Stubborn Thai people telling the government where they can stick laws for their own good

[boonrawdcnx]

Consecutive governments have failed the Thai people by not developing proper public transport systems in time - condemning them to the only choice most have especially in the country side - cars and motorbikes causing mayhem on the roads all over the country.

Of course the people in charge in Bangkok might think it is perfectly fine for the regular Somchai to wait by the roadside in the torching sun for a converted pickup taxi that might come in the next hour or not.

Pro-active traffic management does not exists only reacting when it is too late.
People need to get around and they hardly have a choice in this country than to use whatever vehicle they have at home license or not!
A Thai friend of mine who has been to Europe says - I would love to hop on a subway, tramway, electric bus to get where I want to get like you do in Europe instead of being stuck in traffic for hours!
Appalling that Chiang-Mai as the second largest city in Thailand does not have a proper public transport system - even if they would start now to built one they are at least 30 years behind and the building work would cause chaos on the streets.

The way roads are planned and built here is inviting deadly accidents - U-turns on so called “highways” - absolutely ridiculous - can you imagine U-turns on a German Autobahn !!???
Highways are supposed to be sealed off and elevated accessible only by entrances and exits leading to secondary roads.

There was already talk about decriminalizing drug users because the prisons a filled to the brink - The country does not have enough prisons to hold the hundreds of thousands of Thais who could not afford to pay these exorbitant fines - while the rich can keep breaking the laws because 50,000 baht is just pocket change for them.

A license that anybody can get for a few baht or fines that nobody can afford are not the answer to the mayhem on Thai roads.
Compulsory driving school, proper road planning and building and proper enforcement of traffic laws on the roads is the answer - but of course not in Thailand that would mean the police would have to actually be out there on the roads catching the lunatics who drive dangerously and break every traffic law in the book who one encounters here every day when driving.
They also usually have a license they bought for 500 baht!

I am with the Thai people on this one - what good is a driving license anybody can get within a few hours without going to driving school?

Would we let people fly a private airplane after giving them a color blindness test and showing them a two hour video how it’s done?

Plastic card or not- either you are a responsible driver or you are not!


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[Vacuum]

13 minutes ago, boonrawdcnx said:

They also usually have a license they bought for 500 baht!

This was the norm 20 years ago.

[John Kassow]

In my opinion it also has to do with what people are actually able to do, in the absence of a well structured policy to motivate change. It's rather pointless to order people not to sit in the back of a pickup if you don't offer reasonable transport alternatives at the same time. Same for increasing fines. "Can't pay" on the surface appears to be exactly the same as "won't pay". First public policy must help Thai people to earn more money before it is taken away again, regardless of whether by legitimate laws or simple corruption. The policy makers should be more thoughtful before they try to force change. Not likely to happen, but that's my opinion.

[alien365]

If the laws were introduced by an elected government who pledged these changes when campaigning then I'd be with the government. But that's not the case so I'm with the people on this one.

[Odysseus123]

5 minutes ago, John Kassow said:

In my opinion it also has to do with what people are actually able to do, in the absence of a well structured policy to motivate change. It's rather pointless to order people not to sit in the back of a pickup if you don't offer reasonable transport alternatives at the same time. Same for increasing fines. "Can't pay" on the surface appears to be exactly the same as "won't pay". First public policy must help Thai people to earn more money before it is taken away again, regardless of whether by legitimate laws or simple corruption. The policy makers should be more thoughtful before they try to force change. Not likely to happen, but that's my opinion.

A good post.

I would go a bit further and say the changes break the "spirit" of the social contract (a la Hobbes)-a "spirit" that enables the Thai to put up with all the dreck that comes their way.

Basically it is that we will put up with the 'sakdina',the corruption,nepotism and the simony-if,and only if,you leave us to be happy little anarchists on a day to day basis.

This gov't knows that it cannot overstep this line.So all the proposed changes are utter flim-flam.

 

 

[lust]

2 hours ago, simoh1490 said:

I wonder if the families and friends of the 25,000 people killed on Thai roads every year feel the same way as you, I somehow doubt they do.

I can send you a list of many countries you would be much happier with their laws if you’d like.

[impulse]

2 hours ago, simoh1490 said:

2 hours ago, lust said:

This is why I love Thailand. The people tell the government what to do, as they should in every country.

I wonder if the families and friends of the 25,000 people killed on Thai roads every year feel the same way as you, I somehow doubt they do.

 

 

If they're using the only methods of transportation they can afford and not putting others at risk by making their own choices, the government has no business imposing burdens on them to protect them from their own decisions. 

 

Specifically, I'm addressing the photo of the OP where the people have chosen to ride in the back of a pickup.  Which is still a lot safer than riding on a perfectly legal scooter, even with a helmet.  Force them out of the back of pickup trucks (or baht buses) and the consequence will be more scooter deaths.  A lot more.

 

 

[simoh1490]

23 minutes ago, lust said:

I can send you a list of many countries you would be much happier with their laws if you’d like.

Go bait somebody else, I'm not interested!

 

Interesting though that you found the deaths of 25,000 people funny!!

[simoh1490]

13 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

 

If they're using the only methods of transportation they can afford and not putting others at risk by making their own choices, the government has no business imposing burdens on them to protect them from their own decisions. 

 

Specifically, I'm addressing the photo of the OP where the people have chosen to ride in the back of a pickup.  Which is still a lot safer than riding on a perfectly legal scooter, even with a helmet.  Force them out of the back of pickup trucks (or baht buses) and the consequence will be more scooter deaths.  A lot more.

 

 

I was thinking more of the driver's license issue, after all, passengers riding in the back of a pickup are rarely if ever the cause of accidents and RTA deaths.

[Small Joke]

Dream on, serfs. 

[Lunchbob]

I thought government is supposed to represent what people want not force people to obey their decisions. I must be crazy.

[Aussieroaming]

Easy, let them sit in the back of utilities and deny all tray passengers free or subsidized hospital care in the event of accidents. People can make a choice then. Same for the non licensed, no helmeted, uninsured, ride the wrong way up streets and on footpath brigade. In other words F'k em

[impulse]

5 minutes ago, simoh1490 said:

I was thinking more of the driver's license issue, after all, passengers riding in the back of a pickup are rarely if ever the cause of accidents and RTA deaths.

  

On the issue of licensing, we agree. 

 

But I don't believe it's a licensing issue as much as an enforcement issue.  Even people with licenses get in the habit of driving like wildmen when the consequences of doing so (getting there faster, ego, etc) exceed the consequences (for me as a new driver, it was tickets, points and higher insurance rates).   As proof, I see dozens of licensed and well trained foreign drivers in BKK every day who have gone native, and I'm sure they didn't drive like that back home. 

 

[727Sky]

 

 

*****Proposals to ban sitting in the back of pick-ups.****

To many workers do not have transportation. Especially in the sticks where everyone loads up in a pickup and goes to work.. What about 20 school kids hanging off the back of the pickups going to school... certainly no seat belts where there is sitting room; something I see every day ?

 

**** The Single Internet Gateway touted as protecting the Thai people ****

 

That smelled to much like Chinese censorship for anyone educated to agree to, IMO.

 

I did know a few Thais who did not have a license.. They worked 6 to seven days a week and used their motorbike to get them to work. The one day off they had was not a day they wanted to spend with the government so they took their chances on not getting caught. Is it right, nope, but it is the way it is for many. 

 

IMO Thai policing needs to change. They need actual patrol motorbike or cars on the streets instead of the occasion radar trap and road block.. Those catch speeders on the highways but does absolutely nothing with the people running red light or doing other crazy stuff in the cities and back roads.

 

Probably no one would stop for a police flashing light or even a siren with all the problems the ambulances seem to have trying to get to a hospital.. It is complicated when considering how entitled certain strata of the society seems to think they are  ..

 

Much of this stuff could be fixed if there were 15 or 30 second safety talks on T.V. or the radio during each and every news cast. Different subject for a different news cast day.  

 

 

 

[Snow Leopard]

Maybe if they went at the problem with a bit more tact and less military style heavy-handedness then it might eventually work toward a better outcome.  Education is the key here and not fines and this for sure will take time to filter through. Rome wasn't built in a day so they say.  

[mercman24]

i counted 14, yes 14, site workers i presume, sat in the back. (well not all sat as there wasnt enough bloody room) of a pick up truck a few days ago.

[lust]

2 minutes ago, mercman24 said:

i counted 14, yes 14, site workers i presume, sat in the back. (well not all sat as there wasnt enough bloody room) of a pick up truck a few days ago.

Cool story. I saw a snail in my driveway this morning. Big as my fist he was!

[mercman24]

pulled up at the lights, no bull , you need to get out more, have you seen that cattle truck around , full of workers,

[Snow Leopard]

I think to ride in the back of a pickup is not much more unsafe than being on a BMTA 30 years old bus.

As the old adage goes. " Second class riding is better than first class walking anytime"

[impulse]

6 minutes ago, Snow Leopard said:

I think to ride in the back of a pickup is not much more unsafe than being on a BMTA 30 years old bus.

As the old adage goes. " Second class riding is better than first class walking anytime"

 

And it's still safer than riding on a perfectly legal scooter, even with a helmet.

 

[lust]

13 minutes ago, mercman24 said:

pulled up at the lights, no bull , you need to get out more, have you seen that cattle truck around , full of workers,

You saw a truck full of workers. And? Get to the point already. You’re keeping me in suspense.

[Chongalulu]

3 hours ago, lust said:

This is why I love Thailand. The people tell the government what to do, as they should in every country.

Pity they couldn’t tell the country which government to have.

The irony of your statement.

[lust]

2 minutes ago, nchuckle said:

Pity they couldn’t tell the country which government to have.

The irony of your statement.

Do you forget what happened to the previous government and prime minister? You should do some research. ; )

[Vacuum]

3 minutes ago, lust said:

Do you forget what happened to the previous government and prime minister? You should do some research. ; )

Fled the scene....

[Chongalulu]

2 minutes ago, lust said:

Do you forget what happened to the previous government and prime minister? You should do some research. ; )

Which part of military coup not being anything to do with people choosing their preferences are you struggling to understand?

[sweatalot]

People who don't want laws that will protect them

are not clever and not responsible  are they?

 

So these people are to elect a fair government that will

help them and the country?

 

Now I understand why they "democratically" (better stupidly) elected thaksin.

They will always elect  the one who  promises money in their pocket - and don't care if it ruins their country

 

Don't they deserve a military government?

[Deli]

That's the way I like it Baby, I don't wanna live forever

( Ace of Spades, Motoerhead )

[hansnl]

6 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I applaud the people for defying the government. This administration is ridiculous, chock full of fake purity and notions of a higher moral fiber, and comes up with a different crackdown and law every week. Some might have some merit, but it is the heavy handed manner with which they impose them, that gets under people's skin. This current batch of leaders are completely lost. No competence. No leadership ability. No character. No gravitas. They bring less than zero to the table. 

 

Licensing is important. Something should be done about this issue. But just going out and announcing fines that amount to three of four months salary is a bit much, and not very well thought out, as usual. I think confiscating the vehicle, and holding it until a license is obtained, might be more effective. 

You think the ousted government might get better results?

[spidermike007]

Just now, hansnl said:

You think the ousted government might get better results?

 

Yes, Definitely. I think Cheech and Chong, or Brittany Spears, or the mayor of Chumporn could get better results. Fairly easy to do. This current government is so far beyond incompetent, it defies the imagination. When you add in the massive corruption, nothing has changed. Only gotten worse in many peoples opinions. I do admit the shutdown Bangkok was ridiculous. Something needed to be done. But, if anyone thought the army would be as greedy as they have been, not sure it would have happened peacefully. 

[Cake Monster]

After many decades of RTP corruption, extortion and sickening greed, the people have little or no respect at all for them left.

The situation is now as we see it, with the Police trying to rectify a situation caused in large part by themselves, and a population that are " the worms that turned ", and distrust the Authorities with every move they make.