aren't attending an emergency is ridiculous...

They also don't all have the same siren or lighting..... it seems up to the driver or "owner" to decide what is prettiest.

The end result is a public that even if they see an ambulance don't take it seriously and that is assuming they have heard the siren which often isn't even a directional type.

They are without a doubt contributors to the high road death rates in Thailand.

Edited January 18, 2018 by Airbagwill

[kartman]

I've only seen an Ambulance take action to circumvent a red light about twice obviously an emergency rest of the time they just sit in the queue lights flashing waiting for the green.

[nong38]

I have found the same thing you pull over to let an ambulance get space and a Thai takes the opportunity to move forward! They only care about themselves, being there first even if its by one car/truck they cannot consider others and that's the problem until Thai society changes its attitude to emergency vehicles changes this continues and people die because people don't care/life is cheap thinking and 500bts is not going to change things is it?

Sorry to say this but its 3rd world thinking/driving in a country that thinks its advanced.

[baboon]

I must be the luckiest bloke on here, then. Round my way the locals shift out of the way of ambulances sharpish. Obviously I cannot comment on each and every case, but they do seem to facilitate the passage of emergency vehicles as best as they can.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

In downtown Bangkok, ambulances are traveling about all the time with red lights AND sirens blaring, and I don't think I've ever seen ANY vehicle pull over to make way...

 

I'm trying to think of some exception where someone here DID actually pull over, but can't think of a single instance that I've ever seen. The common response is just to ignore the ambulance altogether.

[surangw]

have a dash cam  in the ambulance and use it to get lic plate images to issue tickets 

[luk AJ]

In downtown Bangkok, ambulances are traveling about all the time with red lights AND sirens blaring, and I don't think I've ever seen ANY vehicle pull over to make way...
 
I'm trying to think of some exception where someone here DID actually pull over, but can't think of a single instance that I've ever seen. The common response is just to ignore the ambulance altogether.

I live in Bangkok to and when ambulance has siren on I always see the cars make place. How can this be?


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