Mother files police report after son,12, on Zebra is mown down by motorcyclist

[webfact]

 

Thai Rath reported on the aftermath of an accident in Nonthaburi on the Bang Kruay - Sai Noi Road in which a 12 year old boy was hit by a motorcyclist while using a Zebra Crossing.

 

Both are in a grievous condition in hospital and have been unable to give evidence as yet.

 

The boy is in Phra Nang Klao Hospital with a brain hemorrhage, fractured collarbone and damage to his central nervous system.

 

The biker Theerin, 25, has severe facial injuries in Bang Bua Thong Hospital.

 

The boy's mother Orn, 39, spoke of problems for insurance for her son.

 

The hospital told her because it was an accident she needs to front up money first despite the fact she has the universal health coverage (bat thong).

 

Her son is a M1 pupil at Bang Bua Thong School. 

 

Police said they are waiting on reports of the severity of the injuries and the recovery of the motorcyclist and the pedestrian before proceeding in the matter. 

 

A resident at the scene said they need a pedestrian overpass; there have been many accidents there and drivers rarely stop at the Zebra. 

 

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[AsianAtHeart]

Driver education is more important than a pedestrian overpass.  The extremely poor driving skills of the Thai drivers has much to do with their ignorance of the law, ignorance of practical driving physics, such as stopping times required at various speeds, combined with a narcissistic "me first" attitude.  While the latter evil is endemic and perhaps impossible to solve, the ignorance aspects simply need proper education.

 

Driver education schools and licensure exams should include basic information relative to vehicle operation, such as braking reaction times and stopping distances, and improved education regarding the effects of alcohol on one's judgment.  It's one thing to know, for example, that alcohol is bad, and quite another to know exactly how bad it is and why. 

 

Perhaps, even, people need to be reminded to look both ways before crossing a street, as a vehicle, at speed, certainly cannot stop on a dime.  Both pedestrians and drivers have lessons to learn.

 

Education needed!

[2baht]

28 minutes ago, webfact said:

The hospital told her because it was an accident she needs to front up money first despite the fact she has the universal health coverage (bat thong).

 Disgraceful!

[CelticBhoy]

Looking at the photo it would appear that having a horse on the "Zebra" would be of great assistance to vault the hedge in the central reservation . . . ????

[Dmaxdan]

Controversial comment but people need to learn to pay attention at all times to what is going on around them when they cross the road. And that includes official pedestrian crossings!

You can't rely on these idiotic, selfish motorists to stop and therefore have an obligation to take control of your own safety. 

 

The new traffic laws won't change anything!

 

 

 

[metisdead]

7 minutes ago, CelticBhoy said:

Looking at the photo it would appear that having a horse on the "Zebra" would be of great assistance to vault the hedge in the central reservation . . . ????

 

Here's another photo from the Thai Rath article in the OP:

 

 

 

[simon43]

When I departed from Swampy airport a few weeks ago, my taxi driver dropped me at the VIP parking spot and then I had to walk across the red zebra crossing to the terminal.  There is a 'lollipop' man who holds up his hand to stop the traffic.  He did so and the cars stopped and I started to wheel my trolley and luggage across the zebra crossing.

 

A 'Do you know who I am' guy in a white Merc didn't want to stop and drove across the zebra crossing, narrowly missing hitting me.  Now I'm a Brit and was always taught that everyone must stop at a zebra crossing.  So no way was I letting him get away with this.  As he drove across the crossing, I rammed my heavy luggage trolley into the side of his nice car, scratching and denting it, which shouting in Thai at the same time 'Stop!', (thus attracting everyone's attention).  As he slowed down to park, I ran after the car and pulled open the driver's door, shouting at him and asking in Thai if he was blind.  Of course the guy is furious that some foreigner dared to challenge him, but he seemed too fat to get out of the car.  I beckoned him to look at the red crossing and shouted again in Thai that it's the law that he must stop.

 

All this was great entertainment for everyone, and I guess that I was lucky that he wasn't carrying a gun.  But it does infuriate me when car drivers see a person crossing and speed up!

 

Anyway, trolley cart 1 : white Merc 0 and he has a repair bill ????  (I disappeared into the terminal before his passengers got out of the car to slap me!)

[2long]

I can't understand why the MOTHER has to file a police report in a case like this! What are the cops supposed to do? Are you saying that if a report isn't filed by an alleged victim, there is no victim and therefore no crime? This is crazy.

[JoePai]

9 minutes ago, simon43 said:

When I departed from Swampy airport a few weeks ago, my taxi driver dropped me at the VIP parking spot and then I had to walk across the red zebra crossing to the terminal.  There is a 'lollipop' man who holds up his hand to stop the traffic.  He did so and the cars stopped and I started to wheel my trolley and luggage across the zebra crossing.

 

A 'Do you know who I am' guy in a white Merc didn't want to stop and drove across the zebra crossing, narrowly missing hitting me.  Now I'm a Brit and was always taught that everyone must stop at a zebra crossing.  So no way was I letting him get away with this.  As he drove across the crossing, I rammed my heavy luggage trolley into the side of his nice car, scratching and denting it, which shouting in Thai at the same time 'Stop!', (thus attracting everyone's attention).  As he slowed down to park, I ran after the car and pulled open the driver's door, shouting at him and asking in Thai if he was blind.  Of course the guy is furious that some foreigner dared to challenge him, but he seemed too fat to get out of the car.  I beckoned him to look at the red crossing and shouted again in Thai that it's the law that he must stop.

 

All this was great entertainment for everyone, and I guess that I was lucky that he wasn't carrying a gun.  But it does infuriate me when car drivers see a person crossing and speed up!

 

Anyway, trolley cart 1 : white Merc 0 and he has a repair bill ????  (I disappeared into the terminal before his passengers got out of the car to slap me!)

Well done  !

[freedomnow]

Simple reality right now is cross behind, not in front of on the zebras - anyone who has been here a while knows to do that instictively.

 

Find it funny and scary when touristas force a stop on the Chiang Mai old city moat crossings...will they survive all the way to other side ?

 

Once the big penalties from these crossing crashess kick in maybe there will start to be a shift in habits, but doubtful.

 

Err on the side of (others') selfish s**t driving expectations.

[theoldgit]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Police said they are waiting on reports of the severity of the injuries and the recovery of the motorcyclist and the pedestrian before proceeding in the matter. 

 

Prehaps they could start by appealing for witnesess.

[tomazbodner]

36 minutes ago, AsianAtHeart said:

Driver education is more important than a pedestrian overpass.  The extremely poor driving skills of the Thai drivers has much to do with their ignorance of the law, ignorance of practical driving physics, such as stopping times required at various speeds, combined with a narcissistic "me first" attitude.  While the latter evil is endemic and perhaps impossible to solve, the ignorance aspects simply need proper education.

 

Driver education schools and licensure exams should include basic information relative to vehicle operation, such as braking reaction times and stopping distances, and improved education regarding the effects of alcohol on one's judgment.  It's one thing to know, for example, that alcohol is bad, and quite another to know exactly how bad it is and why. 

 

Perhaps, even, people need to be reminded to look both ways before crossing a street, as a vehicle, at speed, certainly cannot stop on a dime.  Both pedestrians and drivers have lessons to learn.

 

Education needed!

Actually that's in that 1 hour online training video for license renewal, but... it's just that. People watch or sleep, answer that 4 questions, and move on, never to actually use any of that later when driving.

Was just at DLT yesterday and they kept repeating how you have to take care of others, that safety is priority, how you have to show kindness, etc. etc. etc. But... One thing is what they say in there, and people even agree with, and it's totally another when they sit behind the wheel of their car with their superiority complex of mowing down lower class peasants that aren't inside vehicles. It becomes ME ME ME MEEEEEEEEEE complex, and everyone else becomes irrelevant.

 

Thailand really needs very stiff penalties ENFORCED to get anything changed. But what would people do if they were left with a hole in their wallet? Maybe same that was a plague after sports championships in the past at least - start robbing others.

 

You are right, obviously, that the change of behaviour is needed. I just don't think that education alone would achieve anything in this country...

[Andre0720]

32 minutes ago, AsianAtHeart said:

Driver education is more important than a pedestrian overpass.  The extremely poor driving skills of the Thai drivers has much to do with their ignorance of the law, ignorance of practical driving physics, such as stopping times required at various speeds, combined with a narcissistic "me first" attitude.  While the latter evil is endemic and perhaps impossible to solve, the ignorance aspects simply need proper education.

 

Driver education schools and licensure exams should include basic information relative to vehicle operation, such as braking reaction times and stopping distances, and improved education regarding the effects of alcohol on one's judgment.  It's one thing to know, for example, that alcohol is bad, and quite another to know exactly how bad it is and why. 

 

Perhaps, even, people need to be reminded to look both ways before crossing a street, as a vehicle, at speed, certainly cannot stop on a dime.  Both pedestrians and drivers have lessons to learn.

 

Education needed!

"the ignorance aspects simply need proper education."

This implies that all the motorcyclists parked on sidewalks in Phuket town are ignorant of the fact that a sidewalk is made for pedestrians to walk... When I got my driver's license, I had to go through listening to a video, in which a adult Thai man was explaining all about sidewalks, with the video showing people walking on it. 'No kidding'.

This 'education' cannot be understood by Thai people who 'need' a good parking spot.

This behavior got better, a lot better, after police started locking motorbikes parked on sidewalks, and providing a ticket, to be paid before recuperating their motorbikes. This is the type of jobs that appeal to police over here, no need to run after people, just a very safe activity for them.

Now if one is to affirm that police doing their job (sic) is a basic education here, then I would agree to that.

"

What is the nature of education?

"Education is a systematic process through which a child or an adult acquires knowledge, experience, skill and sound attitude. It makes an individual civilized, refined, cultured and educated. For a civilized and socialized society, education is the only means. Its goal is to make an individual perfect."

 

So yes, they possess the knowledge, the experience, the skill on the roads, but then how can anyone develop "sound attitude" growing up in this culture?

 

[AsianAtHeart]

2 minutes ago, Andre0720 said:

This behavior got better, a lot better, after police started locking motorbikes parked on sidewalks, and providing a ticket, to be paid before recuperating their motorbikes.

But this is a valuable part of the education. 

[spidermike007]

Anytime you leave your house here, all your senses have to be on high alert. Many Thais are exceptionally reckless, when driving. Their defensive skills tend to be lacking, and the concept of respect for, concern for and awareness of others seems to dissipate, once they are behind the wheel. Never, ever cross any road here without looking both ways, and proceeding very carefully, regardless of how safe it appears, red light or green light, etc. 

 

Darwin was right. The theory of natural selection, means we all have to exhibit certain survival skills, to thrive in this world. Self protection is just one of those skills. Some have it, some do not.

[Geoffggi]

12 minutes ago, AsianAtHeart said:

But this is a valuable part of the education. 

As stated above by tomazbodner, until the RTP start Enforcing strict penalties nothing will change because the general public know the police are lazy and will not act unless they have to.

[Gottfrid]

Meanwhile, it stands clear that the police can fine Mr 25 years old for not wearing a helmet, hence being treated for severe facial damage.

[sammieuk1]

The Hippocratic oath is measured in lots of zeros on the end here then "disgusting"????

 

The Hippocratic Oath is the oldest and most widely known treatise on medical ethics. It requires new physicians to swear by numerous healing gods and dictates the duties and responsibilities of the physician while treating patients. There are two versions of the Hippocratic Oath: the original one and the modern one.

[Geoffggi]

As it is obvious that the average Thai driver does not want to conform with driving with due care where crossings are used, the answer may be to fit speed bumps at both sides of the crossing then they will not be able to speed through the crossings, ensure that sufficient signs warn of these speed bumps so motorist have no excuse for not slowing down.

[ikke1959]

First education  for parents, drivers, and policemen.. than enforcement of the traffic laws without corruption but heavy fines.....I know it is easy if you have to pay pocketmoney instead of going to the police office and pay much more, but nowadays only electronic payment should be possibe... and third, the doctors/hospitals should help people in need, without asking for money first. A good insurance and medical system should be implemented to cover the costs for everyone... If in this case the motorcyclist is caught he must be pay if he doesn't have a driverslicense or is not insured and if he insured the insurance must pay. It should be impossible to buy a motorcycle without a license and without insurance 

[ChrisY1]

When even the RTP doesn't recognize pedestrian crossings as anything more than an inconveniance, what else will happen.

It will be up to local admin to start to build stupidly expensive overhead crossings, that few people ever use!

 

[Liverpool Lou]

4 hours ago, 2baht said:

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The hospital told her because it was an accident she needs to front up money first despite the fact she has the universal health coverage (bat thong).

 Disgraceful!

If that is, in fact, true.  All hospitals in Thailand are obliged by law to provide emergency treatment.

[foreverlomsak]

3 hours ago, Andre0720 said:

ignorant of the fact that a sidewalk is made for pedestrians to walk...

a sidewalk is made for pedestrians to walk on, what a novel idea

I thought it was shop expansion room to slow you down to look at their goods, motorcycles and food carts do a similar job.

[foreverlomsak]

18 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

It will be up to local admin to start to build stupidly expensive overhead crossings, that few people ever use!

except as a shaded area to cross the road and to park their motorcycles out of the sun 

[foreverlomsak]

2 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

As it is obvious that the average Thai driver does not want to conform with driving with due care where crossings are used, the answer may be to fit speed bumps at both sides of the crossing then they will not be able to speed through the crossings, ensure that sufficient signs warn of these speed bumps so motorist have no excuse for not slowing down.

agree with idea of speed bumps however restrictive they are to travel flow, will only slow cars/trucks, etc., as motorcycles will probably just take to the sidewalk.

[blackshadow]

4 hours ago, AsianAtHeart said:

Driver education is more important than a pedestrian overpass.  The extremely poor driving skills of the Thai drivers has much to do with their ignorance of the law, ignorance of practical driving physics, such as stopping times required at various speeds, combined with a narcissistic "me first" attitude.  While the latter evil is endemic and perhaps impossible to solve, the ignorance aspects simply need proper education.

 

Driver education schools and licensure exams should include basic information relative to vehicle operation, such as braking reaction times and stopping distances, and improved education regarding the effects of alcohol on one's judgment.  It's one thing to know, for example, that alcohol is bad, and quite another to know exactly how bad it is and why. 

 

Perhaps, even, people need to be reminded to look both ways before crossing a street, as a vehicle, at speed, certainly cannot stop on a dime.  Both pedestrians and drivers have lessons to learn.

 

Education needed!

WHEN watching the stupid video years ago......I DO NOT remember anything being contained in the vid about zebra crossings.......has anyone seen anything about pedestrian crossings ???

I doubt it very much !!!!

[blackshadow]

4 hours ago, AsianAtHeart said:

Driver education is more important than a pedestrian overpass.  The extremely poor driving skills of the Thai drivers has much to do with their ignorance of the law, ignorance of practical driving physics, such as stopping times required at various speeds, combined with a narcissistic "me first" attitude.  While the latter evil is endemic and perhaps impossible to solve, the ignorance aspects simply need proper education.

 

Driver education schools and licensure exams should include basic information relative to vehicle operation, such as braking reaction times and stopping distances, and improved education regarding the effects of alcohol on one's judgment.  It's one thing to know, for example, that alcohol is bad, and quite another to know exactly how bad it is and why. 

 

Perhaps, even, people need to be reminded to look both ways before crossing a street, as a vehicle, at speed, certainly cannot stop on a dime.  Both pedestrians and drivers have lessons to learn.

 

Education needed!

is there NOT a highway code book up and coming drivers should read ???????

[Liverpool Lou]

4 hours ago, 2long said:

I can't understand why the MOTHER has to file a police report in a case like this! What are the cops supposed to do?

Police do not always attend every traffic accident, perhaps that's why?  Someone has to inform them.

[foreverlomsak]

20 minutes ago, blackshadow said:

is there NOT a highway code book up and coming drivers should read ???????

yes there is, and it's also printed in English, have had DLT copies in my hands a few times, but many think the money is better spent on phones, cigarettes and whisky, besides once on the road you don't need it anyway, it all "me first".

[thailand49]

To start the problem you have hundreds if not thousand of people working in the division DLT,  who don't have a clue.  As I noted back when the Thai Doctor was run down.

Looking at the photo the size of the road general would easily be marked 60-80 KM/H but with no enforce drivers far exceed those limits.  The markings for the road where the Doctor died inner city was marked at 80!  Then a official places a crosswalk in the middle of a race track <deleted> you think is going to happen? 

These official wouldn't dare ask their own family to use them! the reaction from the Thai public doesn't have a clue either to build a overpass same thinking as the head of RTP to move the crossroad. 

In the end it is about education and ENFORCEMENT meantime say the word give me full immunity and I will be a crossing guard carry a metal baseball bat, 9MM clothes line motorbike offenders and shoot out tires of vehicles. ????

The problem can only be reduced by handling the whole problem to outsiders and I'm sure there are more than enough on this forum to join me and get it started!