Grandparents and their 2 year old grandson killed in head on smash - little boy was on gran's lap on the front seat

[webfact]

Grandparents and their 2 year old grandson killed in head on smash - little boy was on gran's lap on the front seat

 

Picture: Daily Nes

 

Daily News reported on yet more carnage on Thailand's roads at the weekend.

 

In Khon Kaen three people were killed after a Suzuki Ciaz collided head on with an earth moving truck on the Lao Na Dee road near the Vithes Suksa Bilingual School in Muang district.

 

Dead behind the wheel was granddad Art, 47, next to him was his wife Somkhit.

 

She was holding their 2 year 8 month old grandson on her lap in the front of the vehicle.

 

All were dead.

 

It took rescuers an hour to cut them free from the wreckage.

 

The driver of a pick-up truck, Suriya, 40, told police what happened.

 

He said he had just picked up papaya from the market when the Suzuki tried to undertake him at high speed. But it was at a narrowing in the road and there was a collision with his vehicle as he braked.

 

The Suzuki was propelled into the other side of the road into the path of an earth moving six wheeler. The driver of that vehicle was taken to hospital.

 

Yoi Muang Kao, Khon Kaen police are investigating.

 

Source: Daily News

 

 

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[Wiggy]

No surprise.

[RotBenz8888]

  On 2/17/2020 at 3:58 AM, webfact said:

She was holding their 2 year 8 month old grandson on her lap in the front of the vehicle.

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So much talk about face mask, but child car seats is still a mystery to them. In this horrible crash the boy might have been killed anyway, but it would have increased his chances, RIP

[spidermike007]

We bought a fairly expensive child seat for our niece. She used it once or twice, then they stopped using it. When we asked why, we were told she did not like it. Huh? Children are not supposed to like child seats. They are not bought for entertainment, they are bought for safety. There is a stunning lack of personal discipline at work within Thai society, and it translates into thousands upon thousands of deaths on the roads here. 

[AhFarangJa]

We saw it all the time in Saudi Arabia too. Women sitting in the front with babies standing on their laps holding the dashboard and looking out. We used to call the kids Saudi air bags.

R.I.P. Little one, unfortunately you were in the hands of a couple of idiots.

[HollyT]

  On 2/17/2020 at 4:12 AM, spidermike007 said:

We bought a fairly expensive child seat for our niece. She used it once or twice, then they stopped using it. When we asked why, we were told she did not like it. Huh? Children are not supposed to like child seats. They are not bought for entertainment, they are bought for safety. There is a stunning lack of personal discipline at work within Thai society, and it translates into thousands upon thousands of deaths on the roads here. 

Expand  

When my daughter was born I got her a car seat for about 5000 baht from

Central - not the best car seat in the world but the best I could find in our area. When we visited the UK I bought a brilliant Britax seat and brought it back to Thailand to use instead. I can’t even give away the old

one, nobody is interested. Such a shame, something that people really need educating about. All my responses have been that their kids don’t like them too. 

[anterian]

Ironically kids on laps are often killed by the airbag triggering in a minor collision. 

[Assurancetourix]

it's like trying to explain to a thai people that wearing a helmet has nothing to do with the presence of police by the roadside.
Why aren't there seat belts on the pretend rear seat in two-door pickups?

For a very simple reason: this "bench" is only used to transport goods.
And yet we almost always see people there, not attached, of course since no seat belt.
In the event of a frontal collision or a violent rear impact, if people are not attached, they will be propelled with great violence on the people in front of them and will most certainly kill them even if these people ( in front )  have buckled their belts .

[Assurancetourix]

  On 2/17/2020 at 4:27 AM, anterian said:

Ironically kids on laps are often killed by the airbag triggering in a minor collision. 

Expand  

Because they have nothing to do on a seat in the front of the vehicle before being ten or twelve years old, or else must be attached to a specific seat "child", so back to the road .

When the Thais understand that a vehicle is not an amusement park .. the hens will have teeth.

 

To come back to this tragic accident, I am sure that the reaction of the family or those who think they know will be: they did not have the right amulet in the car 

[Jane Dough]

I have been very successful using a car seat.

 

My wife needed no convincing. The seat went in the back of the car and the child went in the seat. No excuses, no exceptions.

 

Any responsible parent should do that and never take no for an answer.

 

Rooster

[richard_smith237]

If the child wasn’t on the Grandmothers lap in the front seat he would have been unrestrained in the rear seats and still would have likely died in the head on impact. 

 

ALL infants should be in rear-facing car seats until about 4 years old, yet this only law for the first 15 months in the UK.

 

IF a family can afford a car, they can afford a child seat. There is no excuse, the stupidity and carelessness of the manner in which many drive on Thailands roads is only surpassed by the stupidity and carelessness with which many approach the wellbeing of their children in moving vehicles. 

 

Its soul destroying to see such repetitive stupidity and carelessness. 

 

 

 

To add to the issue, excellent car seats are sold at inflated prices: 

I wrote to Britax Thailand and received a the response that its due to Tax when I asked why their safety product (a Britax-Römer Kidfix Car seat) cost 3x more in Thailand (±THB 20,000) than in the UK (£159 / THB 6500) - but the Tax on a THB import is not 300%

 

No one high up enough cares enough to make a serious issue of this, also seatbelt laws were enforced briefly. 

Then there is the issue of parents with kids (infants) on Motorcycles, which I’m somewhat sympathetic to as there is often little alternative for the poor, but again, if a car / truck can be afforded, so can the car-seat. 

 

Education is also an issue: I see the Alphards pull up at Bumrungrad, the wealthy stepping out with babies in arms, no car seats in sight (yet these same people cancel a holiday due to media fear of corona virus !! (yes friends of my Wife)).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[neeray]

I fought this battle with my former gf. I offered to buy the seat for her newborn grandchild whom she loved so dearly. I lost that battle.

[sammieuk1]

Can confirm from my hours drive this morning no lessons have been learned what so ever ????Rip little one failed by fools 

[Odysseus123]

I don't care if they get killed anymore.

 

I know..it's a shocking confession but it is what it is..I simply don't care if the numpties slaughter each other..and I have no desire to drive on a Thai road ever again.

 

That's the bottom line, people-they can all massacre each other with great gusto (as they do) as far as I am concerned.

[Assurancetourix]

  On 2/17/2020 at 4:43 AM, richard_smith237 said:

see the Alphards

Expand  

 

A luxury Toyota SUV ... worth a few million baht.
To go back to the minibuses which are almost all Toyota, I have never seen a passenger fastening his seat belt.
However, there should be belts in working condition in these vehicles.
No belts in song theo which are sometimes as large as coaches and can carry 20 to 30 people.
No belt in the tuk tuk;
no helmet on the four people transported in a saleng, these motorcycles with side cars not homologous in thailand and yet there are millions of them circulating ....
In short, security seems to me an unknown word in the Thai dictionary;
on the other hand they know how to use it, in English, without knowing what it means, of course.

 

Safety First on the side of the truck and on the T-shirts of two workers. 

 

[Jane Dough]

  On 2/17/2020 at 4:43 AM, richard_smith237 said:

If the child wasn’t on the Grandmothers lap in the front seat he would have been unrestrained in the rear seats and still would have likely died in the head on impact. 

 

ALL infants should be in rear-facing car seats until about 4 years old, yet this only law for the first 15 months in the UK.

 

IF a family can afford a car, they can afford a child seat. There is no excuse, the stupidity and carelessness of the manner in which many drive on Thailands roads is only surpassed by the stupidity and carelessness with which many approach the wellbeing of their children in moving vehicles. 

 

Its soul destroying to see such repetitive stupidity and carelessness. 

 

 

 

To add to the issue, excellent car seats are sold at inflated prices: 

I wrote to Britax Thailand and received a the response that its due to Tax when I asked why their safety product (a Britax-Römer Kidfix Car seat) cost 3x more in Thailand (±THB 20,000) than in the UK (£159 / THB 6500) - but the Tax on a THB import is not 300%

 

No one high up enough cares enough to make a serious issue of this, also seatbelt laws were enforced briefly. 

Then there is the issue of parents with kids (infants) on Motorcycles, which I’m somewhat sympathetic to as there is often little alternative for the poor, but again, if a car / truck can be afforded, so can the car-seat. 

 

Education is also an issue: I see the Alphards pull up at Bumrungrad, the wealthy stepping out with babies in arms, no car seats in sight (yet these same people cancel a holiday due to media fear of corona virus !! (yes friends of my Wife)).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expand  

You make a very good point about the tax. Many car seats are very expensive.

 

The government should exempt such items from tax for the safety of their people. Frankly, they couldn't give a damn.

 

I was the translator of this story and drew attention to the angle about the child because I feel that (apart from the usual terrible driving) is the main point here. jeez, it makes my blood boil to sit here and have to translate this day after day.

 

Rooster

[richard_smith237]

  On 2/17/2020 at 4:58 AM, Odysseus123 said:

I don't care if they get killed anymore.

 

I know..it's a shocking confession but it is what it is..I simply don't care if the numpties slaughter each other..and I have no desire to drive on a Thai road ever again.

 

That's the bottom line, people-they can all massacre each other as far as I am concerned.

Expand  

 

You walk from the airport?

 

The total fvckwittery on Thailands roads impacts us all, or has the potential to when our ‘risk profile’ is elevated by our simple presence as a passenger in a vehicle in Thailands roads. 

That said, when taking intelligent precautions the ‘risk profile’ can be minimised.

[Vacuum]

  On 2/17/2020 at 5:00 AM, Assurancetourix said:

Safety First on the side of the truck and on the T-shirts of two workers. 

 

Expand  

One of the 'safety first t-shirt' guys at least use a hard hat. 

[drbeach]

  On 2/17/2020 at 4:12 AM, spidermike007 said:

We bought a fairly expensive child seat for our niece. She used it once or twice, then they stopped using it. When we asked why, we were told she did not like it. Huh? Children are not supposed to like child seats. They are not bought for entertainment, they are bought for safety. There is a stunning lack of personal discipline at work within Thai society, and it translates into thousands upon thousands of deaths on the roads here. 

Expand  

I think the kid "not liking them" is more likely to be the kid is kicking up a fuss or throwing a tantrum. Granted, it takes time to get the littlies used to them. But you have to try. It may take 20 or 30 attempts before they finally get used to it, especially for a baby or young toddler. However, once a child has reached say the age of 3 and is talking and understanding the world around them, there is no excuse.

 

I still think despite how useful they are and the fact they do save lives, they shouldn't necessarily be mandated but rather strongly encouraged. Smart people do things not based on mandates, but on whether the benefits outweigh the risks. Car seats are clearly a good idea...but in Australia it appears they are now compulsory for children up to the age of 12, which is absolutely ridiculous and indicates the dangerous overreach of too much government. On the other hand, I think car seats should be used by children up to the ages of between 4 and 6, depending on the size of the child and whether they can be securely strapped in by a conventional seat belt. 12 is taking it way over the top though.

[mercman24]

its the family on a scooter that gets me, mum on the back holding a tiny baby aloft,  just waiting to get thrown down the road, every day occurance, they have no western values as to road safety, its the shoaling fish attitude, my amulet will save me or it will never happen to me, statistics prove otherwise

[neeray]

  On 2/17/2020 at 4:58 AM, Odysseus123 said:

I don't care if they get killed anymore.

 

I know..it's a shocking confession but it is what it is..I simply don't care if the numpties slaughter each other..and I have no desire to drive on a Thai road ever again.

 

That's the bottom line, people-they can all massacre each other with great gusto (as they do) as far as I am concerned.

Expand  

My friend Odysseus123, these are shocking words from you. These words do not fit the personality that I have come to know on the forum.

We must never  say die  give up.

[sungod]

  On 2/17/2020 at 4:35 AM, Jane Dough said:

I have been very successful using a car seat.

 

My wife needed no convincing. The seat went in the back of the car and the child went in the seat. No excuses, no exceptions.

 

Any responsible parent should do that and never take no for an answer.

 

Rooster

Expand  

Yep, if the kids created too much I would pull over rather than let them out the seat whilst the car was moving. Turning up the music system in the front worked quite well too.

[Odysseus123]

  On 2/17/2020 at 5:04 AM, richard_smith237 said:

 

You walk from the airport?

 

The total fvckwittery on Thailands roads impacts us all, or has the potential to when our ‘risk profile’ is elevated by our simple presence as a passenger in a vehicle in Thailands roads. 

That said, when taking intelligent precautions the ‘risk profile’ can be minimised.

Expand  

As you said "the total Fvckwittery on Thailands roads"

 

But yes I catch a taxi from the airport.

 

The son-in-law gives me a lift back from the second airport.

 

I have informed my family that,as far as I am concerned,if they drive like f'wits then I really don't care whether they live or die .

 

I kicked a Thai woman out of the car last week for refusing to wear a seatbelt ("it's so tight!) and couldn't care less what she (or the great Thai Culture) thought about the matter.

 

Brains of marmosets.

[drbeach]

  On 2/17/2020 at 5:09 AM, mercman24 said:

its the family on a scooter that gets me, mum on the back holding a tiny baby aloft,  just waiting to get thrown down the road, every day occurance, they have no western values as to road safety, its the shoaling fish attitude, my amulet will save me or it will never happen to me, statistics prove otherwise

Expand  

I agree. What I don't get is people talking about how these people on scooters are "poor". If they're so poor, how can they afford a scooter in the first place? Really poor people back home in the west usually have NO vehicle of any kind at all, they catch the bus. Since public transportation is widely available throughout Thailand (the quality may not be that good, but that's another story) why aren't poor people just catching the bus? Is it a face thing? Like "oh, I need a motorcycle or scooter just so my neighbor knows I am not THAT poor". Anyway, just my two cents.

[toofarnorth]

Not too sure how relevent it is but the pickup driver said he had picked up some provisions when the Susuki undertook him.

Had he just pulled out without ( as they do ) looking to see a speeding car coming along ? He also added that he collided with the car .  How many times do we drive along only to find a vehicle pulls out from the side ? Plus the car undertook him , was he crossing the road ?

[Vacuum]

  On 2/17/2020 at 5:12 AM, sungod said:

Yep, if the kids created too much I would pull over rather than let them out the seat whilst the car was moving. Turning up the music system in the front worked quite well too.

Expand  

Leaving he kid at home with a caretaker would also work.

[Odysseus123]

  On 2/17/2020 at 5:12 AM, neeray said:

My friend Odysseus123, these are shocking words from you. These words do not fit the personality that I have come to know on the forum.

We must never  say die  give up.

Expand  

Well yeah Neeray you are right..

 

But having had a huge argument wih the wife about "buckle up or die" I am not in a good mood at the moment.

 

The count so far..

Daughter knocked of the bike 3 times (no helmet)

Niece in hospital for 3 months.

5 Thais in the village dead thru traffic accidents

Two farang friends inolved in costly accidents

Local school teacher decapitated when a load of hardware stuff went thru his window..

 

I would have to be about 520 years old to experience the equivalent carnage in my homeland.

 

So..yes,I am sick of it and see no possibility of change.

[Assurancetourix]

  On 2/17/2020 at 5:12 AM, neeray said:

My friend Odysseus123, these are shocking words from you. These words do not fit the personality that I have come to know on the forum.

We must never  say die  give up.

Expand  

Of course, but I understand his weariness;
live here and see day after day the same silly behavior made by adults who have half a pea instead of the brain.
and yet these same idiotic adults look all day long at the crashes that occur all over the world;
on U-tube, it's a lot in Russia, a little in China and curiously not a lot in Thailand so, it doesn't concern them ...

 

Odysseus and I posted at the same time.

[Assurancetourix]

  On 2/17/2020 at 5:14 AM, drbeach said:

If they're so poor, how can they afford a scooter in the first place?

Expand  

Simply because everything here can be bought on credit;
and you can buy a scooter of 50,000 baht over 84 months, so very low monthly payments .. of the order of 700 to 800 baht per month ...

[trainman34014]

  On 2/17/2020 at 5:14 AM, drbeach said:

I agree. What I don't get is people talking about how these people on scooters are "poor". If they're so poor, how can they afford a scooter in the first place? Really poor people back home in the west usually have NO vehicle of any kind at all, they catch the bus. Since public transportation is widely available throughout Thailand (the quality may not be that good, but that's another story) why aren't poor people just catching the bus? Is it a face thing? Like "oh, I need a motorcycle or scooter just so my neighbor knows I am not THAT poor". Anyway, just my two cents.

Expand  

Tut Tut; they can't possibly be seen WALKING to the nearest 7-Eleven now can they, such shame !