No Lights At Night

[rimbung]

Is it just in Issan or is the trend for driving around with no lights switched on common in all Thai towns and villages.

I see not just one or two but dozens of cars every nights and 3 out of every 7 motorbikes with no lights and whizzing along heading for an accident. In the city where I live we have a couple of accidents every evening. At least one is usually fatal.With a car approaching you at night plus the awful tinted screens that every car has it is impossible to see a motorbike. Worse still are the samlor motorbikes which very rarely seem to bother with lights.

And of course when the so called emergency services (a pick-up with half a dozen guys in boiler suits and a couple of flashing lights) arrive they just stand around taking photos while the victim bleeds to death.

Edited March 17, 2008 by rimbung

[Eric1949]

Is it just in Issan or is the trend for driving around with no lights switched on common in all Thai towns and villages.

I see not just one or two but dozens of cars every nights and 3 out of every 7 motorbikes with no lights and whizzing along heading for an accident. In the city where I live we have a couple of accidents every evening. At least one is usually fatal.With a car approaching you at night plus the awful tinyed screens that every car has it is impossible to see a motorbike. Worse still are the samlor motorbikes which very rarely seem to bother with lights.

And of course when the so called emergency services (a pick-up with half a dozen guys in boiler suits and a couple of flashing lights) arrive they just stand around taking photos while the victim bleeds to death.

Yeh, normal I'm afraid, same on Samui. Don't forget they are so poor, that when a bulb blows, it's a choice of ciggies, whisky, lottery, petrol or light bulb for safety, light bulb is on the bottom of the priority list.

[a2396]

Absolutely nuts with the motorcycles. I think they think it's "cool" to drive without lights. Apparently, no police enforcement on this issue. Many of these young guys on motorbikes have quite a kamakazie mentality. Must be they have a desire to see the next world soon.

[kmart]

Absolutely nuts with the motorcycles. I think they think it's "cool" to drive without lights. Apparently, no police enforcement on this issue. Many of these young guys on motorbikes have quite a kamakazie mentality. Must be they have a desire to see the next world soon.

It may be the recent addition of carrots into a lot of traditional Thai food dishes that has enhanced the night-vision of a certain section of the population..?

Either that, or its just the normal lackadaisical, negligent stupidity. You choose...

[mikethevigoman]

Is it just in Issan or is the trend for driving around with no lights switched on common in all Thai towns and villages.

I see not just one or two but dozens of cars every nights and 3 out of every 7 motorbikes with no lights and whizzing along heading for an accident. In the city where I live we have a couple of accidents every evening. At least one is usually fatal.With a car approaching you at night plus the awful tinted screens that every car has it is impossible to see a motorbike. Worse still are the samlor motorbikes which very rarely seem to bother with lights.

And of course when the so called emergency services (a pick-up with half a dozen guys in boiler suits and a couple of flashing lights) arrive they just stand around taking photos while the victim bleeds to death.

I have just returned from cambodia where it is illegal to have lights on in the daytime, however at night, no lights, no problem !

[mikethevigoman]

Is it just in Issan or is the trend for driving around with no lights switched on common in all Thai towns and villages.

I see not just one or two but dozens of cars every nights and 3 out of every 7 motorbikes with no lights and whizzing along heading for an accident. In the city where I live we have a couple of accidents every evening. At least one is usually fatal.With a car approaching you at night plus the awful tinted screens that every car has it is impossible to see a motorbike. Worse still are the samlor motorbikes which very rarely seem to bother with lights.

And of course when the so called emergency services (a pick-up with half a dozen guys in boiler suits and a couple of flashing lights) arrive they just stand around taking photos while the victim bleeds to death.

Our maid has just informed me it is to save electric !

[Scott]

I also know people who think it saves fuel. There are so many myths about this. The fact is that turning them on can save lives, but that doesn't seem to count!

[BigSnake]

See it all the time on motor bike, almost hit a few, some people are just to lazy/crazy to fix their light. I ask one kids(23Years old) why he didn't replace his lights his respond "NO Money", no kidding.

[Briggsy]

I have ridden bikes in Thailand for years. About 3 or 4 years ago, they brought in the law that motorbikes had to have their lights switched on all the time. Prior to that, I always had my lights turned on anyway for safety reasons. Whenever I pulled in to a petrol station, the pump attendants would switch them off giving various reasons from "They dazzle other motorists to saving petrol and lengthening the lifetime of the bulb". They don't do it any more.

Thais are not Japanese and they generally don't like or pay attention to rules.

[DB84]

It's absolutely bordering the point of being suicidal when they don't use their lights. I have seen and experienced close calls many times because of this.

It's up to them if they want to put their own life at risk but they are putting other people's lives at risk as well...

The chump change they have to spend for putting their lights on or buying a new bulb (potentially saving their life) is apperently not owrth it...

[geriatrickid]

It took a decade of hard lobbying by North American (excl Mex.) safety councils and automobile associations to get the legislation and to convince auto manufacturers to install daytime running lights and the 3rd auto brake light for vehicles in the 90's. At the time, many motorists were opposed because they fell for the auto industry line of it costing more. Today, motorists wouldn't think of purchasing a vehicle without daytime running lights because they understand the benefits. Until there is some education and the automatic inclusion of the function in vehicles aint nothing gonna change.

[Mosha]

Last year a friends husband was in Chumpon, pitch black on an unlit road. He pulled out on an idiot on a motorbike, the rider was killed. What I can't understand in the obvious suicide attempt is that my friends husband had to pay off the family and police. 100K to each. My wife looked at me as though I had lost the plot when I said the riders family should have had to pay to repair the car.

Round here they combine no lights with drunk as a fart. We have one particularly nasty stretch of road. Lot's and twist and turns. I am constantly on the horn driving there.

[Thaiboxer]

Keeping the lights off saves electricity; guess these folks aren't aware of a wonderful invention called the "alternator!"

[bombdefuzer]

They do the same thing in Kuwait. I think it's a combination of stupity, perceived cool factor, and general feeling that Buddha or Allah will take care of me. Kuwaiti's are alot richer and can afford light bulbs, I was told they think it is cool to be seen riding with no light's, kind of like a badge of courage.

Just plain stupid whomever does it.

[bsided69]

I have ridden bikes in Thailand for years. About 3 or 4 years ago, they brought in the law that motorbikes had to have their lights switched on all the time. Prior to that, I always had my lights turned on anyway for safety reasons. Whenever I pulled in to a petrol station, the pump attendants would switch them off giving various reasons from "They dazzle other motorists to saving petrol and lengthening the lifetime of the bulb". They don't do it any more.

Thais are not Japanese and they generally don't like or pay attention to rules.

When I arrived here 6 years ago I always had my motorbike lights on 24 7. At least once a day some elderly Thai lady would shout in Thai" turn your lights off" in the daytime. Never quite found out why this is, but did here a mention of it saves electric. Go figiure. Nowadays most new bikes dont have light switches. This will obviously shorten the life of the bulb. However a bulb is really not that expensive compared to the cost of a trip to the hospital. Maybe a few government information adverts showing pictures of the consequences of driving without lights. Better still I beleave the Government subsidise some fuels etc? Why not subsidise the price of bulbs or even offer them free for a limited period and take a look at the accident rates over the following months. Too many young lives ruined for a few baht.

Take care all.

[sgunn65]

It seems, according to my wife, that in Bangkok it is considered cool to remove your wing mirrors as well. This cuts down the drag factor making the bike faster!!!!

Combined with no lights you have to buy lots of amulets to stay safe.

[spasticated]

<br />It seems, according to my wife, that in Bangkok it is considered cool to remove your wing mirrors as well. This cuts down the drag factor making the bike faster!!!! <img src="style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" /> <br /><br />Combined with no lights you have to buy lots of amulets to stay safe.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Thus increasing weight, decreasing fuel efficiency, acceleration, tyre wear, chain wear , hahahahha

[PadThaiGuy]

Keeping the lights off saves electricity; guess these folks aren't aware of a wonderful invention called the "alternator!"

Actually, there is no "free lunch" in this world.....Yes, using the lights/air con does use energy.

[astral]

Don't worry about it.

Just get your lights on high beam so you can see the idiots.

[Aries74]

Don't worry about it.

Just get your lights on high beam so you can see the idiots.

They need more lights for Bangkok and others red light district areas.

[spasticated]

When you hit one of the morons with no lights on in your car whose fault is it here? Ill assume he was on the wrong side of the road coming towards me or the right side overtaking me and carving in ?

[PadThaiGuy]

Some will turn off the lights while going the wrong direction on 'one way' streets, so not to be seen

[gjones]

Keeping the lights off saves electricity; guess these folks aren't aware of a wonderful invention called the "alternator!"

I assume you don’t drive much in Thailand. The roads here in many places have little or no markings, huge potholes and in a poor state of repair, and where road work takes place there is seldom any warning.

Even in Bangkok I found it totally irresponsible to switch the street light off. I was driving down Thong Lor towards Pechaburi Rd and it was very difficult.

It needed a hel_l of a lot of concentration. Motorcycle riders overtaking and undertaking with no lights on was of real concern, and the head cases on the bicycles coming the wrong way down the main street were totally invisible until I was a few feet away.

All you need here to obscure your vision is to be stuck behind a Thai style fully loaded D-max, and they usually have no working break lights.

The people with beards, wearing cardigans and wooly socks with sandals that came up with this “no street light” idea had probably based their idea that all motorists are civilized and all roads are perfect, but this is Thailand and things are very different.

Most of the vehicle owners are totally unaware of danger and responsibility and to ask motorist to drive without adequate street lighting was not just foolish and naïve but bordering on insanity.

For the government to endorse this is beyond reason.

[lawling]

Something which concerns me about all this is the fact that riders can actually have their lights on but stuff in the basket totally obscures the front light. A couple of times I have had near shaves from walking out in front of bikes in the darkness. No light visible but then seeing, after they had passed that it had actually been on but had been obscured by shopping or a jacket or even a helmet in the basket. But the rider probably thought that as he could see some (reflected) light other road users would also.

I don't know what the answer to that is - the bike design with the basket placed directly in front of the light obviously provides people with a certain amount of misguided justification for failing to take full responsibility for their own safety.

Can anyone say if in the handbook, or whatever, the bike manufacturers make any mention of the fact that people should obviously take care not to place stuff in the basket at night which obscures the front light?

Given attitudes to personal safety it probably wouldn't make much difference to the majority but it might get through to one or two.

[Thaiboxer]

Actually I drive everyday in Bangkok and I've driven in other parts of Thailand as well. I've been on the road here for over five years, but it took a good few months till I got used to the chaos. I found it hard to believe coming from a place where driving standards aren't the greatest.

I know the roads here are poorly maintained/marked which makes things confusing. On top of this, many signs are either hidden or have been removed because of accidents and never replaced. Tree branches take the place of warning triangles when it comes to breakdowns on the roadside. I'm not surprised to see so many city buses with scrapes running down the sides; these guys often pull out without looking.

[Cuban]

I think it would be a nice earner for the cops, no lights working or turned on after sunset for any car or bike instant on the spot fine of 500 Baht. No exceptions Thai, farang, police etc.

People can afford the gas to run the car/bike and shopping for smokes and beer, then they see a few friends hit for 500 Baht with no lights then they will ensure their lights function correctly.

TIT - never happen.

[a2396]

It would seem that the sensible thing to do about this is to require yearly inspection of motorbikes, in addition to ticketing drivers with no lights. Obviously, this problem is not seen as a priority with the powers that be, so don't wait up for any action to be taken.

[barky]

Don't worry about it.

Just get your lights on high beam so you can see the idiots.

Agree , Don't worry. Just make sure your lights are on so hopefully you can see them. When you are dealing with people that believe their entire life is governed by luck how can we expect logic to prevail. As long as they don't wipe you out, let them go ahead. A few less of them on the road makes me feel safer on roads, pedestrian crossings and footpaths. Songkran is coming and that get rid of a few more of these brain dead fools.

[billd766]

It has been like that since I first came here in 1993 and anyone who has been here longer will probably say the same.

On the other hand just because it is traditional doesn't make it right

[Thaiboxer]

It's funny how it works....you have either no lights at all, or their lights are far too bright.