Anutin Orders Strict New Year Road Safety Measures

[spidermike007]

It most certainly has something to do with the inability to visualize. Neither the future, nor the hypothetical. What will happen in this scenario? What about this? What about that? What are the inherent risks involved in piloting my bike, car or truck onto the safety lane of a major highway, in the wrong direction, with big trucks coming at me at 100kph? Or onto a lane of a major highway, with oncoming traffic going 120kph? Is it worth sacrificing my life, or my ability to walk for the rest of my life? How will my death affect my kids? Hold on, what about the lives of my wife, kids and sister who are in the vehicle with me, and I am responsible for their safety. Wow. That would be a big loss. An entire family. Maybe I should act like an adult, and be prudent and careful.

 

What if I waited four seconds for the highway lane to be completely clear, rather than just barge into it now, and risk everything.

I don't think many Thais ever ponder thoughts like this. Why, I can't imagine. It is likely something we will never understand about their nature. I often like to say the best way to understand these differences in attitude and intellect, is to realize Thailand is NOT a foreign country. It is a distant planet. 

Edited December 15, 2023 by spidermike007

[spidermike007]

On 12/14/2023 at 8:19 AM, stoner said:

don't listen to all the negative nancy comments that will flow on this thread. i for one applaud the efforts of anutin. keep up the great work buddy. 

You are giving alot of credit to a man who definitely does not deserve it. Along with Cha Cha he nearly single handedly destroyed the Thai economy and tourism. And you really think he is sincere about this? Let us confer in 6 months, and see what this friend of yours has done to improve traffic safety.

[stoner]

7 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

You are giving alot of credit to a man who definitely does not deserve it. Along with Cha Cha he nearly single handedly destroyed the Thai economy and tourism. And you really think he is sincere about this? Let us confer in 6 months, and see what this friend of yours has done to improve traffic safety.

 

sfa my friend :)

[oldestswinger]

On 12/14/2023 at 5:04 AM, webfact said:

instructing provincial governors to coordinate with local agencies and implement rigorous measures to enforce traffic regulations

This is what happens every year. It doesn't need Anutin to chair a meeting.

[Kalasin Jo]

On 12/14/2023 at 1:45 PM, spidermike007 said:

choose to take a tremendous risk

Taking tremendous risk is DNA wired into the Thai character. Look at what they do up ladders. Those amulets and perhaps a monk's blessing on and in a car are considered idiot proof so obviously there is no risk in any driving situation. The never me only others attitude. Whatever the stats say. The article says close to 20% in 100,000 of population are fatalities in road accidents. Shocking but not surprising. Road sense is non existent. Out here family pick ups are loaded with people and kids in the cargo area especially  during holidays, motorbikes with Mum, Dad and as many kids as can squeeze on, helmets and seatbelts not worn. The human consequences in an accident not surprisingly are horrific. The motorbike, the pick up, probably not licensed so without even the compulsory insurance. Drink driving common. After all how else can such poor people get around, get home, travel in family groups to events in the rural areas with no public transport?

 

We all know gambling is illegal here. The law introduced for good reason. Thais in very large numbers are addicted gamblers, high risk takers and often losers. Only the state lottery, ticket sellers everywhere and Thais invariably take a look, and betting at racecourses are legal.

 

Illegal yet the law is rarely if ever enforced in these rural parts, away from the glare of publicity. Gambling dens and illegal private numbers lotteries abound. In every village, at almost every funeral which are 3 day and night event, the Hi-Lo betting game proliferates. Fixing and cheating well known. Bets placed based often on no more than a dream or some sign, auspicious to the gambler, and the addicts strong belief that at the next session they will win big and so play on whatever their previous losses.

 

As ever the den house/bank is the largest winner just as in legal casinos in other countries. And the house/bank, other players, loan sharks, always on hand and very happy to lend a few thou' at exorbitant interest rates of 10% per week, sometimes per day. The road to ruin if the debt isn't repaid the same day or at best the next. Motorbikes, cars, household goods even homes and land can be lost for non payment. Cops? Nah. ' The cops are coming" is usually someone crying wolf so the players run away leaving their bets on the mat in their panic. By the time it's considered safe to return no one has a clue so unlikely they'll recover that money. But somebody has cleaned up.

 

Are thais high risk takers? You bet they are!

 

 

 

[lordgrinz]

On 12/15/2023 at 2:01 PM, spidermike007 said:

It most certainly has something to do with the inability to visualize. Neither the future, nor the hypothetical. What will happen in this scenario? What about this? What about that? What are the inherent risks involved in piloting my bike, car or truck onto the safety lane of a major highway, in the wrong direction, with big trucks coming at me at 100kph? Or onto a lane of a major highway, with oncoming traffic going 120kph? Is it worth sacrificing my life, or my ability to walk for the rest of my life? How will my death affect my kids? Hold on, what about the lives of my wife, kids and sister who are in the vehicle with me, and I am responsible for their safety. Wow. That would be a big loss. An entire family. Maybe I should act like an adult, and be prudent and careful.

 

What if I waited four seconds for the highway lane to be completely clear, rather than just barge into it now, and risk everything.

I don't think many Thais ever ponder thoughts like this. Why, I can't imagine. It is likely something we will never understand about their nature. I often like to say the best way to understand these differences in attitude and intellect, is to realize Thailand is NOT a foreign country. It is a distant planet. 

 

It's that fate thing, and since they do it every day, and haven't died yet, it must be safe enough. If they do the same thing a 1000 times, and haven't crashed or died yet, well then why change their ways? They have no problem playing the odds, which leads to lots of dead people. They don't see risk or safety the way we do, and never will. Until there is a real government, one that takes safety seriously, and installs a real police force to enforce the law, things will never change.....Ever.