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France Remembers the Charlie Hebdo Tragedy: A Decade Later
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Essential Driving Rules and Etiquette in Thailand
Not if your the license from your home nation is in the English Language. Depending on the type of Visa you have, you can drive on your home (i.e. UK) license here and an IDP is not required. Also note: If someone carries a resident visa (i.e. A Non-Immigrant Visa), they are 'supposed to secure a Thai Driving licence'... (I've never actually read or heard of any enforcement of this though). -
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Essential Driving Rules and Etiquette in Thailand
..... All Thai's think they are driving a boat... You've excelled yourself !!! Except you of course, remember, you know all about roads, no one else does !!! Fundamentally racist as in sweeping a whole nation with the generalisation that they have never got beyond 'boats'... You do come up with some amusing rubbish... -
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Security at walking street wreaking havoc
Should be called mobster goons. When they demanded our phones it really felt like mafiosos in their prime. -
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Palisades Fire in LA has zero containment
Who want's to live in that country? Fires, snowstorms. earthquakes every year hurricanes mass shootings? I am not surprised a lot of Americans moved abroad -
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January 6, 2021 -- a day that will live in infamy
When January 6th (currently irrelevant) is all you have left, it’s all you have left. Other than you and a few other sore losers, NOBODY CARES! Wait until Trump pardons the participants the way Biden pardoned his son and commuted the sentence of Federal prisoners. The look on your faces: PRICELESS! -
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Essential Driving Rules and Etiquette in Thailand
Rules for driving in Thailand Expats in Thailand are almost to a man/woman “bad drivers” – they have a false belief that they are “superb drivers” and that Thai people are “bad drivers” – this is fundamentally a racist attitude. There is stupid, stupider and racist these expats qualify on all levels not only are they racist they have no understanding of road safety in Thailand – they see it from an expat-centric point of view without any real understanding of rod safety or how to drive. Firstly they seldom wonder what rules and behaviours should be adhered across the Kingdom, they just assume they are the same as at home. Another mistake they make is thinking that Thailand’s roads are “generally quite good” -this epitomises the uninformed thinking that permeates the expat community Then there are the rules, laws and behaviours that need to be understood – as a competent driver you don’t “follow” these you will instinctively adapt – but as most foreign drivers have no instinct they can’t and don’t. The reason is they come from countries that have adopted modern scientific road safety policies. Road safety is not about “bad driving” – a purely subjective construct, it is understood to be a public health issue and their authorities have spent years implementing road safety policies. The downside of this is that people form these countries are unaware - and think the lack of road deaths is down to their “good driving” – they couldn’t be more wrong – the roads, rules and regulations are all designed to protect these idiots from themselves. “Bad Drivers” exist all over the world – road safety systems are designed to protect them from themselves. So let’s look at the list above and see how it can help. The Legal Driving Age The legal age limit in Thailand in which to drive is 18 years old. – in 4 wheeled private vehicle – it is possible to ride a motorcycle when you are 15. However this isn’t that different from the USA and many other countries. For instance Most states allow individuals to get a learner's permit around the age of 15 or 16, which allows supervised driving with a licensed adult in the car. In Thailand, potential drivers must take courses in a driving school before gaining a driving license. - there is far too much emphasis put on the importance of a driving test - most drivers took there's at a time when tests were little more than a formality and the long term effects on good driving are lost to the accumulation of bad habits SPEED LIMITS – the national speed limit is 90 kph – but they have now introduced many pointless variations. One of Thailand’s biggest problems is a total lack of properly trained road traffic engineers. Anyone who has driven round the country in the last couple of years will see that the traffic engineers have gone mad with road markings, surface colourings and speed limits. Everywhere 30 kph for schools are marked with colourful decorations all over the place – the 50 kph and derestriction signs are seldom it the right place and it’s not uncommon to see signs next to each other with different speed limits. Major roads that are not up to motorway specification are being derestricted up to 120 kph which makes them even more dangerous that before and minimum speed limits in “fast” lanes have been introduced along with variable limits – none of this is properly enforced and absolutely none has been scientifically researched before introduction. It’s not uncommon to see 120 posted on the gantry and a 90 sign illuminated next to it. The amount of traffic that simply ignores these limits is absurd and shows the utter chaos that exists on Thai roads. Even the placing and formats of these signs is inconsistent as if erected at whim. Most foreign motorbike users are blithely unaware their speed limit is generally set at 80 km/h, or even that they are not allowed on motorways and expressways. Traffic laws are changing quite a bit at the moment but without any clear unified policy, it is just load of mish mash that some over enthusiastic amateurs have thrown together. Of course enforcement is totally inconsistent by untrained officers. It is difficult to say it’s important to keep up to date with these speed limits and the different types of roads as the police can’t enforce them and the courts can’t follow up with fines. So many of these limits bear no relation to the road that they are imposed on, rather it seems they have just planted a few signs that were left in stock. Traffic road signs – road signs are basically international – there are a few exceptions around the world - however the most important thing about the international road sign system is it uses graphics and the way we reaction is largely subliminal – unfortunately Thai road traffic engineers don’t seem to have grasped this concept. “Thailand has five different types of road signs. It should not be hard to read them as they all feature the English language in addition to Thai.” The golden rule is you don’t actually read road signs – as said you recognise them and you reaction is subliminal language is secondary and the graphics tell you what is going on.– unfortunately Thai road signs don’t understand this. Right of way on the left – this is one of the most misunderstood road rules in Thailand and so many drivers fall foul of it. Thai Traffic Law states that when two moving vehicles reach a junction the car in the left lane is given the right of way. Unless there is a designation of a principle roadway mark, the vehicle on that mark has the right of way. Drivers in France and even Netherlands will recognise this as the inverse of the “priority from the right rules on their roads. For years this was a source of serious crashes in France and totally misunderstood by British drivers. Nowadays the law still applies but clear signages and rationalisation of road design has largely eliminated the problem. Nevertheless it still remains embedded in French road culture – it is embedded in Thai road culture too but sadly road design and markings have not developed to mitigate the problem. The most classic example in Thailand is when a foreign drivers yells “HE JUST CAME OUT IN FRONT OF ME!” – That’s because he can! Roundabouts are a particular problem - One example is the roundabout sign….there are 2 versions! They are both circular in shape and feature a arrows in a clockwise direction, but that doesn’t mean that it is illegal to change lanes. “Drivers must also yield when necessary” – but you have to define “when necessary” Roundabouts There is no unified design for roundabouts and no national public awareness campaign for these relatively new additions to Thai roads. Using a roundabout in Thailand follows similar principles to other countries, but it's important to be aware of local driving habits and rules. Here’s a guide to using a roundabout correctly in Thailand: The main problem appears to be that the priority to the left rule has to be reversed for roundabouts – This leads to mayhem There are in fact TWO different signs used for roundabouts and markings are often non-existant- They are also frequent “creative” variations on roundabouts giving priority to vehicles in certain lanes – this is just WRONG. In Thailand, the priority to the left rule indeed differs from some other countries, especially in the context of roundabouts. Here’s how the priority typically works in Thai roundabouts: Entering the Roundabout - Unlike in some countries where vehicles already in the roundabout have priority, in Thailand, there's often an unwritten rule where vehicles entering the roundabout expect those already inside to yield to them. This is actually against both the rules and common sense. The result is that if you are approaching a roundabout and intend to enter it, you might find that vehicles inside the roundabout slow down or yield to you to allow you to enter. So, once you are inside the roundabout, you actually have priority BUT you must still exercise caution and be prepared to yield to vehicles entering from your left, as they may not always adhere to the give correct priority conventions. Exiting the Roundabout: - you should use indicators whilst ON the roundabout – (e.g. indicating right when you enter if you are using the third exit is not enough – you indicate left when you exit).When exiting, use your indicators ASAP to signal your intention to other drivers. As always, be mindful of motorbikes and other small vehicles that might manoeuvre inside you on the left. Local driving habits and customs can vary with almost every roundabout so be aware and always stay vigilant and adapt to the flow of traffic around you. Understanding and getting used to adapting quickly to these local driving customs can help you navigate roundabouts safely and smoothly in Thailand. As you approach roundabouts you should officially yield to traffic on the right, i.e. already in the circle. Traffic already in the circle has the right of way. – this is international but not fully practiced in Thailand. Use your turn signals to indicate your intention to enter and exit the roundabout.- treat it as you would any other piece of road. Lane discipline on roundabouts depends a lot on if the lanes are marked at all – in Thailand they usually aren’t. Thai roundabouts are not consistently marked and lanes can actually disappear on exiting. Some roundabouts have parallel lanes others have spirals and some are “irregular” or have no markings at all. However, like any other road you should get into to the left lane to exit if there is more than one lane. Remember to use your turn signals to indicate your intention to exit the roundabout. Lane changing is permitted but sudden lane changes within the roundabout can be difficult and dangerous especially on one without proper markings. Despite what you may experience it is the law In Thailand, that vehicles entering a roundabout must give way to traffic already on the roundabout unless signs or road markings indicate otherwise. You need to be aware that frequently vehicles might not yield properly, so proceed cautiously even if you have the right of way. ROAD SIGNS - In general though road signage in Thailand is appalling. Signs are erected at random and often in poorly visible places – hidden by billboards or vegetation. In most countries signs are placed at standard distances from whatever they are warning of…..they are familiar and positioned to be at “eyelevel” for motorists – in Thailand this is not taken into consideration, which means not only do they no signify correctly, it takes longer for motorists to ingest and react to the information – this may only be fractions of a second but in terms of road safety, this represents several metres of road. Foreign motorists should familiarise themselves with the various types of signs as quickly as possible and then be prepared for them to be put in the oddest places. Using your horn – is not acceptable in Thailand – it is part of the avoidance of confrontation culture that permeates all of Thai interactions. At times it seems that Thai drivers would rather run into someone than use a horn. Flashing lights and hooting are internationally recognised ways of indicating your presence – with hooting Thai culture would prefer to remain silent. Flashing lights basically mean the same all over the world BUT – various countries have developed secondary uses – in the UK, it means “OK come on out, I’ve seen you” – in Thailand it means “stay where you are, I coming through” – the initial meaning if indicating presence is still there, it’s what to do after that is different – you need to be aware of context – If you see Thai people using their horn for no apparent reason, a quick glance around you will see a Spirit house or a place where Spirit houses are disposed of…..temples do not receive a toot. Switching lanes requires a turn or hand signal – which applies in every county in the world – only a “bad driver” wouldn’t do that. However lane markings on merging lanes in Thailand appear to have been designed by a mad man. Any driver worth their salt will be aware of their surroundings. You don’t make assumptions based on driving at home, you use your mirrors Pedestrian crossing in Thailand were totally ignored but now the fabulous road painting engineers have been let loose on some roads with some ridiculous results. You need to heed the pedestrian crossings but be aware whilst you are stopped many vehicles will pass you on either side – so don’t be too keen to wave tht old lady across in front of you only to seen her swept off her feet by some less considerate motorist who could see what you were doing. There is now an increasing fashion to designate lanes to cyclists etc – but don’t be confused by these and the hard shoulders on many larger roads – these are used by motorbikes but are NOT M/C lanes. In some areas miles and miles of roads are decorated with cycle lanes, many of which are either overgrown or used by motorcycles. The default law in Thailand is that pedestrians have right of way – however one needs to take into account how this might surprise a motorist. There is no such thing as jay walking – see my post about being in a boat. If you live continuously in Thailand for more than 3 months you are expected to have a Thai driving licence – you may find after this period that you are no longer covered by insurance. The rules of parking When parking, make sure you park in the direction of the traffic. You can be clamped – normally by someone in authority who’s short of cash. Parking is fairly self-explanatory and of course most shopping malls provide free parking. I love the way that in car parks, extra vehicles cab park across already parked cars – just remember to leave the car in neutral with the handbrake off. Unfortunately many modern cars automatically put on the handbrake or won’t stay in neutral Seatbelt laws – why wouldn’t you wear a seat-belt? - all passengers too. Kids seats are compulsory. Drink-driving – Thailand has plenty of laws to do with drink driving – but does very little about enforcing them. In fact 30% of accidents involve alcohol – that isn’t an excessively high percentage – about the same as the USA. IDPs Visitors are the required to have a home licence and IDP to drive in Thailand – this must be specifically for the vehicle they intend to drive. IDPs are issued in you home country usually by the national motoring organisation (AAA etc.) – the ones online are fakes. There are 2 IDPs – the Vienna convention one lasts for 3 years so long as your licence is still valid and the Geneva convention one which is only for one year. (oddly enough I saw a 5 year one issued in Thailand and just couldn’t tell if it was fake or not.) Thailand has as yet, no small bike category, so to ride any 2-wheeled vehicle in Thailand you need a FULL M/C licence accompanied by an IDP with category “A” endorsed – not cat A1. If you live continuously in Thailand for more than 3 months you are expected to have a Thai driving licence – you may find after this period that you are no longer covered by insurance. In many countries an IDP is available over the counter on presentation of the right documents. If you are a competent driver you should be able to drive anywhere in the world – BUT if you expect people in Thailand to drive like they do “at home” then you are probably not a competent driver. If you end up shouting or getting angry with other road users in Thailand, the problem is almost certainly with YOU. Turn left on a red light? “turning left on a red light is generally prohibited unless specific signs indicate otherwise”. … The picture below says it all.. The sign on the left says – “turn left – wait for the right” The sign on the right says “Turn left pass through” The sign “ซ้ายผ่านตลอด” (sai paan talort) means “Left turn at all times” CRASHES - What to do if I get into an accident in Thailand? There is a protocol you should strictly adhere to. The very first thing you do is contact you insurance. Make sure someone has rung emergency, police etc. but you priority must be to contact the insurance – they will very quickly send an agent to the scene. DON”T try and sort this out yourself – you can’t do it. I’ve seen time and again foreigners arguing the toss, presumably citing their home country’s traffic laws – you will just make things worse – remember to, if you raise your voice, you have lost. Helmet Why would you ride any bike without a helmet. helmet use is legally required for motorcycle drivers and passengers. Enforcement is stricter in some areas than others but new laws and the fact that a good helmet is becoming a status symbol means that helmet wearing amongst locals is becoming more common. And non-wearing is so easy to spot it’s just free money for the police.- 1
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How to get funds to my Thai bank account
I currently have a UK address and a UK bank account, the banks in UK are recently clamping down and closing accounts on those who no longer live in the UK. I therefore need to identify a financial outlet to deposit a large amount of capital which I then want interest to be paid into a recognised Thai bank. Does anyone have any suggestions on how/where I can do this?- 1
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