Yesterday Evening In Patong!

[geriatrickid]

Sounds to me you lot want to get out of the house a bit more instead of watching American Movies on TV,You are all being brain washed into believing that it is real life.Try going to the beach a bit more and relaxing You will be surprised how nice life can be when you live in the real world,Have a nice Day...

I'd like to say the same, but unfortuantely, it seems alot of males on the Phuket feel the need to compensate for their inadequacies as males by waving a gun. Perhaps it's related to their diminutive height and small wee wees, I don't know, but I have seen some of these idiots and it's just not worth it. I now understand why my friends always insist on driving me home or escorting me when it's late at night. Patong's just an open toilet that really needs to be flushed.

[markg]

I drive a fair old amount around Phuket.

I rarely see road rage. In fact, i marvel at the fact that i dont see it more often.

The reason i think i dont see it more often is that driving is generally so poor here, that the 'victim' doesnt know that he has just been cut-up, undertaken, forced to swerve out of the way etc so therefore doesnt react !

How many times do you hear someone sounding the horn as an act of aggression ? I dont hear it that often to be honest. Certainly not every day.

I like the anarchic driving style here!

Having said that, i saw a Fortuna knock a Thai off his motorbike the other day (low speed, no obvious injuries) and the Thai motorbike driver was going beserk. Really kicking right off about it. I was surprised at that. Then i noticed it was a foreigner driving the Fortuna. Wonder if that was why...........?

[donna]

i witnessed a lot of road rage in Phuket

So did I, especially when riding in a car with Donna and a Tuk -tuk cuts her off!

haha. that prick deserved it, im sure.

[LivinginKata]

Having said that, i saw a Fortuna knock a Thai off his motorbike the other day (low speed, no obvious injuries) and the Thai motorbike driver was going beserk. Really kicking right off about it. I was surprised at that. Then i noticed it was a foreigner driving the Fortuna. Wonder if that was why...........?

Aaahh .... the Thai was expecting a big pay day ....

[chiang mai]

I agree that road rage is becoming more prevalent in Phuket. I pick up Mrs CM from the hotel at midnight and drive down Rat U Thit - this is a road that is easily five or six lanes wide (including parking lane) and at that time of night, as you approach Bangla, it is often reduced to just one or two lanes because of taxi's that are parked and/or other drivers who have simply decided to park without caring about the traffic flow. To flash your lights or sound your horn at a driver who has stopped for no apparent reason is to invite a serious confrontation at that time of night.

[thaigerd]

I agree that road rage is becoming more prevalent in Phuket. I pick up Mrs CM from the hotel at midnight and drive down Rat U Thit - this is a road that is easily five or six lanes wide (including parking lane) and at that time of night, as you approach Bangla, it is often reduced to just one or two lanes because of taxi's that are parked and/or other drivers who have simply decided to park without caring about the traffic flow. To flash your lights or sound your horn at a driver who has stopped for no apparent reason is to invite a serious confrontation at that time of night.

....unfortunately not only at night.

Couple of weeks ago we went on an early Sunday morning to Karon beach for our Sunday beach walks with our dogs.

Many signs in white painted on the surface of the street for parking cars/motorbikes.

As soon as I stopped the car for parking some of the tuktuk drivers came to send me away........I just opened the doors and let the dogs out .....parking was now ok for me .

A nice relaxing morning:

Gerd

[LivinginKata]

It's a big no no to either sound your horn or have any sort of confrontation with Tuk Tuk, taxi, or minibus drivers. These guys consider themselves the top dogs about town and respect nothing, other than the almighty 1,000 Baht note. Even if walking about be careful not to anger a Tuk Tuk driver barking at you for a hire. Luckly they tend to shoot each other with their own disputes ... and I did not see that on a TV movie Mintman. Read in the Gazette. In my first few years here living in Patong (then) I had a number of 'incidents' with Tuk Tuks with me thinking I had the right of way, or whatever. These days I let these guys do what they want, and keep out of their way. Yes I know, this just emboldens them even more. But ..... I just want to relax on our paradise island.

Edited January 11, 2009 by LivinginKata

[huggybear]

It's a big no no to either sound your horn or have any sort of confrontation with Tuk Tuk, taxi, or minibus drivers. These guys consider themselves the top dogs about town and respect nothing, other than the almighty 1,000 Baht note. Even if walking about be careful not to anger a Tuk Tuk driver barking at you for a hire. Luckly they tend to shoot each other with their own disputes ... and I did not see that on a TV movie Mintman. Read in the Gazette. In my first few years here living in Patong (then) I had a number of 'incidents' with Tuk Tuks with me thinking I had the right of way, or whatever. These days I let these guys do what they want, and keep out of their way. Yes I know, this just emboldens them even more. But ..... I just want to relax on our paradise island.

Pulled the motosai up one time in Karon past some of the tuk-tuk guys, up under a tree. Not blocking them at all, not in the way, but as I started walking toward my appointment one of the tuk-tuk drivers told me I couldn't park there. His pal nodded agreement.

This is next to dilapadated construction, off the road, in no way bothering anybody. I basically told the guy to piss off and when I came out of my appointment, flat tires. Tuk-tuk guys gone.

[LivinginKata]

I basically told the guy to piss off and when I came out of my appointment, flat tires. Tuk-tuk guys gone.

Whenever I look for a place to park I ALWAY politely ask permission from the nearest shop keeper or taxi guy hanging about. I know ... I'm pandering to them, BUT it usually works, and they now have the responsibility to make sure nothing happens to my car while I am away. Try it ... works wonders ...

[Old Croc]

Not sure why Mintman found it necessary to give a lecture about driving angry to the posters here. They were all talking about road rage they witnessed in other people.

(Apart from Donna, and I've also seen her driving first hand! )

[1000baht]

Well, this may not be considered road rage, but maybe bad road manners. I went into Big c yesterday with my landlord, hes a really good guy, but hes one of those guys that gets into his big trucks and is a real character behing the wheel, cursing everything and everyone that moves, likes to use his little horn. Anyways, its the first time i have ever seen a thai person use the middle finger towards anyone, all because he was driving in the car lane, and Chris gave him a little toot , to move over. So that got Chris really Tourqued up , but he calms down, so we pull into Big C parking lot, and a big Toyota Hilux dam_n nears backs into us, just about 5 inches away, Chris gives him a little horn, and then this Farang flips us off! Two birds in one day, in about 5 minutes!

[LivinLOS]

Are you sure it was road rage? Or was it for some other reason,Maybe he had not payed his gambling debt or a loan he had or maybe he was visiting his wife when he was at work,Just remember things are not always what they seem,Dont jump to conclusions,I have never seen road rage in Thailand I have lived here for 12 years and driven thousands of kilometers and never seen anybody get angry behind the wheel,They are always to drunk anyway Cheers...

Your joking surely ?? Or has my sarcasm filter just failed ??

[YaiJung]

Just a few days ago I found out that he's already dead, and never worked for the Tesiban. He just gave out the impression he was a government official. BTW he died of some medial condition.

Best news I've heard in a while. That S.O.B. was truly a menace in Patong.

[donna]

Oh my....I do have a reputation on Phuket, don't I! Haha.

I find that the drivers on Phuket are very aggressive, with no consideration for others. When driving there, I drive like a local - if you cant beat 'em, join 'em, I say! Having said that, I never had an accident, and never had anyone pull a gun or knife on me.

there were many times i would drive down the beach road in Patong with an idiot tonka truck driver in me driving at 2km an hour beeping his horn. i used to beep my horn at HIM to get him out of the way. it was kind of like a sport to me. maybe foolish on my part, but i never felt that i was in any danger at all.

to slackula and old croc, come on.... admit it. i AM a kick ass driver!

(i should add that i didnt drive agressively ALL the time....only when slackula pissed me off at work)

[keemapoot]

I basically told the guy to piss off and when I came out of my appointment, flat tires. Tuk-tuk guys gone.

Whenever I look for a place to park I ALWAY politely ask permission from the nearest shop keeper or taxi guy hanging about. I know ... I'm pandering to them, BUT it usually works, and they now have the responsibility to make sure nothing happens to my car while I am away. Try it ... works wonders ...

Yeah, I learned a long time ago never to piss off a tuk tuk driver. You never know which of their buddies will follow you home on his motorbike to report where you live. At this point, I only park about three or so places in Patong; Jungceylon, back of Sansabai, and another couple of secrets I'm not going to post. There is simply no place else left to park a car. The taxis and Tuktuks have appropriated every single parking space else, both on the beach road and 2nd road. In the mornings, they even have their friends and family block spaces physically until their taxis arrive. Very occasionally you get lucky and find a space on the beach road, but it's hit and miss.

So, I usually only take the motorbike to Patong. And, guess what? Yup. The motorbike taxis are now doing the same thing. I parked my bike on the beach road and was walking away, when a motorbike taxi (politely) told me I could not park in the front row, because that is reserved for motorbike taxis. Of course I know that is not true. He then proceeded to physically move my bike to the last row with a smile. I assisted him and smiled. That's about all you can do with this bunch now. Anyone who thinks he's being tough and holding his ground by arguing or getting into conflicts with them is just plain stupid. They will get you back one way or another. The local tuktuk and taxi mafia totally control this place and even the cops can't control them.

As far as road rage, I haven't seen much of it to be honest, but I agree that you never escalate any road situation. You never know what they have in the glove box, or how many other Thais will magically appear in any confrontation. As I drive my car mostly during the day, I guess that explains why I don't see it much.

[JetsetBkk]

...3 nights ago driving home in the fast lane I heard a horn and looked in rear-view and a car was right on my bumper, but had no lights on. I didn't move over for a few km's and he stuck right on my tail. Eventually I moved to the left lane and he followed, still on my bumper. I actually thought he didn't have lights and was using me as a blocker. This went on for about another 2km. Then I had to move into the right lane and then into the turn right lane. As I did, he shot past me and then in front of me and slammed on his brakes. He then reversed into me. I actually thought he was going to claim I ran into him.

I got out of my car....

You did what???

You should've driven straight to the nearest police station.

[Bagsida]

In South Africa I´ve heard some people fixed flame-throwers under their pick ups.......someone knows where can get on Phuket ?

Bagsida

[JetsetBkk]

In South Africa I´ve heard some people fixed flame-throwers under their pick ups...

Yes, they're marketed as a "car-jacking deterrent" :

[Bagsida]

In South Africa I´ve heard some people fixed flame-throwers under their pick ups...

Yes, they're marketed as a "car-jacking deterrent" :

Perfect for some areas on Phuket I think - where can buy or is this the last good business idea ?

Bagsida

[DLock]

...3 nights ago driving home in the fast lane I heard a horn and looked in rear-view and a car was right on my bumper, but had no lights on. I didn't move over for a few km's and he stuck right on my tail. Eventually I moved to the left lane and he followed, still on my bumper. I actually thought he didn't have lights and was using me as a blocker. This went on for about another 2km. Then I had to move into the right lane and then into the turn right lane. As I did, he shot past me and then in front of me and slammed on his brakes. He then reversed into me. I actually thought he was going to claim I ran into him.

I got out of my car....

You did what???

You should've driven straight to the nearest police station.

In hindsight I agree, but next time I'll just move over faster.

One of my encounters in Phuket was outside a Phuket Town restaurant when a car attempted to park and he smacked into my rear bumper. I went up to his window and he wouldn't come out, so I smacked the side window with an open hand.

A man then emerges from another restaurant and told me to leave. I told what had happened and that I wanted...actually I'm not really sure what I wanted...

He then runs to his car and puts something under his shirt. When he gets in front of me, pulls it out and puts it at my head and tells me to leave. I was with 3 friends and they were pretty keen to leave.

He glared at me, I glared at him as I drove off.

I called the restaurant I was at and told him exactly what had happened and what car he got the gun from. He said he would call the police for me. Next day I was asked to come see him at the Police station...and guess who was there...the guy with th gun. He was plainclothes cop and I was told that this "never happened". I really had nowhere to go, so I dropped it.

So, my experience with police is not great...

[DLock]

...3 nights ago driving home in the fast lane I heard a horn and looked in rear-view and a car was right on my bumper, but had no lights on. I didn't move over for a few km's and he stuck right on my tail. Eventually I moved to the left lane and he followed, still on my bumper. I actually thought he didn't have lights and was using me as a blocker. This went on for about another 2km. Then I had to move into the right lane and then into the turn right lane. As I did, he shot past me and then in front of me and slammed on his brakes. He then reversed into me. I actually thought he was going to claim I ran into him.

I got out of my car....

You did what???

You should've driven straight to the nearest police station.

In hindsight I agree, but next time I'll just move over faster.

One of my encounters in Phuket was outside a Phuket Town restaurant when a car attempted to park and he smacked into my rear bumper. I went up to his window and he wouldn't come out, so I smacked the side window with an open hand.

A man then emerges from another restaurant and told me to leave. I told what had happened and that I wanted...actually I'm not really sure what I wanted...

He then runs to his car and puts something under his shirt. When he gets in front of me, pulls it out and puts it at my head and tells me to leave. I was with 3 friends and they were pretty keen to leave.

He glared at me, I glared at him as I drove off.

I called the restaurant I was at and told him exactly what had happened and what car he got the gun from. He said he would call the police for me. Next day I was asked to come see him at the Police station...and guess who was there...the guy with th gun. He was plainclothes cop and I was told that this "never happened". I really had nowhere to go, so I dropped it.

So, my experience with police is not great...

[huggybear]

...3 nights ago driving home in the fast lane I heard a horn and looked in rear-view and a car was right on my bumper, but had no lights on. I didn't move over for a few km's and he stuck right on my tail. Eventually I moved to the left lane and he followed, still on my bumper. I actually thought he didn't have lights and was using me as a blocker. This went on for about another 2km. Then I had to move into the right lane and then into the turn right lane. As I did, he shot past me and then in front of me and slammed on his brakes. He then reversed into me. I actually thought he was going to claim I ran into him.

I got out of my car....

You did what???

You should've driven straight to the nearest police station.

In hindsight I agree, but next time I'll just move over faster.

One of my encounters in Phuket was outside a Phuket Town restaurant when a car attempted to park and he smacked into my rear bumper. I went up to his window and he wouldn't come out, so I smacked the side window with an open hand.

A man then emerges from another restaurant and told me to leave. I told what had happened and that I wanted...actually I'm not really sure what I wanted...

He then runs to his car and puts something under his shirt. When he gets in front of me, pulls it out and puts it at my head and tells me to leave. I was with 3 friends and they were pretty keen to leave.

He glared at me, I glared at him as I drove off.

I called the restaurant I was at and told him exactly what had happened and what car he got the gun from. He said he would call the police for me. Next day I was asked to come see him at the Police station...and guess who was there...the guy with th gun. He was plainclothes cop and I was told that this "never happened". I really had nowhere to go, so I dropped it.

So, my experience with police is not great...

DLock you best remember where you are and chill if you want to be around for a long time.

Regarding cops, it's the wild west here and you were lucky that guy didn't blast you. You'd be dead (over what? a fender bender) and he'd get off saying you were threatening a policeman. Now you've been to the station where all those cops saw you and know what you look like..................you want trouble bigtime, you started in the right place.

My advice to you, be as invisible as possible.

[CroBiker]

I witnessed numerous acts od road rage on Phuket roads, but mostly by foreigners. Few times some idiots would try to bully me until I get out of the car. Fanny how they speed away.... There was this American guy once shouting obscenities (in Central car park) and I told him to stop or I will humiliate him before his own wife and kids who were in the car. He shut his trap and drove away. Not my style but sometimes you just have to respond in this manner....

Edited January 16, 2009 by CroBiker

[Master Chief]

I witnessed numerous acts od road rage on Phuket roads, but mostly by foreigners. Few times some idiots would try to bully me until I get out of the car. Fanny how they speed away.... There was this American guy once shouting obscenities (in Central car park) and I told him to stop or I will humiliate him before his own wife and kids who were in the car. He shut his trap and drove away. Not my style but sometimes you just have to respond in this manner....

Hey, that is my approach, hope we never meet, that would be a death match!

MC

[patklang]

If you havent seen road rage in 12 years you must be driving with your eyes shut.Its everywhere in Thailand and the thais DO shoot people due to road rage.