A rant about Thai driving.. I know.. Yaaaawwwnn

[1happykamper]

I've been living in various parts of Thailand since 2015. I've also lived (retired) in Mexico, Vietnam and Indonesia (Bali) 

 

I'm now a (fit) 74 year old living in chiang mai Mai city on and off for several years 

 

The Thai driving here is getting much worse.. Right? I'm speaking from a pedestrians point of view... it's dangerous now to try to walk around the city! I haven't driven in years but from what I experience via taxi rides... driving skills here are worse than ANY of those afformentioned places. Just awful... from a pedestrian and car passengers pov. 

 

Sidewalks in chiang mai city are downright dangerous leaving little option but to walk the streets... I digress. 

 

This morning... I'm walking next to warorot (Kad Luang market).. walking at the very edge of the street... there are no sidewalks in this area... and a car heading.. at slow speed.. straight for me.. I assumed they would stop. Wrong. They kept driving! The driver got out of the car.. Picking up fruit the lazy c#w.. and laughed at me. I was pissed and gave her my best possible insults in a body language that any mor^n would understand. No apology... She giggles 

 

These situations now are nearly daily. Ive been hit here by moving cars.. Twice .. Once fairly seriously... The merc driver just kept driving. What the hell is wrong with "these people". 

 

My anger levels here are noticeably higher nowadays. So much so that quite often I opt not to go for a walk. So very pathetic that I have to think this way. 

 

Will I really leave chiang mai city because of this? I enjoy city vibes... So rice fields are not my style... 

[novacova]

In the city, most of the population and drivers are not from the area, Bangkokers Chinese & Westerns are among the worst when it comes to operating a car.

3 hours ago, 1happykamper said:

I was pissed and gave her my best possible insults in a body language

Include some boisterous expletives for extra relief.
 

[sqwakvfr]

In CNX for 7 years and this morning had a close call walking back from the gym. I was walking in a small soi and a Honda City veered towards me because cars were parked in the soi.  As most of us know the Soi's are narrow.  I had to turn sideways and missed the car.  As usual the driver could care less. As a cardinal rule I never wear headphones because sometimes "you can hear it before you see it".  That is unless an EV is approaching from behind. Also, "keep your head on swivel" was the mantra while on foot patrol in A-stan.  

[Will B Good]

14 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

In CNX for 7 years and this morning had a close call walking back from the gym. I was walking in a small soi and a Honda City veered towards me because cars were parked in the soi.  As most of us know the Soi's are narrow.  I had to turn sideways and missed the car.  As usual the driver could care less. As a cardinal rule I never wear headphones because sometimes "you can hear it before you see it".  That is unless an EV is approaching from behind. Also, "keep your head on swivel" was the mantra while on foot patrol in A-stan.  

 

It amazes me watching Thais walking along the roads near us.....no pavements (sidewalks).....and they walk 'with the traffic'......and the traffic is fast.

 

At night they do the same and are happy to wear dark clothing and just.....????.....trust their amulets ...weird.

[J Branche]

In Pattaya the local Thai drivers are mostly fine. Bangkok license plate 95% chance you will have a problem, Rental Car, Tourist, Foreigners who visit for weeks or a month Problem.

 

Every city has its own driving style, locations that pedestrians and vehicles know to be careful when using.  Tourist and Foreigners know none of this.

 

But, What can you do? Maybe avoid certain areas, at certain times and drive carefully, that's about it.  We do raise and wave are arm when crossing the road now, seems to help.

[harryviking]

On 1/25/2025 at 11:13 AM, 1happykamper said:

I've been living in various parts of Thailand since 2015. I've also lived (retired) in Mexico, Vietnam and Indonesia (Bali) 

 

I'm now a (fit) 74 year old living in chiang mai Mai city on and off for several years 

 

The Thai driving here is getting much worse.. Right? I'm speaking from a pedestrians point of view... it's dangerous now to try to walk around the city! I haven't driven in years but from what I experience via taxi rides... driving skills here are worse than ANY of those afformentioned places. Just awful... from a pedestrian and car passengers pov. 

 

Sidewalks in chiang mai city are downright dangerous leaving little option but to walk the streets... I digress. 

 

This morning... I'm walking next to warorot (Kad Luang market).. walking at the very edge of the street... there are no sidewalks in this area... and a car heading.. at slow speed.. straight for me.. I assumed they would stop. Wrong. They kept driving! The driver got out of the car.. Picking up fruit the lazy c#w.. and laughed at me. I was pissed and gave her my best possible insults in a body language that any mor^n would understand. No apology... She giggles 

 

These situations now are nearly daily. Ive been hit here by moving cars.. Twice .. Once fairly seriously... The merc driver just kept driving. What the hell is wrong with "these people". 

 

My anger levels here are noticeably higher nowadays. So much so that quite often I opt not to go for a walk. So very pathetic that I have to think this way. 

 

Will I really leave chiang mai city because of this? I enjoy city vibes... So rice fields are not my style... 

I have been touring Thailand on my bikes for many years and can say that driving skills among the Thais has become much worse!! They are the worst and most irresponsible drivers I have ever seen!! I have now stopped touring on bikes. I just do not enjoy it here on two wheels any more. 75 percent of all drivers should be banned from ever drive at all!! And after dark it is the time of the drunk drivers!! Two days ago a young neighbor got run down by a drunk driver and killed. It is just so tragic. Law enforcement???  Completely useless!! You get punished more by two days overstay than driving drunk and kill someone!! I wonder why I still stay here at all. I guess my patient are running low. 

[fredwiggy]

Unlike the west, there is no respect for pedestrians here. In a parking lot, count on a car maintaining it's movement if you try to walk across it's path. We do not have the right of way like in the west. I'm guessing this isn't taught on the driving test so they don\t care. Scooters on sidewalks along with constant weaving in and out of traffic surely accounts for many of the 60 daily deaths here. Passing others and coming into you lane head on and expecting you to pull over to let them pass. Passing you on your right when you're in the right lane, going into oncoming traffic instead of passing you on your left in the left lane.  Most incompetent and disrespectful drivers I've ever seen in 51 years of driving.

[BritManToo]

On 1/25/2025 at 11:13 AM, 1happykamper said:

My anger levels here are noticeably higher nowadays. So much so that quite often I opt not to go for a walk. So very pathetic that I have to think this way. 

Smile, wave, walk on ........

Anger gets you nowhere so best to put it aside.

[The Old Bull]

I find most Thai drives to be OK. No police presence and the rush hour traffic still flows. If this was India it would be gridlocked with everybody leaning on their horn. Just like everywhere there are a few bad apples weaving in and out to gain a few feet, sneaking in on the inside and trying to cut in. Bangkok drivers are a bit more rami but I guess they have to be.

[Ralf001]

Sounds like the older you get the grumpier you get...likely traffic has not changed at all!

[bkk6060]

I think they are the most disrespectful, selfish, terrible, uneducated drivers in the world.  Just look at all the accidents and deaths.  Human life seems worthless.

 

[Ralf001]

5 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

I think they are the most disrespectful, selfish, terrible, uneducated drivers in the world.  Just look at all the accidents and deaths.  Human life seems worthless.

 

 

And yet Thailand does not make the top ten list in roads deaths per annum...

 

But hey, lets not let that get in the way of your Thai bashing BS

[OneMoreFarang]

On 1/25/2025 at 11:13 AM, 1happykamper said:

So much so that quite often I opt not to go for a walk.

Good idea!

[OneMoreFarang]

On the other hand, many pedestrians, especially tourists, seem to think all side streets are walking streets for them.

Obviously, they need some space. But why do they walk 3 or 4 next to each other in the middle of the Soi?

Walk on the side! And one by one after each other.

That way you don't use the whole street and annoy fewer drivers and riders.

[DrJack54]

Clearly I'm the odd one out.

I find driving in Thailand very easy.

Living in Bangkok you would think the opposite.

Always need to watch out for motorbikes.

If you want a challenge esp re motorbikes give Saigon a try..

[fredwiggy]

11 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Clearly I'm the odd one out.

I find driving in Thailand very easy.

Living in Bangkok you would think the opposite.

Always need to watch out for motorbikes.

If you want a challenge esp re motorbikes give Saigon a try..

I drove in Bangkok a few times and do not like the idea of going back. I drove in the NYC metro area for 30 years, including working in NYC, and I'd much rather drive there than here. The risks many take here far outweigh those I saw back in the NYC area, including all of New Jersey. In Bangkok at least 5 scooters bumped my car trying to pass me. This is why the death rate is so high here. lack of concern and terrible driving ability. Haven't been to Vietnam or India yet, but I hear it's pretty bad in those places also.

[mikebell]

Walking or breathing; both highly dangerous with the death toll many thousands annually; yet NOTHING gets done about either!  Until Thailand gets a police force they will continue to be a 3rd World Banana Republic.

[JimHuaHin]

I nearly wiped out a motorcycle yesterday afternoon.  I was driving along a busy main road doing about 40 km an hour, motorcycle came out of a side road at speed, the driver did not even turn his head an inch to look for any traffic; if I did not swerve a little to avoid him he would have impacted the side of my car.  Total idiot.

[Asquith Production]

53 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

And yet Thailand does not make the top ten list in roads deaths per annum...

 

But hey, lets not let that get in the way of your Thai bashing BS

Thailand usually enters the top 10 for road death or just outside according to WHO . Most of the worst being African 3rd world countries. 

 

Why would making an observation of a countries bad point be deemed bashing if its true. If you don't see the bad standard of driving here then I can only assume your native country is worse 

[Bruce Aussie Chiang Mai]

47 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Clearly I'm the odd one out.

I find driving in Thailand very easy.

Living in Bangkok you would think the opposite.

Always need to watch out for motorbikes.

If you want a challenge esp re motorbikes give Saigon a try..

Driving here in Chiang Mai very easy.

No police or road rules to think about.

Old saying is true.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Just make sure your will is up to date 😄

 

[henryford1958]

If you can survive the burning traffic is no problem

[digger70]

On 1/25/2025 at 11:13 AM, 1happykamper said:

I've been living in various parts of Thailand since 2015. I've also lived (retired) in Mexico, Vietnam and Indonesia (Bali) 

 

I'm now a (fit) 74 year old living in chiang mai Mai city on and off for several years 

 

The Thai driving here is getting much worse.. Right? I'm speaking from a pedestrians point of view... it's dangerous now to try to walk around the city! I haven't driven in years but from what I experience via taxi rides... driving skills here are worse than ANY of those afformentioned places. Just awful... from a pedestrian and car passengers pov. 

 

Sidewalks in chiang mai city are downright dangerous leaving little option but to walk the streets... I digress. 

 

This morning... I'm walking next to warorot (Kad Luang market).. walking at the very edge of the street... there are no sidewalks in this area... and a car heading.. at slow speed.. straight for me.. I assumed they would stop. Wrong. They kept driving! The driver got out of the car.. Picking up fruit the lazy c#w.. and laughed at me. I was pissed and gave her my best possible insults in a body language that any mor^n would understand. No apology... She giggles 

 

These situations now are nearly daily. Ive been hit here by moving cars.. Twice .. Once fairly seriously... The merc driver just kept driving. What the hell is wrong with "these people". 

 

My anger levels here are noticeably higher nowadays. So much so that quite often I opt not to go for a walk. So very pathetic that I have to think this way. 

 

Will I really leave chiang mai city because of this? I enjoy city vibes... So rice fields are not my style... 

Move to the countryside where there are No Rice fields  Close to a city.

Hat Yai and Songkhla City  are ok no rice fields here only Rubber trees.  🙏

[Andre0720]

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

 

And yet Thailand does not make the top ten list in roads deaths per annum...

 

But hey, lets not let that get in the way of your Thai bashing BS

So here it comes again, this reference to 'Thai bashing BS'.

 

If this is all that it is, just provide a list of all the good qualities that the Thais possess.

 

How respectful they are of the road rules and laws

How respectful of the environment, starting on how good they are at distinguishing thrash vs recycling

How good they are at supporting the women and the children that they left behind

How good they are at storing knives and guns away from disagreements

And the list goes on....

 

[seajae]

biggest problem on the road is the arrogance of the drivers/riders and a lot of it is due to the lack of a police presence/enforcement of the rules. The fact that many have no idea of the road rules/ignorance is also a big part of it, when they think they can do as they please it becomes a lot more dangerous for everyone else. Thais do have their own driving/riding style, they think everyone else should let them go first and move out of their way, they see nothing wrong with forcing their way to get where they want to be and pushing into oncoming traffic, they see pedestrians as fair game even on crossings, I have seen them swerve to hit animals, they appear to have a very macabre sense of thinking. Walking in Thailand can be risky, I have been hit by motor bikes in walking areas and had to jump out of the way of cars, they just dont care and it is getting worse, maybe enforcement of the rules and proper driver/rider training as well as stricter licence tests instead of the garbage system they use now would help but it will never happen.

[Surasak]

2 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

I think they are the most disrespectful, selfish, terrible, uneducated drivers in the world.  Just look at all the accidents and deaths.  Human life seems worthless.

 

The saying is, "If you hadn't been there, it wouldn't have happened." Typical Thai logic.

[Surasak]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Clearly I'm the odd one out.

I find driving in Thailand very easy.

Living in Bangkok you would think the opposite.

Always need to watch out for motorbikes.

If you want a challenge esp re motorbikes give Saigon a try..

My experience of Saigon, was to just step out into the road and the motorbikes will go round. Or was I just lucky!?

[novacova]

On 1/25/2025 at 2:31 PM, novacova said:

Bangkokers Chinese & Westerns are among the worst when it comes to operating a car.

Here’s an example…

1 hour ago, Bruce Aussie Chiang Mai said:

Driving here in Chiang Mai very easy.

No police or road rules to think about.

…of a typical problem driver

[spidermike007]

 

Nowhere else in the world have I seen people consistency take the kinds of chances and risks in the road, that they take here, with their families in the car. Nowhere. When they could have waited four seconds to make the uturn or turn onto the highway, and have a completely clear path, they instead choose to take a tremendous risk. It is beyond comprehension. I see it all the time. My eyes do not lie to me. This rarely ever happens to me in the US.

 

If I decide to cut you off on a highway, when you are going 120kph, and I am making a u-turn, and there was plenty of room behind you for me to make a safe turn, is that an error, if it results in a horrific, fatal accident, and I take the lives of you and your family? What if I waited four seconds for the highway lane to be completely clear, rather than just barge into it now, and risk everything? 

 

Sometimes an error is wearing white after Labor day in New York City. And sometimes an error is invading Russia before the oncoming winter.

 

I don't make the kind of errors that result in bad accidents, much less fatalities. Why? Because I am very, very careful on the road, and very, very respectful of other drivers, their lives, and those of their families. That is a choice that results in NOT making very many terrible mistakes.

 

 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.

 

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.

[norfolkandchance]

Tourists can be just as bad. I was having a beer at a bar on a busy intersection in our town. Pedestrian crossing had just been repainted bright red and white. Lights were  on green. 3 ladies stepped on the crossing and started across. I yelled 'Stop' and they scurried back. After I explained in a not so calm manner how things work out here, one of the woman said 'I thought they would stop' !

[1happykamper]

3 hours ago, harryviking said:

I have been touring Thailand on my bikes for many years and can say that driving skills among the Thais has become much worse!! They are the worst and most irresponsible drivers I have ever seen!! I have now stopped touring on bikes. I just do not enjoy it here on two wheels any more. 75 percent of all drivers should be banned from ever drive at all!! And after dark it is the time of the drunk drivers!! Two days ago a young neighbor got run down by a drunk driver and killed. It is just so tragic. Law enforcement???  Completely useless!! You get punished more by two days overstay than driving drunk and kill someone!! I wonder why I still stay here at all. I guess my patient are running low. 

I'm at the same crossroads of thinking. Ten years ago here in chiang mai was a pleasure to ride around. The city roads are now full of holes and general mahem. Potholes in Thailand country roads used to be rare because so many ride motorbikes and rider can easily be thrown off his bike. Now.... Potholes on many roads. 

 

Roads in many other parts of Thailand are in much better shape... Notably.. Krabi. 

 

I used to really enjoy chiang mai. Maybe a rice field is indeed more my style 😥🤦