1 hour ago, Vacuum said:

If you need 10 seconds to slow down, you're going way too fast.

Think you missed the meaning.  It means don't use the brakes 'on' all the way down the hill. 

4 hours ago, CGW said:

^ How many vehicles still have brake "drums" in this day and age?

My old Nissan pick-up does!

We just made this drive a few weeks ago in our right drive 2016 Hilux Revo (it does have front discs/rear drums).  We went Vientiane to Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang and back via another route.  The road is extremely rough and an incredibly steep grade going on seemingly forever, but through some very impressive mountain scenery.  I wouldn't rate it as extremely dangerous, but rough enough so you probably shouldn't consider it in a sedan.  It's probably not as bad as some of the mountain passes between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son.  Long sections of the downhill were in first gear to avoid overheating the brakes.

 

Some of the buses heading south to Vang Vieng do drive dangerously and could cause accidents.  Worse may be the long convoys of Chinese driving luxury cars with zero consideration for others on the road.

I worked with Tee Sompop Srisawat on oil rigs offshore Vietnam around the turn of the century.
He was a great guy, hard working and definitely up to the high standards we required and performed at a level equal to or above the average expat we had there.
I find all the stupid comments about Thai driving rather insulting when aimed at him. He was well educated, technically very competent and had spent his adult life working successfully in an international environment.
5 people are dead and most comments here about different types of brakes.
He was about to relocate to Dubai and wanted to spend time with his family before he left, hence the road trip.
Rest In Peace my old friend.

5 hours ago, British Bulldog said:

Hot brake fluid will brake down and your foot will go flat to the floor and you'll have no control of the vehicle.

That's why you have to change brake fluid every 3 years...but of course not if you're thai.

Anyone who has driven on this road knows exactly how dangerous it is. Last time I was up that way a bus went over the edge killing everyone on board.

My journey scared me enough to never want to do it again!

2 hours ago, Geordie59 said:

Rest In Peace my old friend.

Sorry to hear that you Lost your Friend.

My condolences.

As for the rest of the Thai bashing posts - just more of the same from know-nothings.

 

"And they'll go fast fast fast, until Buddah takes there T-Bird away." Rip to the driver and family. *Lyrics The Beach Boys.

11 hours ago, CGW said:

^ How many vehicles still have brake "drums" in this day and age?

Go to Alaska and see

Bodies of Thai tourists to be brought back from Laos this week

By The Nation

 

 

The relatives of five Thai tourists who died in a car accident on March 1 during their visit to Laos have contacted Laotian authorities to take their bodies home for religious rites later this week.

 

 

 

The Srisawat family members died when their pickup truck plunged down a deep ravine in Luang Prabang, They were travelling in the pickup without any tour guide and the crash, which reportedly did not involve any other party, occurred at around 2.40pm on March 1.

 

The deceased are: oil drill engineer Sompop Srisawat, his parents Supat and Oun, his brother Surapan and sister Somporn.

 

 

According to Sompop’s brother, Somsak Srisawat, who along with two sisters did not join the trip, Sompop had visited and was much impressed with Luang Prabang. He wanted to take the whole family to Luang Prabang before moving to work in Dubai. The five set off for Laos in their own vehicle on February 27. Somsak and two other sisters were preoccupied and hence did not join the trip. Somsak said his two sisters had flown to Laos to collect the bodies with the help of Thai Consular Department officials for the funeral rites, to be held in Samut Prakan later this week. 

 

 

Charnvit Punnanant, president of the Nong Khai rescue foundation, said his agency, besides helping the relatives in contacting Luang Prabang Hospital where the bodies are now kept, has also prepared three vans to transport the bodies from Laos, through the Nong Khai border checkpoint to Samut Prakan as per the family’s wish.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30365110

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-03-04

20 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Cant imagine Thai's being able to drive on the other side of the road

I see lots , they must be practicing for a Laos trip.

The roads in rural and mountainous areas of Laos are notoriously bad and dangerous. When I wanted to travel by bus from Vientiane to Luang Prabang, my hotel advised me not to and to fly - 9 hours by bus, 30 minutes by airplane!