Why, when buddism helps create a slow pace of life, do Thais drive like maniacs? Surely they should treat their car journeys like their life's journey, and go slowly and politely? Why the contradiction here?

Compared to USA, Thais drive like pussycats. With the level of traffic congestion in most Thai cities, if they drove like Americans, there would be a wreck at every intersection 24/7. I have lived in LOS for 4 years and have only seen a handfull of accidents, most of them not serious. When I lived in Phoenix, I would see at least one per day. Not to mention road rage incidents, which I have never personally seen here. Thais do drive "on the edge" many times, but usually one or the other gives way when necessary. In USA not so.

Compared to the south of France and Italy they drive excruciatingly slowly. On Phuket its like there is a self imposed 25 kmh speed limit. I feel like I have entered a world in slow motion.

On Phuket its like there is a self imposed 25 kmh speed limit. I feel like I have entered a world in slow motion.

There must be a Phuket in another country, or you are having a laugh.

In Oz and NZ everyone thinks they are racing drivers.

In Oz and NZ everyone thinks they are racing drivers.

For an answer to your query on habits of the local species perhaps you are eroneously assuming that they undergo some form of driver education or that kreng jai somehow applies to the roads. No, no, no. Consider the line at the 7-eleven where he who pushes to the front gets served first, now apply this exotic eastern philosophy to driving. Now you are getting it.

Mind you, in all fairness, westren drivers are not actually polite, just fear prohibitive fines.

Anyway, who said that the Thai actually live their lives by Bhuddist principles? I would suggest that the majority of them pay lip-service to it just like most Christians in the West.

On Phuket its like there is a self imposed 25 kmh speed limit. I feel like I have entered a world in slow motion.

There must be a Phuket in another country, or you are having a laugh.

Quite serious. I'm talking about the pick-up trucks rather than the mopeds. Even my GF who is from BKK is always talking about how unbelievebly slow they drive. One of my theories is that, as in Medieval Britain, they believe that if the human body travels faster than the speed of a galloping horse, it will dissintegrate.

If people drove like that in France or Italy they would get arrested.

I guess overtaking on a blind bend is a little easier if you believe you're going to come back again if it all goes horribly wrong.

On Phuket its like there is a self imposed 25 kmh speed limit. I feel like I have entered a world in slow motion.

There must be a Phuket in another country, or you are having a laugh.

Quite serious. I'm talking about the pick-up trucks rather than the mopeds. Even my GF who is from BKK is always talking about how unbelievebly slow they drive. One of my theories is that, as in Medieval Britain, they believe that if the human body travels faster than the speed of a galloping horse, it will dissintegrate.

If people drove like that in France or Italy they would get arrested.

Sorry, just ain't so. And there are plenty of mopeds with modified silencers/engines that do 80 kph or more. If you visit there next weekend, have a look at the airport taxi's speedometer.

On Phuket its like there is a self imposed 25 kmh speed limit. I feel like I have entered a world in slow motion.

There must be a Phuket in another country, or you are having a laugh.

Quite serious. I'm talking about the pick-up trucks rather than the mopeds. Even my GF who is from BKK is always talking about how unbelievebly slow they drive. One of my theories is that, as in Medieval Britain, they believe that if the human body travels faster than the speed of a galloping horse, it will dissintegrate.

If people drove like that in France or Italy they would get arrested.

Sorry, just ain't so. And there are plenty of mopeds with modified silencers/engines that do 80 kph or more. If you visit there next weekend, have a look at the airport taxi's speedometer.

OK, I shall conduct further research at the weekend.

Incidentally my other theory is that as the Year is already 2551 the Thais feel they can afford to go slow as they are half a century ahead of the rest of the world already.