1 hour ago, Bday Prang said:

i doubt that it would, a Thai would have no concept of being in  the wrong,  they would just assume you were being aggressive for no reason

 

I rear ended a Thai bout two years ago on the railway road Pattaya.

He  was waiting for cross traffic, there was a decent gap so she went, I went too... He (as he admitted to me afterward) hard braked as he thought the vehicle coming was not going to stop.

 

I hit him so clearly in the wrong.... police came, my insurance came. he refused my insurance, he called a friend to bring a tow truck and that was it.

 

 

I made it a habit to let go, let others pass and cross, get in front of me, and stop completely to let people cross the road, I don't honk, the only rare time that I honk is to avoid collision. not sure about others, but it makes me feel better, a better person and a better guest in this country.

2 minutes ago, Hellfire said:

That’s always a possibility—not just in Thailand. There are plenty of mentally unstable people out there, and even otherwise stable individuals can have a bad day. If you start feeling nervous or irritated—which can happen easily in this hot and humid climate—it’s best to pause and relax for five minutes.

 

I have train air horns and a pair of 10" high intensity LED spotlights on my daily driver... i love to provoke them !

13 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

So the entitled prick saved a good 5 seconds by pulling out into moving traffic when it wasn’t safe ?

 

People are in a hurry to go nowhere.

 

It's just instinctive survival nonsense that every second lost is a matter of life and death. 

 

6 hours ago, Stuck in Thailand said:

So you're a coward and let people walk over you.

 

I'd rather live like a lion and be killed, than live like a mouse, like you obviously do.

Has nothing to do with being a coward or letting people walk over you.  More just stress management, and why let something so irrelevant, stress you out.   Along with common sense, and first rule of survival ... 'don't F with people you don't know'.

 

Coming from USA, good common sense to follow, if you don't carry, as you never know what kind of nut you will encounter, or their capabilities, with or without a weapon, whether they are sane, or a nutter.  It takes little effort to injure or kill someone accidentally.  Why put yourself on either end of that result.

 

One should always keep one's emotions in check.  When back in USA, wouldn't recommend anyone getting in my face, as it would not turn out good for them.   Don't mess with strangers, we ain't wrapped too tight at times  

 

You never know what kind of day someone is having, and that horn, might just be the final straw.  Good Luck.

6 hours ago, Stuck in Thailand said:

 

So you're a coward and let people walk over you.

 

I'd rather live like a lion and be killed, than live like a mouse, like you obviously do.

 

 

Can a lion honk a horn? Do they have a horn to honk?

When will all the foreigners understand that Thai roads are amongst the most hazardous in the world ?

 

Despite that, if a foreigner still wants to drive, the mantra is to avoid other driver's mistakes. And definately not to expect to be in one's own right of way and push in even if that is so. 

 

Not to forget, in case of any road incident or accident, it is usually the falang who will always be pointed out at fault by the cops and the system. 

 

With this in mind, enjoy and drive safe...which means in Thailand, drive.  s l o w l y !!

5 minutes ago, Sigmund said:

When will all the foreigners understand that Thai roads are amongst the most hazardous in the world ?

 

 

 

Please provide the data to back up that claim.

1 minute ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Please provide the data to back up that claim.

I don't think he needs to do so. Conclusions based on empirical...empirical study and conclusions are academically accepted or say tolerated and are not subject to submission of regular data numbers or frequencies. Claim for sources or data would more be an attempt to argue and challenge basic conclusions of common sense. A bit like asking for data when people claim that the Sun can get very hot and dangerous for the skin in Thailand. You would also challenge that and ask for data ? 

25 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Please provide the data to back up that claim.

 

19 minutes ago, SingAPorn said:

I don't think he needs to do so. Conclusions based on empirical...empirical study and conclusions are academically accepted or say tolerated and are not subject to submission of regular data numbers or frequencies. Claim for sources or data would more be an attempt to argue and challenge basic conclusions of common sense. A bit like asking for data when people claim that the Sun can get very hot and dangerous for the skin in Thailand. You would also challenge that and ask for data ? 

Thailand does make it into the top 16, by deaths on the roads per 100k capita

 

 

https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/estimated-road-traffic-death-rate-(per-100-000-population)

1 hour ago, SingAPorn said:

I don't think he needs to do so. Conclusions based on empirical...empirical study and conclusions are academically accepted or say tolerated and are not subject to submission of regular data numbers or frequencies. Claim for sources or data would more be an attempt to argue and challenge basic conclusions of common sense. A bit like asking for data when people claim that the Sun can get very hot and dangerous for the skin in Thailand. You would also challenge that and ask for data ? 

 

Have lived and daily driven in Mexico City/Beruit/Manilla/Jakarta/Islamabad.

 

Thailand in my opinion is much better.

8 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

 

I have train air horns and a pair of 10" high intensity LED spotlights on my daily driver... i love to provoke them !

Installing bulletproof windows is essential

4 hours ago, Hellfire said:

Installing bulletproof windows is essential

lot of vehicle body needed to do that.

13 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

People are in a hurry to go nowhere.

 

It's just instinctive survival nonsense that every second lost is a matter of life and death. 

 

Here in the US im relaxed driving slightly below the speed limit at all times. Nowhere to go, not a care in the world

19 hours ago, Walt Kowalski said:

why the hell would it be a polite toot?

 

he's lucky I didn't react when he kicked my tyre and beat his scrawny ass up!

Oh dear, more foreigner fatigue...embrace the wonderful country that allows you to live here...blowing your horn is a definite no no...learn and move on

I ride a motorcycle every day. And at least 3-4 times a week, some yeshole in a car will try to change lanes by forcing me over. When that happens, I use my horn. And use it until they stop pushing me off the road.

 

It's a balancing act... get killed by being run off the road or get killed for honking to stop someone from running me off the road?

 

I will NOT use my horn in anger if someone cuts me off. That doesn't help anything. But the horn  'usually'  DOES stop them from forcing me onto the shoulder. Sometimes, they just don't give a damn.

 

No... I am not worried that someone will pull a gun. I don't live my life that way.

22 hours ago, Walt Kowalski said:

This morning after visiting my regular coffee shop I was on the way back to my house when all of a sudden I got cut off by some complete ignoramus. So I honked him. He stopped his car, got out, swore at me in Thai and kicked my wheel then drove off..

 

There's just absolutely no logic to this place, is there?

Indeed, there's no logic here. If you had behaved in a similar way, that would have been reason enough for ten Thais to jump you and beat you within an inch of your life. Always opt for the "jai yen" approach. You are not likely to regret it.

16 minutes ago, FolkGuitar said:

I ride a motorcycle every day. And at least 3-4 times a week, some person in a car will try to change lanes by forcing me over.

 

 

 

people like you do yield... or crash!

 

I give no farks either way, up to you.

3 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

people like you do yield... or crash!

 

I give no farks either way, up to you.

Are you telling us that YOU are one of those drivers who think they own the road?
Wonderful human being...  

1 minute ago, FolkGuitar said:

Are you telling us that YOU are one of those drivers who think they own the road?
Wonderful human being...  

my ride is bigger than yours... yeild or eat dirt.

7 minutes ago, FolkGuitar said:

Are you telling us that YOU are one of those drivers who think they own the road?
Wonderful human being...  

Some do indeed think they own the road. It's a controlling personality, low self esteem brought out in a 2 ton vehicle until they hit someone and have to pay the price. Some use loud horns and exhaust systems, like teens showing off thinking it impresses anyone besides other teens. It takes quite some time for some to grow out of that mindset and some never do. They cause accidents and play the victim, trying to convince the law it wasn't them .

You are in the land of the semi-divine - do not   D A R E   to honk. While the country is definitely not lawless it is certainly law bending if not law ignoring. 

Had an incident whereby one car tried to cut off a second car while I was standing still waiting for a red light to switch. Luck had it that the vehicle which cut off the third car hit my front right bumper. Big argument, police was called in and I was accused of damaging the vehicle, which cut off the third vehicle in the first place. 

The cut-off party disappeared once the light switched and it was only due to my dashboard camera to identify, that:
- I was standing absolutely still when it happened
- the cut-off car could be identified by the car plates
- the rage of the driver who accused me of damaging his moving car with my parked vehicle
Police then tried to convince me to "help" the damaged party with some money to fix his car. Only then I referred to the fact, that I am leaving now, shall take care myself of the minor damage on my car's bumper and if there would be anything more down the juristic alley I would accuse the party at fault as well as the police (also on the camera's chip) of harassing me. 

Without the dashboard camera I would have had the whole story on my lap - be warned! 

On 8/29/2025 at 9:26 AM, Walt Kowalski said:

This morning after visiting my regular coffee shop I was on the way back to my house when all of a sudden I got cut off by some complete ignoramus. So I honked him. He stopped his car, got out, swore at me in Thai and kicked my wheel then drove off..

 

There's just absolutely no logic to this place, is there?

 

TOLERATE, DON’T RETALIATE!

I live up in the mountains. I only honk my horn (twice - short beeps) to thank a truck for pulling over to the left and putting on his right turn signal to let me know it's okay to pass. They seem to know that that means.

On 8/29/2025 at 4:26 AM, Walt Kowalski said:

This morning after visiting my regular coffee shop I was on the way back to my house when all of a sudden I got cut off by some complete ignoramus. So I honked him. He stopped his car, got out, swore at me in Thai and kicked my wheel then drove off..

 

There's just absolutely no logic to this place, is there?

Cutting you off is the way things work here in Thailand!! Keep ypur calm! Do not "honk" your horn! You are NOT in America or Europe, you are in a place where traffic rules are made up as you go!! Honk, and someone might get out of their car and shoot you! Has happened before.😂😂

On 8/29/2025 at 3:43 PM, Ralf001 said:

 

I rear ended a Thai bout two years ago on the railway road Pattaya.

He  was waiting for cross traffic, there was a decent gap so she went, I went too... He (as he admitted to me afterward) hard braked as he thought the vehicle coming was not going to stop.

 

I hit him so clearly in the wrong.... police came, my insurance came. he refused my insurance, he called a friend to bring a tow truck and that was it.

 

 

 

I was driving a Lao plated car near Phitsanulok a little over 10 years ago. At the time of this incident, my friend was in the driver's seat, though I was driving the other 90% of the time. 

 

Local woman was driving behind, her husband in the passenger seat. Both were employees at Bangkok Hospital, Phitsanulok. They rear-ended us at a traffic light. Back then, this section of highway, coming down from the mountains to Phitsanulok, had only one lane in each direction. She caused very little damage to my bumper, only a few scratches, although her hood (bonnet) was badly damaged. Her husband gave me 1000 Baht on the spot without asking and we went our separate ways. I wanted more since the repairs would cost 2000 and this being a Lao rental car, I didn't want to get blamed by the rental company. 

 

Anyway, in the end, the matter was finalized after I got a local bodyshop to paint over the scratches, which they did for 2000 Baht. For such a small ordeal, I shouldn't have panicked and been a bit more upfront with the rental company, to be honest. 

Just the other day, at a u-turn bay on Rama 9 road prior to the start of the Bangkok-Chonburi motorway, a car blocks the u-turn bay, realizing that they want to go straight instead. This sets off multiple loud horn blasts from several vehicles behind the driver. Those going straight don't want to 

 

This kind of reaction is becoming more common now in Thailand, especially in Bangkok. Years ago, such actions would not have led to any horn honking at all. 

On 8/29/2025 at 9:26 AM, Walt Kowalski said:

This morning after visiting my regular coffee shop I was on the way back to my house when all of a sudden I got cut off by some complete ignoramus. So I honked him. He stopped his car, got out, swore at me in Thai and kicked my wheel then drove off..

 

There's just absolutely no logic to this place, is there?

Don't do this as you will lose. You don't know your place and rules here in Thailand

On 8/29/2025 at 9:26 AM, Walt Kowalski said:

This morning after visiting my regular coffee shop I was on the way back to my house when all of a sudden I got cut off by some complete ignoramus. So I honked him. He stopped his car, got out, swore at me in Thai and kicked my wheel then drove off..

 

There's just absolutely no logic to this place, is there?

There is not any logic in your honking either.

You said he cut your way? So why honking? Do you think he would reverse his car/motorbike???🤣