close encounters of the thai kind

[watgate]

I was driving on a main road when all of a sudden, out of nowhere, a driver pulled out of a side road, not stopping to look both ways to see if their was any cars coming from both directions. Luckily I was able to drastically swerve to the right side of the main road that I was driving on and just barely avoided from crashing into the imbecile who had pulled out without not looking before the driver entered the main road. I was livid and beeped my horn as the driver tried to speed away. I caught up to this car and was beeping my horn and the car was trying to make a fast get away. At some point I turned off and just muttered something about driving in Thailand amongst blithering idiots who should not be allowed to drive in Thailand. 

     My question is what experience or situation did anyone have which required drastic evasive measures or skill to avoid becoming another victim or statistic because of a blooming idiot who had no business being behind the  wheel of a vehicle?

[BritManToo]

8 minutes ago, watgate said:

My question is what experience or situation did anyone have which required drastic evasive measures or skill to avoid becoming another victim or statistic because of a blooming idiot who had no business being behind the  wheel of a vehicle?

Lucky for you he didn't jump out and shoot you in the head.

It's just not worth showing your white anger in SEA.

[Will B Good]

Agree with BritMan....don't ever do that again.

 

Get a camera, front and rear...essential.

 

Drive like they will do that all the time. On long stretches I drive behind a vehicle doing a decent speed and sit there...... better they have a head on than me.

 

I drive about 10 mins a day and have four near misses a week.

[Hummin]

8 minutes ago, watgate said:

I was driving on a main road when all of a sudden, out of nowhere, a driver pulled out of a side road, not stopping to look both ways to see if their was any cars coming from both directions. Luckily I was able to drastically swerve to the right side of the main road that I was driving on and just barely avoided from crashing into the imbecile who had pulled out without not looking before the driver entered the main road. I was livid and beeped my horn as the driver tried to speed away. I caught up to this car and was beeping my horn and the car was trying to make a fast get away. At some point I turned off and just muttered something about driving in Thailand amongst blithering idiots who should not be allowed to drive in Thailand. 

     My question is what experience or situation did anyone have which required drastic evasive measures or skill to avoid becoming another victim or statistic because of a blooming idiot who had no business being behind the  wheel of a vehicle?

This is normal especially if driving motorbike.

 

Riding motorbike in Thailand, it is your responsibility to not crash in to every idiot who ignores you, same goes for car, but not that often I get surprised anymore, because you expect something will happen, so you pay ttention and not sleep driving the same way we do in the west because we expect them to drive as they should.

[banyanman]

This has happened to me many times whilst driving in Thailand. But I wouldn't risk my life chasing the vehicle. you just don't know who could be inside. A drunk, a drug dealer, or someone with a gun. Not worth the risk.

[AnnaBanana]

I think it would be safe to say that anyone who has driven on Thai roads for any length of time has had at least one similar experience.

Road rage in response doesn't do any good and could be deadly for the person who gives in to it.

[watgate]

I agree about chasing them down, so after I took a few deep breaths and reminded myself that this is Thailand, I just pulled off and went on my merry way, 

[angryguy]

For sure driving is not the relaxing experience where i came from and why this place is just a vacation spot for me. Seen too much crap in a short time 

[Ralf001]

23 minutes ago, watgate said:

I was driving on a main road when all of a sudden, out of nowhere, a driver pulled out of a side road, not stopping to look both ways to see if their was any cars coming from both directions. Luckily I was able to drastically swerve to the right side of the main road that I was driving on and just barely avoided from crashing into the imbecile who had pulled out without not looking before the driver entered the main road. I was livid and beeped my horn as the driver tried to speed away. I caught up to this car and was beeping my horn and the car was trying to make a fast get away. At some point I turned off and just muttered something about driving in Thailand amongst blithering idiots who should not be allowed to drive in Thailand. 

     My question is what experience or situation did anyone have which required drastic evasive measures or skill to avoid becoming another victim or statistic because of a blooming idiot who had no business being behind the  wheel of a vehicle?

Drama queen much !

[ukrules]

This is completely normal, anyone, anywhere can come out of any side street, drive the wrong way down a dual carriageway, etc.

Expect the unexpected because it is happening all around you, all the time and do your best to avoid it.

[stupidfarang]

everyday is the same, crazy drivers and moterbike riders.

 

I was in the UK for 4 weeks in June, driving everyday was amazing, drivers followed the speed limit (lots of speed cameras) stayed on their side of the road, generally courteous. It was so enjoyable, now am back in Thailand cursing all the bad drivers.

[JBChiangRai]

Many times mororbikes have pulled out of a side road without looking.  You tend to spot them because you look at their heads and if they don’t turn towards you to check if the road is clear you can expect the worst.

 

The nearest I have had to a bump was when going around a 90° blind left hand bend, a car coming the other way cut the corner and I had to go on the verge.  I always take that corner slow because it’s not the first time I’ve seen that.

[TroubleandGrumpy]

Same same - been there done that - many times.  That sort of stupidity and worse is everywhere in Thailand. But dont react next time - if anything happens (including shots being fired at you for making him lose face) the Police will blame you as the cause of the problems because you became angry and offended a Thai.

 

Just last week we were exiting from Global House onto a main road and after looking right waiting for the cars to pass, I then started to go forward, when there was an idiot riding his bike right in front of me - from the left and on the wrong side of the road.  How I was able to not hit him at my age astounded me - I did not know my reflexes were still that good.  That is the thing - despite me being there for a while waiting for cars to pass, and clearly he could see me, the idiot did not realise I would pull out when the cars had passed and that he should slow and wait a bit. Thinking is not a Thai trait generally - lovely people most of the time - but as thick as 2 short planks and worse when riding bikes or driving a car.  My own BIL drives his ute in the right lane under the speed limit. My wife said she asked him once why he didn't drive in the left lane on highways and he said 'why?'. I never let him drive when I am in the car after witnessing his driving many years ago - he 'bought' his licence - never did a test - they auto renew it each time with no questions or tests. Millions like him on the roads here - always drive with both eyes wide open.   

[daveAustin]

Par for the course. No-one was hurt. I wouldn't go chasing Thais down to voice disapproval. Suggest do your utterances to yourself and move on.

[Negita43]

Driving in Thailand is one of the most dangerous things to do and not just because of accidents also because of the arguments (sometimes fatal) that can occur.

[Sir Dude]

Unfortunately, these sort of totally stupid situations are pretty much par-for-the-course when driving here. You need to be very careful when driving around because getting into an impact/altercation with any other vehicle/person can be problematic on a few fronts.

Firstly, the way the insurance works, as most people (if they have it at all) just get the cheap one that pays for someone else's vehicle if it turns out to be your fault... problem is that you need a dash cam to even have any hope of getting it straight with the local cop that it wasn't your fault. Also, many Thais don't bother with it so the cop might side with them to help them out and get your insurance to pay for stuff.

Secondly, anyone driving like a moron you should just let them speed past you and get out of the way... the hidden benefit to this is that if the cops are up ahead on the road doing a check, then they will be busy dealing with the moron when you arrive, and it's not a race track even if certain sections of the moron locals think it is.

Thirdly, don't get angry or show road rage, even using your horn and annoy some of them, just employ your emotional intelligence and pass it off... lots of Thais carry weapons in their cars and can act like 12 year-old-boys in the playground.

Also, make sure you are completely legal, like with license, tax, copy of blue car book info, insurance et al or they will use it against you if anything goes wrong.

The type of driving from the locals I really dislike is the habbit that motorbikes have of just joining a road from the side and not looking or even stopping, just drive out and expect you to miss them... often committed by older Thais that still think a highway is the same as the village.

To be honest, getting into a crash or altercation on the roads can be one of the worst possible things you can get involved in here, as it can have drastic consequences... much caution is advised to all that drive here.

[Harrisfan]

4 minutes ago, Negita43 said:

Driving in Thailand is one of the most dangerous things to do and no just because of accidents also because of the arguments (sometimes fatal) that can occur.

Driving is dead easy.

[JonnyF]

I had a similar experience with a slight twist in Bangkok.

 

When I swerved to narrowly avoid the idiot pulling out on me I nearly sideswiped a motorbike taxi who was overtaking me. He then did what you did, tailgating me and beeping/gesticulating until we reached the next red light. 

 

This led to a silent staredown like something proceeding a "quickest draw" gunfight in a spaghetti western. My finest Clint Eastwood impression must have worked, because he just rode off into the sunset. A tumbleweed blew across the dusty road in front of my car to the sound of a distant, slow playing banjo. 

[Screaming]

27 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

Unfortunately, these sort of totally stupid situations are pretty much par-for-the-course when driving here. You need to be very careful when driving around because getting into an impact/altercation with any other vehicle/person can be problematic on a few fronts.

Firstly, the way the insurance works, as most people (if they have it at all) just get the cheap one that pays for someone else's vehicle if it turns out to be your fault... problem is that you need a dash cam to even have any hope of getting it straight with the local cop that it wasn't your fault. Also, many Thais don't bother with it so the cop might side with them to help them out and get your insurance to pay for stuff.

Secondly, anyone driving like a moron you should just let them speed past you and get out of the way... the hidden benefit to this is that if the cops are up ahead on the road doing a check, then they will be busy dealing with the moron when you arrive, and it's not a race track even if certain sections of the moron locals think it is.

Thirdly, don't get angry or show road rage, even using your horn and annoy some of them, just employ your emotional intelligence and pass it off... lots of Thais carry weapons in their cars and can act like 12 year-old-boys in the playground.

Also, make sure you are completely legal, like with license, tax, copy of blue car book info, insurance et al or they will use it against you if anything goes wrong.

The type of driving from the locals I really dislike is the habbit that motorbikes have of just joining a road from the side and not looking or even stopping, just drive out and expect you to miss them... often committed by older Thais that still think a highway is the same as the village.

To be honest, getting into a crash or altercation on the roads can be one of the worst possible things you can get involved in here, as it can have drastic consequences... much caution is advised to all that drive here.

"you need a dash cam"  Dash cam and rear cam pointing behind you. 

[Sir Dude]

Just now, Screaming said:

"you need a dash cam"  Dash cam and rear cam pointing behind you. 

Well, with the rear mounted one, it's less important, as you can just jump out your car and start taking pics on your phone and it's easy to establish who is wrong with that situation... more difficult to do at the front without a dash cam.

[Quentin Zen]

1 hour ago, watgate said:

idiots who should not be allowed to drive in Thailand.

I've known for decades this is the most dangerous place in the world.  Just get the memo?  Listen, complain on Facebook, everywhere, tell them how you hate Thai drivers and enjoy your blacklist and deportation!!!!! lol.

 

making all expats look worse.  nah, not possible.

[Magictoad]

Do you always chase cars whilst  beebing your horn? And what if the police had stopped you?  Your drivi You're driving ng sounds terrible. You're lucky the car you were following didn't stop and the occupants, get out with guns or knives and really hurt you.

This thread should be close encounters of the ENTITLED kind.

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, banyanman said:

A drunk, a drug dealer, or someone with a gun. Not worth the risk.

 

Or quite possibly a drunk drug dealer with a gun. 😃

 

Top tip, when turning left onto a road, don't only look right. There's a good chance as you see a gap and pull out someone is heading towards you on the wrong side of the road. Or a motorbike is undercutting you. Or in my case, a car that passed 30 seconds before has since stopped and reversed back up the road to stop at the grilled chicken stall. 

 

It's a lottery. 

 

 

[JonnyF]

11 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

Well, with the rear mounted one, it's less important, as you can just jump out your car and start taking pics on your phone

 

Bit tricky at 80kph.

[Sir Dude]

9 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Bit tricky at 80kph.

Actually, not really, after you stop... assuming you live at that speed. If there is damage to the back of your car and damage to the front of their vehicle plus debris all over the road it's pretty much a done deal.

However, what you must do is to take photos of the incident from an angle that shows the whole situation with an identifiable landmark in the background... i.e. a row of shops or road sign etc. so you can prove where it happened. 

Although, for those out there that want to be super-sure and maybe a little paranoid, then fair play... get a rear-facing one too, but it is a little overkill. 

[unblocktheplanet]

Motorbike didn't look both ways, pouring rain. He came through the windshield. Took him to hospital, didn't die.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, watgate said:

I was livid and beeped my horn as the driver tried to speed away. I caught up to this car and was beeping my horn and the car was trying to make a fast get away.

Why?   Why were you speeding after him and why were you sounding your horn after the event?   

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, watgate said:

My question is what experience or situation did anyone have which required drastic evasive measures or skill to avoid becoming another victim or statistic because of a blooming idiot who had no business being behind the  wheel of a vehicle?

 

I was minding my own business the other day driving about... and this crazy foreigner came speeding up the street and tried to drive into me... 

.... Then he followed for a bit while belting his horn...        utter loon !!! 

 

I've no idea what was wrong with him.....  

 

 

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, Will B Good said:

 

I drive about 10 mins a day and have four near misses a week.

Take a driving course, then, appears that you need it.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, watgate said:

I was livid and beeped my horn as the driver tried to speed away. I caught up to this car and was beeping my horn and the car was trying to make a fast get away.

 

3 hours ago, watgate said:

blithering idiots who should not be allowed to drive in Thailand. 

You realise that you have also put yourself in that category, yes?