I’m not one of those to bash Thailand and their people but…any close call I’ve had or seen in Thailand has involved one of these trucks!

Driven by people that don’t seem to understand “consequences”…they just don’t seem to understand or care about injuries/death they could cause and do cause! They are totally out of control????

If an extra 10 minutes on your trip is that important to your business your business is on borrowed time anyway!

Perfect and dangerous example of once again….“no consequences”!!

I would have to agree......the drivers of these things seem to be a breed apart.

I think the biggest problem is the police who does not enforce the existing laws.

 

I remember a trip in a van from Hat Yai to the Thai Malaysia border and then into Malaysia.

On the road up to the border Thais drove like Thais. And then in Malaysia it seems everybody followed the rules.

I asked our driver and he told me in Malaysia the police enforces the rules and it's expensive. That is why they follow the rules...

It's because they think their pickups are sports cars, when in reality these trucks have very limited grip because of their antiquated rear suspension which even in this day and age, is only slightly more advanced than what was fitted to Ben Hur's chariot.

 

And remember that many of these trucks have had extra leaf springs and shock absorbers fitted to the rear which reduces the traction even more.

 

And then add to that a bunch of drivers who are brought up to believe that accidents only happen to other people....

2 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

It's because they think their pickups are sports cars, when in reality these trucks have very limited grip because of their antiquated rear suspension which even in this day and age, is only slightly more advanced than what was fitted to Ben Hur's chariot.

 

And remember that many of these trucks have had extra leaf springs and shock absorbers fitted to the rear which reduces the traction even more.

 

And then add to that a bunch of drivers who are brought up to believe that accidents only happen to other people....

Then you get the idiots who have raised the suspension another three feet to 'look cool',  how stupid is that in terms of stability? 

28 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think the biggest problem is the police who does not enforce the existing laws.

 

I remember a trip in a van from Hat Yai to the Thai Malaysia border and then into Malaysia.

On the road up to the border Thais drove like Thais. And then in Malaysia it seems everybody followed the rules.

I asked our driver and he told me in Malaysia the police enforces the rules and it's expensive. That is why they follow the rules...

Yes,OMF, I had the same experience on a trip from Krabi to Malaysia.  Very frightening trip on a van in Thailand but quite safe feeling whilst in transit to Penang.

31 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think the biggest problem is the police who does not enforce the existing laws.

 

I remember a trip in a van from Hat Yai to the Thai Malaysia border and then into Malaysia.

On the road up to the border Thais drove like Thais. And then in Malaysia it seems everybody followed the rules.

I asked our driver and he told me in Malaysia the police enforces the rules and it's expensive. That is why they follow the rules...

My Thai wife says  the police dont  / wont enforce existing  road trafic laws because they drive the same as everyone else, &  they see no wrong  in it

Toyota Fortuners are (in my opinion) the worst vehicles on the road, because most of these people have humble/low-income ancestry but recently became wealthy... therefore they have the worst of both mentalities.

47 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

I would have to agree......the drivers of these things seem to be a breed apart.

Add to that,  Drivers of Minibuses, Motorbikes ,Cars , the list is endless,  end the "ME FIRST" Attitude

My nomination would be the traveller van/mini-buses. The drivers are super agressive lunatics and road bullies. High risk passing, tailgating, speeding, cutting people off.... they are a ruthless threat to safety.

Most vehicles are not dangerous..... most drivers are, plus

the way they load them, 3-4 tons on a 1 ton truck, springs

from a ten tonne truck, bigger tyres on the rear, but what

about the brakes......

regards Worgeordie

41 minutes ago, 2long said:

Toyota Fortuners are (in my opinion) the worst vehicles on the road, because most of these people have humble/low-income ancestry but recently became wealthy... therefore they have the worst of both mentalities.

Agree - especially black ones with full tint windows!!!

Quote

Most dangerous vehicle

Is any vehicle that has been modified. Just a few of many examples.

 

 

A few more modified vehicles in Thailand.

 

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think the biggest problem is the police who does not enforce the existing laws.

 

I remember a trip in a van from Hat Yai to the Thai Malaysia border and then into Malaysia.

On the road up to the border Thais drove like Thais. And then in Malaysia it seems everybody followed the rules.

I asked our driver and he told me in Malaysia the police enforces the rules and it's expensive. That is why they follow the rules...

Sadly expensive to have police enforce the rules too….expensive means taxes go up!

I think k it would be worth the tax increase but many would disagree

2 hours ago, cjinchiangrai said:

My nomination would be the traveller van/mini-buses. The drivers are super agressive lunatics and road bullies. High risk passing, tailgating, speeding, cutting people off.... they are a ruthless threat to safety.

Yes…they would be my very close “second choice”….went on a few excursions when I first came to Thailand and was amazed at the tricks they pulled….bullies is the term!

5 minutes ago, Kanada said:

Sadly expensive to have police enforce the rules too….expensive means taxes go up!

I think k it would be worth the tax increase but many would disagree

Not really. The police receive 95% of the value of a ticket they issue. That 95% is is pooled with others that are not frontline, so to speak, back at the station. The remaining 5% goes to the government. 

The 95% is on top of their normal police wage.

2 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

It's because they think their pickups are sports cars, when in reality these trucks have very limited grip because of their antiquated rear suspension which even in this day and age, is only slightly more advanced than what was fitted to Ben Hur's chariot.

 

And remember that many of these trucks have had extra leaf springs and shock absorbers fitted to the rear which reduces the traction even more.

 

And then add to that a bunch of drivers who are brought up to believe that accidents only happen to other people....

And many also have an extra or bigger Turbo fitted for the Racing on the Weekends

25 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

Not really. The police receive 95% of the value of a ticket they issue. That 95% is is pooled with others that are not frontline, so to speak, back at the station. The remaining 5% goes to the government. 

The 95% is on top of their normal police wage.

I can’t find anything anywhere that says that’s where the money from traffic tickets goes!

They issued 11 million tickets last year and more than 80% were ignored so now there is a new ticket system with a barcode…if you do t pay the ticket you can’t register your vehicle again (until it’s paid that  is). I agree completely with this new system….consequences always works!!

 

REVISED:

Pol Lt Gen Kraiboon Suadsong, head of a police committee in charge of solving traffic snarls in Metropolitan Bangkok, said 13,515,036 traffic tickets had been issued this year as of October 7 and recorded in the Royal Thai Police Ticket Management System.
But only 2,338,968 of the drivers ticketed had paid their fines, leaving the rest – 83 per cent – in violation of the law.

http://archive.nationmultimedia.com/photos/2018/October/19/4c372cba0d25c8db4dd126ad9d9077f9.jpeg
Of the 13.5 million tickets, 2.31 million were issued on the spot, while the rest were mailed to drivers caught on camera violating traffic laws.

3 minutes ago, Kanada said:

if you do t pay the ticket you can’t register your vehicle again (until it’s paid that  is).

Thais seem happy enough to drive without tax and insurance.

2 minutes ago, Kanada said:

I can’t find anything anywhere that says that’s where the money from traffic tickets goes!

There's plenty of info out there. Best option is to ask a policeman. That's how I confirmed it to be true.

 

Quote

Under the Article 44 order, the Department of Land Transport will get 5 per cent of each traffic fine and pass on the rest of the finei money to traffic police.

 

Talk about the straw that broke the camels back .

 

3 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

It's because they think their pickups are sports cars, when in reality these trucks have very limited grip because of their antiquated rear suspension which even in this day and age, is only slightly more advanced than what was fitted to Ben Hur's chariot.

 

And remember that many of these trucks have had extra leaf springs and shock absorbers fitted to the rear which reduces the traction even more.

 

And then add to that a bunch of drivers who are brought up to believe that accidents only happen to other people....

Many new pickup trucks are dressed up like sports cars which encourages them to drive fast .

I would impose a 80 km max speed limit for these vehicles as they are not stable at high speeds . But of course it would need to be policed and that does not seem possible .

These and the similar looking delivery vans all drive like lunatics. I'm wondering if they have tight schedules to keep to because I often see them bobbing and weaving through traffice at dangerously fast speeds. Recently I saw one weaving between lanes going so fast that the van quite literally went on 2 wheels dukes of hazard style (was very close to fliipping). Didn't seem to bother them as they continued on their merry way in much the same manner!

On youtube there is a channel 'bad driving asia'. A whole Thailand decication section.

Not for the faint of heart.

2 hours ago, 2long said:

Toyota Fortuners are (in my opinion) the worst vehicles on the road, because most of these people have humble/low-income ancestry but recently became wealthy... therefore they have the worst of both mentalities.

Yes, especially Fortuners driven by neocolonial  "lorry" drivers and bricklayers who retired to Thailand and became arrogant daredevils. 

11 minutes ago, itsari said:

Many new pickup trucks are dressed up like sports cars which encourages them to drive fast .

I would impose a 80 km max speed limit for these vehicles as they are not stable at high speeds . But of course it would need to be policed and that does not seem possible .

They aren’t race cars but they are pretty amazing vehicles these days and more stable than you might think!

Its the same in Canada….speed shops everywhere in every city dedicated to half ton pickup trucks!

These Thailand delivery trucks are “one tons” with 12 ply tires not meant to corner at speed!

The 12 ply tire is almost as rough as Solis rubber tires and poor traction at best!

 

The WORST thing of all is by the time they’ve filled that new pickup with fuel three times they’ve lost the fuel cap and until they burn the top part of the tank every time whet go around a tight turn they run diesel fuel out on the road on lee side of the truck andin the tightest and worst part of the curve!

whenever they come off a side road onto the highway with a full tank of fuel….same thing depending whether they turn left or right!

If you’re riding a motorbike you’d better be aware or you’ll be down and wondering how that happened????

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think the biggest problem is the police who does not enforce the existing laws.

 

I remember a trip in a van from Hat Yai to the Thai Malaysia border and then into Malaysia.

On the road up to the border Thais drove like Thais. And then in Malaysia it seems everybody followed the rules.

I asked our driver and he told me in Malaysia the police enforces the rules and it's expensive. That is why they follow the rules...

Very true .   But one would hope ( one being me) ....... that the laws are not enforced in quite the same manner as the US or Australia.    If that be the case we will have storm troopers screaming at us to get out of the car,  guns drawn....... for going 2 km over the speed limit and daring to ask any question.

While we're on the subject,  what's with all the scratched and whited out license plates?

All they would have to do is put a lock on the wheels of any vehicle doing that.   Two days, end of that strategy !

3 hours ago, Surelynot said:

I would have to agree......the drivers of these things seem to be a breed apart.

Yes. Yes I am.

56 minutes ago, Kanada said:

1 hour ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

Not really. The police receive 95% of the value of a ticket they issue. That 95% is is pooled with others that are not frontline, so to speak, back at the station. The remaining 5% goes to the government. 

The 95% is on top of their normal police wage.

I can’t find anything anywhere that says that’s where the money from traffic tickets goes!

You don't need to find it.   IvorBiggun2 has told you where it goes, and the proportions, that should be enough for you and if he says that only B25 of a B500 fine goes to the government that must be right!