Pictures courtesy of SiamNews.

 

A British national has died in a road traffic collision involving a motorcycle and a pickup truck at a busy tourist area in Phang Nga province.

 

The incident occurred at a U-turn near Wat Komniyakhot School, Moo 4, Khuk Kak Subdistrict, Takua Pa District. Police at Khuk Kak station reported that the victim, identified only as Mr. G, was riding a black Honda Click 125i motorcycle (registration from Phang Nga) when he was involved in a collision with a red Isuzu pickup truck (registration from Phuket).

 

The motorcycle was found overturned on the road, damaged, with parts scattered across the road. Mr. G was pronounced dead at the scene. The pickup truck, driven by Mr. Samart, from Mai Khao Subdistrict, Thalang District, Phuket, sustained damage to its right headlamp and front panel. Mr. Samart was uninjured.

 

Investigations revealed that Mr. G had been travelling from the Khao Lak direction, intending to use the U-turn near the local health promotion hospital. At the same time, Mr. Samart was driving from Ban Bang Sak towards the Tham Muang area. The two vehicles collided at the U-turn, with the motorcycle attempting to cross in front of the pickup, resulting in the fatality. Khuk Kak Police are gathering evidence to proceed with legal action, as the investigation continues.

 

Local authorities note that traffic crashes are a recurring problem in the Khao Lak area. Despite measures such as warning signs, traffic lights, patrolling officers and speed restrictions, crashes continue to occur due to the high speed of vehicles on the main Phetkasem Road and the heavy movement of tourists crossing the road at all hours, whether on foot or on bicycles and motorcycles.

 

The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns in areas where tourist activity intersects with fast-moving traffic.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from SiamNews 2025-08-30

 

 

 

 

Effin U turns again!! Wot's with this Thai traffic management  mentality????

1 minute ago, bdenner said:

Effin U turns again!! Wot's with this Thai traffic management  mentality????

 

 

Money.... that simple.

 

Cost/benefit analyses, when accounting for Thai lives, is not in favour of the common folk.

RIP, U turns are the cause of many RTC's and unfortunately deaths

RIP

15 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Mr. G had been travelling from the Khao Lak direction, intending to use the U-turn near the local health promotion hospital.

Keep away from those U turn intersections on your motorbike if you ain't got the skill set, too dangerous. 

 

Take the car or taxi. 

 

 

 

18 hours ago, steve187 said:

RIP, U turns are the cause of many RTC's and unfortunately deaths

I also beleive the problem with no eye contact/eye communication with car drivers due to tinted windows is a big cause of missunderstandings in traffic.

4 minutes ago, Captor said:

I also beleive the problem with no eye contact/eye communication with car drivers due to tinted windows is a big cause of missunderstandings in traffic.

People in the west are taught this from day one, making sure the other driver sees you before you make a move. Here, so many never use mirrors and just turn without looking to the sides or rear, which leave them in harm's way very quickly. Many die at these u-turns for this reason, especially in scooters where you have no protection.

20 hours ago, bdenner said:

Effin U turns again!! Wot's with this Thai traffic management  mentality????

In this case it reads like an unexperienced foreign driver, who attempt to make a u-turn without having enough time and space to make it. If he had been smart enough to keep of the bike, he would have been alive today.

One more tragic data point. 

 

Same accident, and the guy with 4 wheels and seatbelts walks away uninjured.

 

5 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

In this case it reads like an unexperienced foreign driver, who attempt to make a u-turn without having enough time and space to make it. If he had been smart enough to keep of the bike, he would have been alive today.

If the country had better traffic management there would be no need for the death trap "U turns"!!!!!

14 hours ago, bdenner said:

If the country had better traffic management there would be no need for the death trap "U turns"!!!!!

Seriously! Have you moved here to complain? If it was so good management in your home country, just stay there. If you come to Thailand, you have to get used to and in line with how things are working here. A U-turn is not any kind of death trap, as long as a driver look at what they are doing.

19 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

In this case it reads like an unexperienced foreign driver, who attempt to make a u-turn without having enough time and space to make it. If he had been smart enough to keep of the bike, he would have been alive today.

Yes I wonder if he had a license? Was drunk on alcohol or high on weed? a was wearing a helmet?

 

So many arrive in Thailand and leave their brains at the airport.

7 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Seriously! Have you moved here to complain? If it was so good management in your home country, just stay there. If you come to Thailand, you have to get used to and in line with how things are working here. A U-turn is not any kind of death trap, as long as a driver look at what they are doing.

 

Pathetic response.
Everyone has a right to complain, whether they be a native or not.
If you don't like people complaining in this forum, go to another forum where everybody toes your line!

1 minute ago, loong said:

 

Pathetic response.
Everyone has a right to complain, whether they be a native or not.
If you don't like people complaining in this forum, go to another forum where everybody toes your line!

Sure they have, if it has substance. This didn´t have, as a U-turn is not a death trap and only dangerous to people not looking.

Just now, loong said:

 

Pathetic response.
Everyone has a right to complain, whether they be a native or not.
If you don't like people complaining in this forum, go to another forum where everybody toes your line!

Very true, as nothing bad in the world is ever changed unless one, or actually many, complain about it. Just as the Mai Bpen Rai here lets so many get away with things they shouldn't, complaining until something is done is all you have. 

14 hours ago, bdenner said:

If the country had better traffic management there would be no need for the death trap "U turns"!!!!!

And a lot less deaths and accidents, as many here simply don't follow the laws already on the book, rarely look behind them before turning, and U-turns are a dangerous place because of this for everyone. Both sides can make mistakes. This is why jug handle turns, along with overpasses were invented in the west. The same with pedestrian crossings where many are hurt and killed. The only way to protect pedestrians in this case is pedestrian bridges instead of zebra crossings, as it takes away any chance of them being hit by careless drivers. They cost more money but if they're concerned about pedestrians, it should be a priority. 

On 8/30/2025 at 3:59 PM, bdenner said:

Effin U turns again!! Wot's with this Thai traffic management  mentality????

Cheaper than roundabouts.

Crazy thai drivers looking to squeeze every second they can. Why would anyone with a choice ever get on a bike

On 8/30/2025 at 1:15 PM, Georgealbert said:

Pictures courtesy of SiamNews.

 

A British national has died in a road traffic collision involving a motorcycle and a pickup truck at a busy tourist area in Phang Nga province.

 

The incident occurred at a U-turn near Wat Komniyakhot School, Moo 4, Khuk Kak Subdistrict, Takua Pa District. Police at Khuk Kak station reported that the victim, identified only as Mr. G, was riding a black Honda Click 125i motorcycle (registration from Phang Nga) when he was involved in a collision with a red Isuzu pickup truck (registration from Phuket).

 

The motorcycle was found overturned on the road, damaged, with parts scattered across the road. Mr. G was pronounced dead at the scene. The pickup truck, driven by Mr. Samart, from Mai Khao Subdistrict, Thalang District, Phuket, sustained damage to its right headlamp and front panel. Mr. Samart was uninjured.

 

Investigations revealed that Mr. G had been travelling from the Khao Lak direction, intending to use the U-turn near the local health promotion hospital. At the same time, Mr. Samart was driving from Ban Bang Sak towards the Tham Muang area. The two vehicles collided at the U-turn, with the motorcycle attempting to cross in front of the pickup, resulting in the fatality. Khuk Kak Police are gathering evidence to proceed with legal action, as the investigation continues.

 

Local authorities note that traffic crashes are a recurring problem in the Khao Lak area. Despite measures such as warning signs, traffic lights, patrolling officers and speed restrictions, crashes continue to occur due to the high speed of vehicles on the main Phetkasem Road and the heavy movement of tourists crossing the road at all hours, whether on foot or on bicycles and motorcycles.

 

The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns in areas where tourist activity intersects with fast-moving traffic.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from SiamNews 2025-08-30

 

 

 

 

Riding a motorbike (without helmet) is always risky. So this guy rejected a car and welcomed the risk.

Karma.

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

Sure they have, if it has substance. This didn´t have, as a U-turn is not a death trap and only dangerous to people not looking.

So you don't think slowing down and turning tight in the fast lane  then attempting to enter the fast lane isn't dangerous. Come on its crazey thats one big reason why Thailand has the number of road deaths it has. 

 

 

2 hours ago, Hardcastle P said:

So you don't think slowing down and turning tight in the fast lane  then attempting to enter the fast lane isn't dangerous. Come on its crazey thats one big reason why Thailand has the number of road deaths it has. 

 

 

To me it looks like you lack experience or never drive in Thailand. I drive everyday. First, slowing down and turning in the fast lane. My experience tells me that most U-turns in Thailand has an extra lane, where you steer in and slow down. In other words, you don´t slow down nor turn in the fast lane. Sure, there will exist the ones which do not have an extra lane. That makes them a little bit more dangerous and the need to look more. After that, I don´t know what you think about driving. You don´t attempt to enter the fast lane while having oncoming traffic. It must be free for you to turn, if you don´t have a sick mind a wish to play Russian roulette while driving.

In other words, it´s not the U-turn that is dangerous, but the drivers that lack all kind of self-preserving nature. So, the result is that bad drivers cause the number of road deaths, but you chose to blame the U-turns.

On 8/31/2025 at 11:00 AM, fredwiggy said:

People in the west are taught this from day one, making sure the other driver sees you before you make a move. Here, so many never use mirrors and just turn without looking to the sides or rear, which leave them in harm's way very quickly. Many die at these u-turns for this reason, especially in scooters where you have no protection.

True. Western motorists are taught to take care of the more vulnerable motorists like scooters and cyclists. However in Thailand, this mentality is not taught. It is the law of the jungle with the smaller vehicles looking out for the bigger vehicles. Disregard this at your own peril .

On 8/31/2025 at 10:53 AM, Captor said:

I also beleive the problem with no eye contact/eye communication with car drivers due to tinted windows is a big cause of missunderstandings in traffic.

And the UNDISCRIMINATED use of mobile phones whilst driving...

Thailand's "U-Turns Of Death!" 

On 8/30/2025 at 3:59 PM, bdenner said:

Effin U turns again!! Wot's with this Thai traffic management  mentality????

 

Is there an alternative. What If I live on the east side of a North/south highway and am travelling North. U-turns are OK if one is patient. No different really than a right turn. They are simply a gap in the median.

A post intended to insult another member was removed. Please discuss the topic politely, without resorting to personal attacks. Thank you.

On 8/30/2025 at 1:15 PM, Georgealbert said:

At the same time, Mr. Samart was driving from Ban Bang Sak towards the Tham Muang area. The two vehicles collided at the U-turn, with the motorcycle attempting to cross in front of the pickup, resulting in the fatality.

That will kill a guy.

5 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

Very true, as nothing bad in the world is ever changed unless one, or actually many, complain about it. Just as the Mai Bpen Rai here lets so many get away with things they shouldn't, complaining until something is done is all you have. 

No point complaining to him now Fred.

He is dead, he won’t hear you.

Hazard perception comes to mind. judging speeds at U-Turns is a must. Have you got the speed on Acceleration pulling away if a vehicle is coming your way ? Dertemine the speed of the vehicle travelling towards the path your intending to go into. If it is a busy road don't try and jump it let it pass till there is enough space to move. Sadly most don't think about this and leave it to late making a u-turn when a speeding vehicle is coming the direction your about to move into.