No seat belt buckle in the back of the Taxi.

[Robert_Smith]

The other day I was forced to hail a cab on the street as I didn't have my phone with me, I told him in Thai where I wanted to go and off we went.

 

Within about 20 seconds of sitting down on the back seat, I realized there was no seat belt buckle for me to strap myself in.

 

So I asked, politely, where is it?

he said, no have, no have.

 

So then I said, well what if we have a crash, what then?

he laughed and said mai pen ri, I not crash, I good driver....

That really wound me up.

 

In fact it wound me up so much that I told him to immediately pull over to the side of the road, end the fare, and I got out and waited for another cab, which this time had the aforementioned seat buckle in the correct place. I also took a picture of the taxi drivers license photo and his registration. I'm still unsure if I should call him in and report him as I have done that before and they never even answered the phone or replied to my emails.

 

It's a hopeless place here at times.

 

regards,

bob.

[EVENKEEL]

5 minutes ago, Robert_Smith said:

The other day I was forced to hail a cab on the street as I didn't have my phone with me, I told him in Thai where I wanted to go and off we went.

 

Within about 20 seconds of sitting down on the back seat, I realized there was no seat belt buckle for me to strap myself in.

 

So I asked, politely, where is it?

he said, no have, no have.

 

So then I said, well what if we have a crash, what then?

he laughed and said mai pen ri, I not crash, I good driver....

That really wound me up.

 

In fact it wound me up so much that I told him to immediately pull over to the side of the road, end the fare, and I got out and waited for another cab, which this time had the aforementioned seat buckle in the correct place. I also took a picture of the taxi drivers license photo and his registration. I'm still unsure if I should call him in and report him as I have done that before and they never even answered the phone or replied to my emails.

 

It's a hopeless place here at times.

 

regards,

bob.

Where's your dedicated driver and your benz. In the shop?

[cdemundo]

Some taxis have working seat belts, some don't.

 

Waddya gonna do?

[hotsun]

Life is too short and thailand is not a place to be taken seriously. Worry less and embrace your fate

[Robert_Smith]

4 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

Some taxis have working seat belts, some don't.

Don't you think that is highly dangerous?

What about if he crashed with a kid in the back?

 

regards,

bob.

[worgeordie]

26 minutes ago, Robert_Smith said:

The other day I was forced to hail a cab on the street as I didn't have my phone with me, I told him in Thai where I wanted to go and off we went.

 

Within about 20 seconds of sitting down on the back seat, I realized there was no seat belt buckle for me to strap myself in.

 

So I asked, politely, where is it?

he said, no have, no have.

 

So then I said, well what if we have a crash, what then?

he laughed and said mai pen ri, I not crash, I good driver....

That really wound me up.

 

In fact it wound me up so much that I told him to immediately pull over to the side of the road, end the fare, and I got out and waited for another cab, which this time had the aforementioned seat buckle in the correct place. I also took a picture of the taxi drivers license photo and his registration. I'm still unsure if I should call him in and report him as I have done that before and they never even answered the phone or replied to my emails.

 

It's a hopeless place here at times.

 

regards,

bob.

Hi Bob , I did not think a man of the World , fearless ,swashbuckling guy like you 

would be worried about such a thing , now you are coming over as a pussy ,I am

losing all respect for you now ...you better just stay in the house ,as the World is

full of dangers ....

 

"  I also took a picture of the taxi drivers license photo and his registration. "

But Bob you said you did not have phone with you ...

 

regards worgeordie

[ColeBOzbourne]

4 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

"  I also took a picture of the taxi drivers license photo and his registration. "

But Bob you said you did not have phone with you ...

I predict Bob's reply will be that he had his 'go-pro' with him. 

[tjintx]

26 minutes ago, Robert_Smith said:

Don't you think that is highly dangerous?

What about if he crashed with a kid in the back?

 

regards,

bob.

 

Did you bar fine a young one that day?

[tjintx]

15 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Hi Bob , I did not think a man of the World , fearless ,swashbuckling guy like you 

would be worried about such a thing , now you are coming over as a pussy ,I am

losing all respect for you now ...you better just stay in the house ,as the World is

full of dangers ....

 

"  I also took a picture of the taxi drivers license photo and his registration. "

But Bob you said you did not have phone with you ...

 

regards worgeordie

 

Bob, in Thai, asked the driver to borrow his phone to snap the pictures.

[worgeordie]

10 minutes ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

I predict Bob's reply will be that he had his 'go-pro' with him. 

Yes on a headband to record all and every minute of his fabulous life....

 

regards Worgeordie

[worgeordie]

3 minutes ago, tjintx said:

 

Bob, in Thai, asked the driver to borrow his phone to snap the pictures.

And took the drivers phone with him ? 

 

regards Worgeordie

[ChumpChange]

 

 

So let me get this straight. You voluntarily got into a random taxi off the street, in a country where half the cars are held together with duct tape and good luck, and you were shocked, fully shocked in fact to discover there was no seatbelt? And then, instead of handling it like any other mature adult (i.e., sighing, accepting your fate, and hoping for the best like the rest of us), you decided to interrogate the driver like he’s on trial for crimes against road safety and humanity in general.

 

And his response? “No have, no have.” Because of course, Basket Case Bob. He doesn’t have it. He never had it. You think he removed it just to spite you? This is Thailand. Half the seatbelts in cabs are buried so deep under the seat you’d need an archaeologist with a backhoe to dig them out. But no, Bouncing Bob isn’t having any of it. Bob demands justice.

 

But here’s the kicker: anyone with an ounce of class or social standing wouldn’t be in this situation to begin with. They’d simply book a Grab or a Bolt, a modern, clean, air-conditioned ride with proper seatbelts, polite drivers, and an app that lets you track your journey like a functioning member of society.

 

But BJ Bob? No, Bob the Backpedaler insists on doing everything on the cheap. Instead of paying an extra 50 baht for a proper ride, he throws himself into the back of some decrepit street taxi, then acts stunned when it’s held together with prayers and plastic ties. Mate, it’s like choosing to eat at a 20-baht street stall and then acting outraged that your cutlery isn’t silver-plated.

 

So what’s the next logical step? Do you:

 

A) Accept reality and move on with your life, or

B) Throw a fit, order the driver to pull over, storm out like a jilted cabaret queen, and start fantasizing about reporting him to the authorities who, by the way, wouldn’t even answer the phone last time you tried?

 

I love the part where you actually debated whether to report him. Bob, mate. The Thai taxi hotline isn’t sitting there waiting for your call so they can mobilize a special task force to investigate “The Case of the Missing Seatbelt.” They’d probably hear your complaint, laugh, and then get back to ignoring the actual problems.

 

But no, in Bob the Burglar's world, this isn’t just one random cab ride. This is a national disgrace. A personal insult. A symbol of everything wrong with Thailand. And, naturally, it must be documented in painstaking detail so the world can bear witness to your suffering.

 

So here we are. Another day, another Bob vs. Thailand meltdown. Same old story, same predictable ending:

 

Buckshot Bob—outraged.

Thailand—doesn't give a flying toss.

[Yagoda]

When your number is up, the buckle is meaningless

[SAFETY FIRST]

1 hour ago, Robert_Smith said:

That really wound me up.

Easily wound up 

 

Get yourself a massage, you sound stressed. 

 

Chill Dude 😎

[SAFETY FIRST]

1 hour ago, Robert_Smith said:

I also took a picture of the taxi drivers license photo and his registration

 

I'm still unsure if I should call him in and report him 

It's no wonder some foreigners get chased by Thai's with knives. 

 

 

 

[CharlieH]

Numerous Troll. off topic/responses and flames removed.

 

[fredwiggy]

30 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

It's no wonder some foreigners get chased by Thai's with knives. 

 

 

 

That's because laws aren't enforced enough here and many carry knives as personal items, a cowards thinking because many can't fight. Chasing after someone with a knife is a crime unless they threatened your life or that of someone close to you, although if they left after threatening you, you wouldn't need to chase them as the threat is gone. Someday soon I expect someone will pull this same thing and the one chased will pull out a gun or baseball bat and end the chase the way it should end.

[fredwiggy]

38 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

When your number is up, the buckle is meaningless

True but no one really knows when that time will come, and many here, and elsewhere, live like there's no tomorrow and do things carelessly that will have that number come up sooner.

[NanLaew]

2 hours ago, Robert_Smith said:

The other day I was forced to hail a cab on the street as I didn't have my phone with me, I told him in Thai where I wanted to go and off we went.

 

Within about 20 seconds of sitting down on the back seat, I realized there was no seat belt buckle for me to strap myself in.

 

So I asked, politely, where is it?

he said, no have, no have.

 

So then I said, well what if we have a crash, what then?

he laughed and said mai pen ri, I not crash, I good driver....

That really wound me up.

 

In fact it wound me up so much that I told him to immediately pull over to the side of the road, end the fare, and I got out and waited for another cab, which this time had the aforementioned seat buckle in the correct place. I also took a picture of the taxi drivers license photo and his registration. I'm still unsure if I should call him in and report him as I have done that before and they never even answered the phone or replied to my emails.

 

It's a hopeless place here at times.

 

regards,

bob.

 

click... click... click... click... etc., etc.

[fondue zoo]

2 hours ago, hotsun said:

Life is too short and thailand is not a place to be taken seriously. Worry less and embrace your fate

 

Plus if you buy the farm here, you get one free reincarnation.

[a3tsw]

You could have saved yourself a bit of stress by just transferring to the front passenger seat...

[richard_smith237]

5 hours ago, cdemundo said:

Some taxis have working seat belts, some don't.

 

Waddya gonna do?

 

Not take them,....    It was better a few years ago as the Police checked up at the 'bases' (taxi base) now they don't bother again.

 

So... If the taxi has no seatbelt stalk I just say - no seatbelt and don't get in... Taxi driver never seems to care. 

OR.. if I'm in an area where its more difficult to get a taxi, I get in the front.

 

IF with family, I want them all in a seatbelt, so we wont get it.

 

I once had a Grab that had no rear seatbelt...  (I needed it for my son, 6 at the time) we weren't going far, but I wanted to put the belt across his lap.  I refused the journey, the driver argued, I told her the car was not safe. She charged me for the ride anyway. I told Grab I didn't take the ride because the car had no rear-seatbelts and was illegal - I was refunded.

 

Meal out of a molehill ???..... It always is until the car hits something at 50 kmh... 

 

I've also had to ask the driver (on numerous times) not to watch a video on his phone while driving (flagfall driver)...   If they agree, then no issue. But sometimes they are ayholes who refuse... no issues, I just tell them to pull to the side, pay whatever is on the meter and get out.

 

 

[richard_smith237]

5 hours ago, Robert_Smith said:

So then I said, well what if we have a crash, what then?

he laughed and said mai pen ri, I not crash, I good driver....

That really wound me up.

 

Mistake #1 - even bothering to try and discuss it.... 

 

5 hours ago, Robert_Smith said:

In fact it wound me up so much that I told him to immediately pull over to the side of the road, end the fare, and I got out and waited for another cab,

 

Correct: Stress free simple course of action...  Pull over pay the metered fare and get out.

 

---------

 

The issue is when its not a metered fare and you negotiated - the driver wont understand about the seat belt - safety like that is simply not on their radar so its a tricker thing to deal with.

 

Thus: Always check when getting in... If no seatbelt stalk - get straight back out again. 

[lanng khao]

6 hours ago, fondue zoo said:

 

Plus if you buy the farm here, you get one free reincarnation.

What if you dont like evaporated milk..

[dinsdale]

Yawn!!!!!!!!......Again!!!!! 

[richard_smith237]

Just now, dinsdale said:

Yawn!!!!!!!!......Again!!!!! 

 

Why yawn ???   are you one of those fools who doesn't bother putting on a seatbelt or wearing a helmet ??? - you're not worthy of protecting yourself ?

[dinsdale]

9 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Why yawn ???   are you one of those fools who doesn't bother putting on a seatbelt or wearing a helmet ??? - you're not worthy of protecting yourself ?

Why yawn? Your kidding. Who cares? Get out of the cab, take a snap with the phone you don't have and get on with getting another cab. Why post about such mundaneness. The vast majority of Thais if not all of them don't wear seatbelts in the back and up front many only wear them when the BIB is around. BTW there would have been a seatbelt and buckle (somewhere) in the back. It's the way cars come. 

[richard_smith237]

2 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

9 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Why yawn ???   are you one of those fools who doesn't bother putting on a seatbelt or wearing a helmet ??? - you're not worthy of protecting yourself ?

Why yawn? Your kidding. Who cares? Get out of the cab, take a snap with the phone you don't have and get on with getting another cab. Why post about such mundaneness. The vast majority of Thais if not all of them don't wear seatbelts in the back and up front many only wear them when the BIB is around.

 

OK... in that case... YAWN...       read the thread, don't have any real opinion on it other than YAWN... so just move along and don't bother posting on it... 

 

Exactly the same criticism applies to your post as that you are throwing at the Op.... 

 

And whether Thai's wear seatbelts or not has no relevance - the Post is that the Op wanted a seatbelt, so do I, so do many when they're in a car because we're not idiots brainlessly happy to travel at speed in vehicles without an restraint.

 

The Op made a thread about it - yup, some people are just that sad... but its just as sad as your pointless and completely irrelevant comment when we get down to the nuts and bolts of it.

[safarimike11]

12 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Hi Bob , I did not think a man of the World , fearless ,swashbuckling guy like you 

would be worried about such a thing , now you are coming over as a pussy ,I am

losing all respect for you now ...you better just stay in the house ,as the World is

full of dangers ....

 

"  I also took a picture of the taxi drivers license photo and his registration. "

But Bob you said you did not have phone with you ...

 

regards worgeordie

Mebe he had his camera?

[safarimike11]

12 hours ago, Robert_Smith said:

The other day I was forced to hail a cab on the street as I didn't have my phone with me, I told him in Thai where I wanted to go and off we went.

 

Within about 20 seconds of sitting down on the back seat, I realized there was no seat belt buckle for me to strap myself in.

 

So I asked, politely, where is it?

he said, no have, no have.

 

So then I said, well what if we have a crash, what then?

he laughed and said mai pen ri, I not crash, I good driver....

That really wound me up.

 

In fact it wound me up so much that I told him to immediately pull over to the side of the road, end the fare, and I got out and waited for another cab, which this time had the aforementioned seat buckle in the correct place. I also took a picture of the taxi drivers license photo and his registration. I'm still unsure if I should call him in and report him as I have done that before and they never even answered the phone or replied to my emails.

 

It's a hopeless place here at times.

 

regards,

bob.

My advice is never ever use taxis.