Video: Car doors (and the people who open them)....enemy of motorcyclists claims another victim

 

Image: Thai Rath

 

A 31 year old Thai woman motorcyclist was taken to hospital after a driver getting his laundry opened his pick-up door right into her path. 

 

She was involved in a collision with the door then was then run over by a Honda Civic coming up behind. 

 

Warning: Graphic Footage

 

 

Waraporn was taken to Ban Beung hospital after the accident on the Ban Beung to Nong Bon Daeng Road in Chonburi yesterday evening. 

 

Police examined dash cam footage from the Civic to determine what happened.

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

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My guess is that will be classed as an accident and all is forgotten. Thicky who opened the car door should be prosecuted

 

 

car doors have been around for years and this one was perfectly innocent!

 

how hard is it, especially in a country as over run with motorcycles as this one, to just check before opening a car door onto a busy road.

 

i did see someone take out an opening car door with their car in a car park once, i couldn't help ruefully smiling as it was such an obviously easy accident to avoid.

13 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

She was involved in a collision with the door then was then run over by a Honda Civic coming up behind. 

manslaughter; throw the book at the door-opener

I opened the curb side door of a taxi in BKK and took out a motorcyclist whizzing down the gutter lane.

 

Bent the taxi door backwards. He wasn't very happy.

 

My fault? Maybe. 

 

In this case, just an accident - both should have been more aware.

Motorcycle right, car wrong.

 

Long long ago I wrongly opened a car door just 10 inches. A metropolitan bus caught the edge of the door in its stairwell and instantly ripped it out of my hand and off the car. They explained it was my fault.

Edited January 18, 20206 yr by rabas

Why can't drivers look behind before opening doors? RIght side of the brain not working?

One of the main pitfalls of riding a motorbike anywhere is people opening doors carelessly among other dangerous situations just waiting to cause griff to anyone on two wheels, and from someone who rode and still ride motorbikes for many years now my opinion is that the onus is on the rider to be extra vigilant at all times and just hope for the best...

17 minutes ago, ezzra said:

One of the main pitfalls of riding a motorbike anywhere is people opening doors carelessly among other dangerous situations just waiting to cause griff to anyone on two wheels, and from someone who rode and still ride motorbikes for many years now my opinion is that the onus is on the rider to be extra vigilant at all times and just hope for the best...

Pretty much what I was taught! expect the worse, no joy in crying from your hospital bed that you were in the right!

45 minutes ago, DLock said:

I opened the curb side door of a taxi in BKK and took out a motorcyclist whizzing down the gutter lane.

 

Bent the taxi door backwards. He wasn't very happy.

 

My fault? Maybe. 

 

In this case, just an accident - both should have been more aware.

I had the same experience. The inner bike lanes are highly dangerous, especially when motorcyclists drive in them at high speed, and both with and against the traffic. It also makes turning left into a soi very hazardous, and they appear to have magical powers to make red lights appear green to motocy drivers, at zebra (pedestrian) crossings. Of course a pavement, (or sidewalk) is also a wonderful new bike lane facility to motocy, and every which way.

 

My accident happened near to my condo, so my trusty condo office staff came to my rescue, and although the taxi driver "dropped" me to alight from his car, I paid him THB2000 to fix his door; my fault for being a farang. The motocy driver wanted money on the same basis as the "farang tax", but was less successful in extorting it.

 

Does any other city have inner motor bike lanes? What's the logic of making it the inner lane? 

Edited January 18, 20206 yr by samtam

47 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

My guess is that will be classed as an accident and all is forgotten. Thicky who opened the car door should be prosecuted

 

Many Thais do this, selfish ,  no thought  for others,  just like their  double  parking as they cant walk 2  inches for whatever they want, they also dont like  it much when you tell them this,  but i enjoy telling them anyway, witness ANY Tesco disabled  bay or mother and  children bays....totally  abused, lazy/selfish, its a national trait for many.

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Police examined dash cam footage from the Civic to determine

how  much they could extort out of this??

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Police examined dash cam footage from the Civic to determine what happened.

Do they need to see a video for this?

Anyone who opens a vehicle door without taking the precaution that it can do so without danger to other road users is at fault.
But obviously the mirror is not used for that since it is exclusively used to redo a beauty ...

I was taught to check my mirrors, then actually turn and look over my shoulder before opening the door. Here I go one further an open the door just a little and look directly back down the road before opening fully. 

 

Of course, the critical word in my post above is 'taught'. 

 

 

 

37 minutes ago, Somtamnication said:

Why can't drivers look behind before opening doors? RIght side of the brain not working?

Most drivers in Thailand don't "look". Doesn't matter if they stand still or move.

They expect that all others "look".
And this is the only solution for yourself. Keep your eyes wide open.

45 minutes ago, rabas said:

Motorcycle right,

Not  100%   correct, UK highway code states  leaving a  car doors  width when passing parked  vehicles..........whether that applies to Thailand I have no idea.

As usual no helmet on the bike rider and the routine check  mirror, glance behind  , indicate etc  pull  out to do this totally absent. Points for  actually  got  mirrors  though

Pick up driver is a retard but "normal"

Well, I differ inexperienced m/b driver.

You need to have your head on a swivel here.  These incidents can be avoided if driving defensively and smartly.  The mb rider should have been a few feet to the right to avoid this. 

Think ahead and predict the worst!

As much as I also want to blame the person opening the car door, this is like a double edged sword. Sure the person just smashing up the door without taking a look in his back mirror first is at fault. However, everybody driving a motorbike in Thailand or another car, must also be aware of what happens and can happen. Therefore one shall never drive close enough to a parked car to have a chance to be hit by a thoughtless person suddenly pushing it open.

One good example is when I am on my small 125cc automatic motorbike every day driving my daughter to school. It´s about 7 km on big road to her school. Everyday I have people driving car coming up behind and honking the horn. That just because it´s a common thing that all driving motorbike in thailand should give all the lanes to the cars and stay in the emergency lane.

In a way that is also what causes this accident, except that the stupid man open the door without looking. People are thought to drive motorbike as far out on the side of the road as possible. Therefore they also drive to close to the danger of parked cars and all that includes.

Bet your life that if it had been one of us, they'd be suing for a new door by now

Not 100% sure, but I think it's the Netherlands where when you learn driving you're instructed (as the driver) to open the car door with your right hand. In Thailand (and others) it's the left hand accordingly. Try it and you'll see that you almost can't avoid to look back automatically. Have to get used to it though

As an old guy riding a bicycle this happened to me.  I know that wearing a helmet makes you look like a d**k but at least the sizeable chip came out of the helmet and not out of my head.

4 hours ago, samsensam said:

 

car doors have been around for years and this one was perfectly innocent!

 

how hard is it, especially in a country as over run with motorcycles as this one, to just check before opening a car door onto a busy road.

 

i did see someone take out an opening car door with their car in a car park once, i couldn't help ruefully smiling as it was such an obviously easy accident to avoid.

What'd'ya mean? They always check for m/b coming toward them...if the front is clear, yeah okay to open the door. I mean, what motorcyclist in their right mind would be coming from behind? Ha!

4 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Why can't drivers look behind before opening doors? RIght side of the brain not working?

I think a lot of Newbies arent thinking, alsi

4 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Well, I differ inexperienced m/b driver.

You need to have your head on a swivel here.  These incidents can be avoided if driving defensively and smartly.  The mb rider should have been a few feet to the right to avoid this. 

Think ahead and predict the worst!

Absolutely. That's what defensive driving is about - trust no one.

When I'm on my motorbike and overtake I always allow two metres when passing any stopped 4 wheel vehicle.

You need to allow for anyone in one of those vehicles (parked or just stopped) to fling open the door without looking.

It's happened to me a few times. Fortunately avoided the door by having enough distance between it and me.

1 hour ago, pikao said:

Not 100% sure, but I think it's the Netherlands where when you learn driving you're instructed (as the driver) to open the car door with your right hand. In Thailand (and others) it's the left hand accordingly. Try it and you'll see that you almost can't avoid to look back automatically. Have to get used to it though

 Yes in BritEng, it is called “The Dutch Reach”.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6288407/Drivers-told-use-Dutch-reach-technique-opening-doors-new-Highway-Code.html

 

But it is not universally popular with British drivers, so I would imagine that it may not catch on in Thailand.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4212476/Dutch-Reach-technique-opening-car-doors-ridiculed.html

 

 

5 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Why can't drivers look behind before opening doors? RIght side of the brain not working?

Same reason they can't look to the right when coming out of a side road. Retardation and not having the survival gene.

My experience is that most Thais are very aware of opening car doors. They are accustomed to motorcycles everywhere and neither want their cars damaged nor to hurt others. 

 

I am particularly careful, however, when on my bikes in tourist areas passing taxis. 

 

Rooster

33 minutes ago, silver sea said:

Yes in BritEng, it is called “The Dutch Reach”.

 

It actually does work from the inside too. The "open window" technique was unknown to me. It does look a bit ridicoulos. And the rain...

6 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Why can't drivers look behind before opening doors? RIght side of the brain not working?

Drivers have a problem looking forward, add any other direction into the mix you're asking too much.

Happened to my wife on her motorbike (real motorbike not scooter). She managed to miss the door but she got a fright and gave a very rare dressing down of the man whose reply really optimised Thainess "I have money, I not care".