For 7 months of the year I live on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. The provincial capital city of the province is Victoria which is located at the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The drivers in Victoria seem to come from some other planet.

I try to stay away from cities as much as possible, but occasionally I do have to go to Victoria on business, or to see my children. It's been my experience that the drivers in Victoria are a bit different... or at least their brains are from somewhere else. For example, the light turns green and the guy (or gal) at the head of the line of cars sits there waiting for someone to indicate he should move... even when there is a blinking arrow showing he has right of way. When they finally DO decide to move, all they do is remove their foot from the brake and expect the car to move on its own. The vehicle slowly creeps through the intersection and gradually picks up speed, and only a few others might make it through before the light turns red again. Meanwhile the guy about 5 cars back can't make it through that light at all. It is mildly irritating, and I see it far more often in Victoria than anywhere else.

By contrast, in New York City it is the complete opposite. The front row of cars take off like it's the Grand Prix racing circuit, and pedestrians still in the crosswalk scatter like quail. And, what is even funnier, no matter how fast the front car takes off, the first guy directly behind him instantly hits his horn when the light turns green... just in CASE the guy at the front doesn't speed off quick enough. Watching Madison Avenue, with 6 lanes of traffic going in one direction, was a bit of an eye opener for this guy from the sticks of BC.

Now that I ride my motorcycle in Chiang Mai (a city similar in size to Victoria) for 5 months of the year, I have to stay in tune with every bit of traffic around me. If I didn't stay alert I'd quickly be dead. The only rule is there are no rules. Other vehicles come at you from every direction no matter who has the right of way or what the lines on the road indicate. And, lights (green or red) are just a vague conception of something to guide you. People go through them long after the light has turned to red or before they turn green. You can't, under any circumstance, expect anyone to obey any of the so called laws. The painted zebra crosswalks are just somewhere that a Thai vehicle can trap an unsuspecting tourist and munch him. Chiang Mai is more like New York, but far less organized. Chiang Mai does have traffic lights, and people eventually do stop for them, but it's more like watching a dam break when the light turns green. There are vehicles flying in all directions.

The contrast in styles is a bit amusing to me.

Move to Chiang Rai.

I am a bundle of rage when driving in Hong Kong. Taxis, mini-vans rich idiots, they are all there to increase my blood pressure. On the other hand I am a handful of smiles when driving in Thailand, Why ? Well, in Thailand you expect everybody to totally ignore the rules, so when they do no problem. Guests to my house always say they could never drive in Thailand ( BK, Pattaya in particular ) and don't understand the serene smile on my chops as I negotiate flying mopeds and the like coming from every direction. The will never understand the peace for me which is LOS.

Believe me, I've driven all over the world (all right, not ALL over but a lot) and Thailand is quite high up there with the worst. But nothing, nothing, compares to driving in Riyadh. In the city it's bad but on the motorways at high speed, oh my. I have never seen so many wanna be Mohammed Schumachers in my chuff.

I am a bundle of rage when driving in Hong Kong. Taxis, mini-vans rich idiots, they are all there to increase my blood pressure. On the other hand I am a handful of smiles when driving in Thailand, Why ? Well, in Thailand you expect everybody to totally ignore the rules, so when they do no problem. Guests to my house always say they could never drive in Thailand ( BK, Pattaya in particular ) and don't understand the serene smile on my chops as I negotiate flying mopeds and the like coming from every direction. The will never understand the peace for me which is LOS.

I agree. I kind of enjoy riding in Thailand. It's like a real live video game... only for keeps. There is something about Thailand that is sort of like the wild west. You are free to do all sorts of stupid things and have to accept the consequences of your own actions.

When I talk about Victoria it is the mostly the old folks there that seem oblivious to everyone else and they are driving around in a fog. I come to expect that in Thailand, so it doesn't bother me. I kind of enjoy the confusion in a semi-detatched way. Very little of anything really bothers me anymore. It's like I'm moving around in an enlightened, mellow state with a big smile on my face.

And no, I don't drink to excess and I don't take drugs. I just find life amusing

I have no problem at all driving in Thailand; I think the main roads are good and driving in the cities, if you keep out of the back streets, quite acceptable.

Mind you, I never drive anywhere at peak hour traffic time.

Having driven and ridden all over Thailand during the past 26 years I have no problem with it. The roads are generally great to good. Certainly the traffic gets jammed up at times in the bigger towns and cities but if you can choose your times and allow enough time accordingly you can usually get to your destination on time.

I agree with Mr Bojangles on Riyadh, I spent 3 months there and had to (self) drive from downtown to the airport everyday. Moving along with the flow on a 4 lane motorway at 120 kph and no where to go due to cars and concrete wall all around, some jerk comes up within cms of your rear end flashing lights and blasting the horn for you to get out of the way (of course there's nowhere to go). I also discovered there that "flashing the bird" seems to create lasting friendship, they'll follow you everywhere you go and if they had a chance would shoot you as well.

Now that brings driving in Java to mind. I live about 100 kms for Jakarta these days, the trip can take anything from 2 to 7 hours and there, the drivers and riders are totally predictably unpredictable. Buses, trucks, minivans, cars, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians seem to all be on a death wish. Roads are often made one way without any notice and the alternative can add hours to the trip.

And that brings to mind driving in Dhaka, Bangladesh, sheeeeeeeeeeeeit. What a place.

Driving and riding in Thailand is a breeze.

Viet Nam in general and TP Ho Chi Minh in particular is the absolute closest I have ever seen to pure anarchy on the roads.

I drove for ten or so years in Thailand and, believe me, it is a picture of peace and tranquility compared to here.

Never been to Saudi, nearest was Bahrain where it was relativley calm being so small. Until Thursdays when the devout Saudis came over the causeway for their pre-prayer-day libations.

Having driven and ridden all over Thailand during the past 26 years I have no problem with it. The roads are generally great to good. Certainly the traffic gets jammed up at times in the bigger towns and cities but if you can choose your times and allow enough time accordingly you can usually get to your destination on time.

I agree with Mr Bojangles on Riyadh, I spent 3 months there and had to (self) drive from downtown to the airport everyday. Moving along with the flow on a 4 lane motorway at 120 kph and no where to go due to cars and concrete wall all around, some jerk comes up within cms of your rear end flashing lights and blasting the horn for you to get out of the way (of course there's nowhere to go). I also discovered there that "flashing the bird" seems to create lasting friendship, they'll follow you everywhere you go and if they had a chance would shoot you as well.

Now that brings driving in Java to mind. I live about 100 kms for Jakarta these days, the trip can take anything from 2 to 7 hours and there, the drivers and riders are totally predictably unpredictable. Buses, trucks, minivans, cars, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians seem to all be on a death wish. Roads are often made one way without any notice and the alternative can add hours to the trip.

And that brings to mind driving in Dhaka, Bangladesh, sheeeeeeeeeeeeit. What a place.

Driving and riding in Thailand is a breeze.

I'll agree with the riding, as long as it doesn't involve motorbikes.

Thanks for the stories, gang. I just KNEW that some of you would put everything into perspective. Humanity on this earth still amuses me and makes me glad to be me. .

Out of Bangkok & the islands I really enjoy driving in Thailand. Compared to the UK where we have more laws that people adhere to, it is still much more aggressive on the roads than in Thailand.

I have never had road rage from a Thai but have had plenty from other farang in Thailand but generally the Thai motorways are quite pleasant & especially up in the sticks, people are relaxed & non-confrontational behind the wheel. The only down side of course is the police shakedowns but being a western women, I have yet to experience "contributing" to the pension fund as they are usually so shocked at the site of me that I get waved through.

I received a nasty glare from a Thai motorcyclist the other day.

I was driving on the extreme left of the highway, looking for a particular shop. There was been only 2-3 feet of parking space between me and the ditch. Spotting my destination, I quickly flicked on the indicator and started to move left to park only to discover some fool was passing me there at high speed. A collision was narrowly avoided, but the suicide rider was severly pissed off with me.

There would have been about 30 metres of empty highway on the right hand side of me that was apparently unsuitable for passing!

I had the same thing happen to me, Old Croc, on the road towards Doi Suthep about 4 years ago. Unfortunately for the rider, a guy in a parked pickup truck opened his door just as the rider got there and he hit the sharp edge of the door. it took his arm off and probably killed him. I didn't bother stopping.