Driving in Thailand

[Ondral]

 

I love living in Thailand, and I love Thai people, but I can say without prejudice that Thais are the worst drivers I have ever encountered. I have had my car for just one year and already three drivers have driven into my car, twice when my car was parked, like last night. In 25 years of driving in the USA I was only hit once. Let's do some math: that works out to be 75 times more likely to be in traffic accidents in Thailand than in the USA. Just my personal experience; your mileage may vary. And aren't security cameras great? I can't get enough of this video.  Has anyone had similar experiences or am I cursed?  I think this driver was thinking about running off but fortunately my neighbors across the street came out to confront him.  Again, I love Thai people, but wow are they terrible drivers.

 

[Kwasaki]

3 minutes ago, Ondral said:

Thai people, but wow are they terrible drivers

Disagree not all and it depends where you live.

[WineOh]

That was definitely your fault mate...

[sherwood]

Not all are bad drivers. I would say very many are though.

The ones that are bad drivers are very Bad.

[EricTh]

Where's the video on the confrontation by your neighbours?

[Pro1Expat]

You do see bad Thai drivers for sure but you see those kind in every country. Thailand is not as bad as some countries - try Saudi Arabia for really psychotic drivers.

My wife is a really good driver and would have no problem passing the Advanced driving test in the UK.

A few bad drivers should not be considered as the norm.

One thing Thai drivers are bad at is reverse parking, that I will grant you

[OneMoreFarang]

Look at your neighbor's car. It's parked far away from the road. Probably he has a reason for that. ???? 

[Lacessit]

The OP had his car parked projecting out into the road, he contributed to the collision.

I agree many Thai drivers are poor, most think a rear vision mirror is for squeezing zits or applying makeup. They move away from traffic lights as if it is a competition to be the slowest.

Haven't had an accident here in ten years, the defensive driving course I did in Australia many moons ago has been invaluable, and put to the test frequently.

[Dmaxdan]

41 minutes ago, Liverpoolfan said:

That was definitely your fault mate...

I agree. Anyone who parks within 100 meters from a road is asking for trouble. 

[WineOh]

13 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

The OP had his car parked projecting out into the road, he contributed to the collision.

contributed?

the OP  is totally at fault.

Just look at the video evidence, anyone with half a brain can see that he was heavily intoxicated and using his phone whilst parked up!!! ???? 

[ThailandRyan]

Looks like a possibly drunk driver, or maybe they classified at as microsleep, he bounced off of the object near the road edge just before careening into the left rear of the OP's vehicle.  Looks like the OP's car is parked properly, maybe a little close to the road, but then I have seen people just park at the curb here. Maybe time to place a few bollards at the road edge and on the corner of the property line if your going to park there.  That will stop them cold.

[Surelynot]

1 hour ago, Kwasaki said:

Disagree not all and it depends where you live.

I agree...they are not all bad drivers.....those that aren't are terrible.

[fishtank]

1 hour ago, Ondral said:

 

  Again, I love Thai people, but wow are they terrible drivers.

 

Can't see anyone disagreeing with that. They are dreadful. Even when sober which is not often.

Edited January 21, 2021 by fishtank

[Ondral]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

The OP had his car parked projecting out into the road, he contributed to the collision.

I agree many Thai drivers are poor, most think a rear vision mirror is for squeezing zits or applying makeup. They move away from traffic lights as if it is a competition to be the slowest.

Haven't had an accident here in ten years, the defensive driving course I did in Australia many moons ago has been invaluable, and put to the test frequently.

The back of my car was two meters away from the road.  Please don't libel me.  I know where I live, you don't.

Edited January 21, 2021 by Ondral

[Lacessit]

6 minutes ago, Ondral said:

The back of my car was two meters away from the road.  Please don't libel me.  I know where I live, you don't.

It must have been projecting out into the road, how else would the other vehicle have hit it? It's further out than the neighbor's car by a good 3 metres., and the post next to it is at the mid-point of the car.

It's not libel to state facts.

[Surelynot]

Just now, Lacessit said:

It must have been projecting out into the road, how else would the other vehicle have hit it? It's further out than the neighbor's car by a good 3 metres., and the post next to it is at the mid-point of the car.

It's not libel to state facts.

One........ it is difficult to see the margin of the road

Two......even if the car were sticking out no half decent driver would have failed to notice.

 

My guess the driver was drunk or on his/her mobile......let's face it....they just don't care.

[CharlieH]

There is the best excuse of all used in cases like this involving the "Farang"....

 

"If you werent in Thailand it wouldnt have happened".....actually reported as being said by a Thai Judge !

[Salerno]

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

The OP had his car parked projecting out into the road, he contributed to the collision.

 

 

 

19 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

It must have been projecting out into the road, how else would the other vehicle have hit it?

 

At the one second mark you can see it mounting the pavement, at the 12 second point you can see it dismounting as he reverses.

[PGSan]

3 hours ago, Ondral said:

I can say without prejudice that Thais are the worst drivers I have ever encountered.

. . l 

In 25 years of driving in the USA I was only hit once.

A:  but you sound to be full of this prejudice!  So why are you claiming to be without it? 

 

B:  you should have tried London or Paris!  Far more knocks on my cars there than here.

 

btw: the two of the three  serious crashes that I have been directly involved in (over many decades) were both caused by US drivers driving somewhat recklessly in LA (but that maybe does not count as the USA in this context?:-). 

[PGSan]

2 hours ago, Pro1Expat said:

One thing Thai drivers are bad at is reverse parking

Not as bad as US drivers: most of them do not even know this is a possibility! 

[PGSan]

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

They move away from traffic lights as if it is a competition to be the slowest.

Yes, that is totally weird, is it not!   Possibly another idea imported from the US?  

[PGSan]

2 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

but then I have seen people just park at the curb here.

What does that mean?  

[Catkiwi]

3 hours ago, Liverpoolfan said:

That was definitely your fault mate...

Yes, how dare you park your car so close to the road!!!????

[Ondral]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

It must have been projecting out into the road, how else would the other vehicle have hit it? It's further out than the neighbor's car by a good 3 metres., and the post next to it is at the mid-point of the car.

It's not libel to state facts.

You are not stating facts.  Both insurance company representatives, the police officer, and the driver of the truck, all agreed that the driver of the truck was 100% responsible.  Why do want to defend a drunk driver so much?  Have you actually come to my house and measured the distance between the back of my car and the road?  No, of course not.

 

Edited January 21, 2021 by Ondral

[Catkiwi]

1 hour ago, Ondral said:

The back of my car was two meters away from the road.  Please don't libel me.  I know where I live, you don't.

I am not sure how long you have been in Thailand but many see some dark humour in the fact that 2 meters is no where near far enough off the road to ensure your stationary vehicle's safety. Just to add, that you actually consider the comments that have been  proffered as libel, is, in it's self, just down right bloody funny!! Sorry Mate but yes, the % of bad drivers here is undoubtedly disproportionate to most other countries. There are worse however, few and far between.

[Kwasaki]

3 hours ago, Surelynot said:

I agree...they are not all bad drivers.....those that aren't are terrible.

Enjoy your bubble.

[Lacessit]

8 hours ago, Ondral said:

You are not stating facts.  Both insurance company representatives, the police officer, and the driver of the truck, all agreed that the driver of the truck was 100% responsible.  Why do want to defend a drunk driver so much?  Have you actually come to my house and measured the distance between the back of my car and the road?  No, of course not.

 

I'm not defending a drunk driver. I am pointing out you did not set the bar of your expectations of Thai drivers low enough, whereas your neighbor quite obviously did.

[thoengthaied]

Seems to me that by parking your car that small distance from the road you had scant regard for pedestrians forcing them to walk on the road to get round the back of your car. Selfish and unthoughtful.

[VocalNeal]

14 hours ago, Ondral said:

In 25 years of driving in the USA

 

Yes it is wonderful there amd not colisions at all.?

[VocalNeal]

13 hours ago, Lacessit said:

They move away from traffic lights as if it is a competition to be the slowest.

 

Yes why is this?