Campaign needed to educate Thai drivers about stopping at red traffic lights

[NoshowJones]

8 hours ago, whaleboneman said:

Good luck finding anyone who has 5000 baht on them. 

If they have the choice of paying 5000Bt or having their vehicle impounded, you can bet they will quickly come up with the 5000Bt.

[Thunglom]

Such waste of time and breath.

It's Not traffic lights, it's not just educating drivers.

Thailand has failed to adopt a holistic road safety policy. 

Piecemeal campaigns on single issues will make NO SIGNIFICANT change.

Until Thailand adopts a universal national road safety plan the death rate and there statistics will remain the same.

 

Telling people what you saw happen the other day is just a joke.

[fgmr]

3 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Only one sentence is needed for this.

 

"Educating Thai drivers about red lights would only be one big waste of time".

A complete overhaul of the proceedures required to obtain a Driving License is what is actually needed in this country.

Driving on a Test Track located at a Test Centre is no qualification to assure ability to participate on public roads. Plod will stop an 11 year old for not wearing a helmet but never known to query License or insurance details.

When a person is unbable to pass even the rudimentary tests within the Test Centre and is still issued with a License upon appropriately filled Thai handshakes why bother with the formalities.

I am surprised that the Motor Insurance Industry has not dealt with this issue themselves.

Sorry, when stating the above I assumed that the the required insurance was appropriately obtained.

I know of a very recent case of someone reversing out of a street parking position backed into another vehicle. Both parties disputed the cause and attended the local plod shop. When the victim stated that the other party had no insurance plod belittled and ignored this.

 

A ROOT AND BRANCH SHAKE UP OF THE ENTIRE lICENSE PROCEDURE IS REQUIRED.

 

 

 

 

 

[sandyf]

9 hours ago, kotsak said:

My brain exploded when I read "Educate Thai drivers about stopping at red traffic lights". IF they need to be educated for such basic rules then the whole education system is a total failure (which is far worse than what we thought). Hopeless..

You should have put your brain in gear before allowing the explosion. As usual people want to shout the odds rather than give any thought to the problem. It has nothing to do with the education system, nobody learns to drive at school. Young people learn to get a licence and then learn to drive from people that have never really known how to drive. They have only learned to drive to survive, not for the benefit of others.

More advanced economies saw the motor vehicle born and regulated for as it evolved. When the motor vehicle became fairly common among the people of Thailand it was already a lethal weapon with little regulation, and people should also remember a large percentage of Thai drivers have never been anywhere near driving lessons far less any concept of a highway code. When I used to drive around Cagliari in the 70's it was not any different to Thailand, every crossroads a malfunction junction, a 3 tonner was the preferred  mode of transport. Malta was the same, it was said there they drove in the shade.

It is what it is and people have to live with it, after all the problem is fundamentally cultural and will take much more than a generation to resolve,  but no journey can ever be completed without taking the first steps.

[AustinRacing]

Install automatic machine guns to be activated when a red light is crossed. As for pedestrians getting hurt call it collateral. 

[humblejo]

... and stop at the white line on an intersection, wear a helmet, don't ride against traffic, use the indicators & the rear mirrors before changing lanes or making a U-turn, turn on lights when appropriate, don't remove rear lights on your motorbike or car.... 

I can go on for hours.

 

Starting with a proper traffic education at school and a serious driving exam would already be a good start.

Edited February 7, 2022 by humblejo

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, possum1931 said:

If they have the choice of paying 5000Bt or having their vehicle impounded, you can bet they will quickly come up with the 5000Bt.

Impounding a vehicle would appear to be an obvious penalty for some offences, but it would never happen.

No Thai government at this point in time is going to advocate a policy that could result in people losing their income, maybe in 30 years time when there is more of a western culture.

 

[daejung]

15 hours ago, smedly said:

how many years have there been traffic lights in Thailand and suddenly they need to be told to stop on red

 

is this a joke 

May be they thought it was a decoration, like a christmas tree?

[KanchanaburiGuy]

13 hours ago, hellohello123 said:

If they're struggling to understand the concept of stopping at a red light, 

Teaching them not to drink and drive might be harder than teaching a dog  quantum physics

Gotta take a creative approach. Teach 'em the red light is their officially sanctioned opportunity to stop and take a swig!

[sambum]

"A campaign should be launched to educate drivers about the rights of pedestrians and not encroaching on zebra crossings or crossing red traffic lights," 

 

As, a certain well known British actor would say, "I don't BELEEEEEVE it"!

 

Drivers need to be told not to cross red traffic lights?  

 

 

[Elkski]

18 hours ago, Meat Pie 47 said:

It will never happen in my life time

How young are you?

[bangon04]

17 hours ago, Hayduke said:

 

Brilliant....the Air Vice Marshall is truly an observant and insightful fellow.

 

 

He is obviously the expert on the subject - surely he has his paratrooper wings - hence his position on the medical council of thailand too.  

[Elkski]

Thailand needs to do whatever it takes, however painful it will be.  

They need to think how much profit can be made or saved, in driving schools, vehicle inspection stations, eyeglass shops, insurance companies, traffic fines should be able to double police salaries.  

Short term parents are going to be mad that kids can't drive, families will need to call Uber rather than 4 on a scooter.   Some old people will lose the privilege to drive. 

Driving has always been taught as a privilege in USA in my lifetime.  

 

I have a rear fear of dying in a car crash or worse.  If Thailand can make great strides and improvement in the next 5-10 years maybe my wife and 8 will return to live in Thailand. 

Work on that farm crop burning issue too please.  

[natway09]

It is a bit of a culture thing, now I have a car I can do what I want. The peasants are still walking.

The more expensive the car the worse it seems to get

[Black Angus]

First police on the ground, Fine 2000Bht ist time 3000 2nd and 5000Bht for the 3rd, vehicle impounded for the third. No license immediate impound plus fine. for all offences impound fees to start at 5000 Baht.  No insurance, License or DUI same but third offence vehicle crushed. Now all we need is some Law enforcement personal and that (Sad to Say) could be the Big problem.

[cncltd1973]

Incredible headline!

Another self-inflicted problem in Thailand. How do we educate drivers that we've already educated? Hmmm... what to do, what to do...????

Good lord, I heard the education system was bad, but who knew it was THIS bad!?

[BangkokReady]

There are things that could be done to make the roads in Thailand safer.  It would involved education.  It would need to start with children.  It would involve fundamentally changing the mindset of Thai people.  They do not have the capacity to even start to plan it.

 

Much like anything involving education in Thailand, it sounds like a nice idea, but no one actually wants to put the required work in.

[Will B Good]

Car drivers aren't too bad, but motor-cyclists see red lights as advisory at best or at least a challenge.

[BangkokReady]

1 hour ago, Black Angus said:

First police on the ground, Fine 2000Bht ist time 3000 2nd and 5000Bht for the 3rd, vehicle impounded for the third. No license immediate impound plus fine. for all offences impound fees to start at 5000 Baht.  No insurance, License or DUI same but third offence vehicle crushed. Now all we need is some Law enforcement personal and that (Sad to Say) could be the Big problem.

It's a nice idea that it's just those pesky police men not doing their jobs properly, but you can pretty much guarantee that if they began to implement the above, and I agree that it would probably help, there would be mass revolution in the general populace.  It just completely goes against Thai culture, beliefs, values, etc..

[BangkokReady]

1 hour ago, Elkski said:

Short term parents are going to be mad that kids can't drive, families will need to call Uber rather than 4 on a scooter.

If they implemented Western style road rules and enforcement, probably half the population would be banned for a few years in a matter of weeks.  How would you manage a situation like that?

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

1 minute ago, BangkokReady said:

How would you manage a situation like that?

I'd manage very well, no more jams on the school run.

[bbbbooboo]

Hmmmm... how about a campaign to educate Thai drivers on the whole road code and get them to sit their drivers licence( hush my mouth)

[Boedog]

I thought that came when you actually get a driving license and learn the road rules, God what am l saying pedestrians should learn to run faster when trying to cross the road , 

[Mr Meeseeks]

On 2/7/2022 at 7:02 AM, Asquith Production said:

Most Thais dont have 10000 to pay for fines. So where do you go from there? Sell there property? Throw them in prison and fill the prisons with traffic offenders. You have to have a realistic system in place for it to work otherwise it will fail.

Ask the Vietnamese, they managed to get everyone wearing helmets within months with harsh punishments and vehicle confiscations.

[big dendrobenaes]

On 2/7/2022 at 2:21 AM, smedly said:

how many years have there been traffic lights in Thailand and suddenly they need to be told to stop on red

 

is this a joke 

but this is from A BIG WHIGG.....with a few brains !!!!

[big dendrobenaes]

19 hours ago, ericdiam said:

ZERO campaign needed. Just increase fines 5 to 10 times minimum and drivers will change.

Fines of few hundred bath when driving cars of few hundred thousand and many over million bath.

Only way to really change drivers attitude.

In Europe had also lots of problems years ago, till they started increasing again and again more.

Now much much better and if you get a fine, you will say to yourself that good one time but never again, I learned it!!!

but NOBODY pays the fine!!!!!

[big dendrobenaes]

23 hours ago, Purdey said:

I would suggest ASEAN NOW members take photos or videos of policemen driving and riding through red traffic lights but of course that would be useless as they are allowed to do that apparently.

and ride a moter bike with no helmets....

saw one the other day wearing a beret....but HE was wearing a MASK so he was a GOOD COPPER !!!!!

[greenmonkey]

Absolute nonsense! Thais know that they need to stop at red lights... they just choose not to (if it suits them) because they know that there is little to no enforcement. It would be the same all over the world... many drivers would do similar to Thai's if they knew that there would be no punishment. Until the police start policing it will continue to be like this.

[Black Angus]

On 2/7/2022 at 3:50 PM, BangkokReady said:

It's a nice idea that it's just those pesky police men not doing their jobs properly, but you can pretty much guarantee that if they began to implement the above, and I agree that it would probably help, there would be mass revolution in the general populace.  It just completely goes against Thai culture, beliefs, values, etc..

 

On 2/7/2022 at 3:50 PM, BangkokReady said:

It's a nice idea that it's just those pesky police men not doing their jobs properly, but you can pretty much guarantee that if they began to implement the above, and I agree that it would probably help, there would be mass revolution in the general populace.  It just completely goes against Thai culture, beliefs, values, etc..

They haven't revolted against the present regime up to now so if the wonderful brains running the show at present make it law I  doubt if the would start now for this. So it might work 

[thaibook]

On 2/7/2022 at 10:45 AM, Andre0720 said:

As I normally describe it, a culture must get civilized before being able to become educated.

 

What is the definition of a civilized man?

 

Having a highly developed society and culture. adjective. 7. 3. Showing evidence of moral and intellectual advancement; humane, ethical, and reasonable.

 

So in a few words, being civilized means being considerate for others.

Well, the list of shortcomings would be too long....

 

what a thoroughly woke/socialist definition.  So there have been no civilisations outside the west and even then only sporadically since 1920.