Chiang Mai Faces Of Death: Traffic Carnage On Display

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I couldn't believe my eyes this morning at the Transport Department. In the main waiting area upstairs they have a TV set where they continuously show hundreds of car crashes, motorcycle crashes, pedestrian crashes, and any other kind of road carnage imaginable that transpired in front of their intersection CCTV cameras.

I normally hate waiting there, but time really flew by this time. Most people took a seat near the TV, and some crashes were greeted with audible expressions of horror and occasional smirks at particularly bone headed moves.

I watched a full hour straight of the stuff, and have the following observations:

* I'm changing my mind about driving in this town.

* All major intersections seem to have cameras, and MANY of the minor ones too! (Tung Hotel Road, Klang Wiang Intersection, Hai Ya, Nawarat Bridge, etc.)

* Most of the night-time accidents involve running red lights at speed.. This should make anyone think twice about just taking a green light for granted, especially at night.

* Also MANY accidents at intersections where oncoming sides get green at the same time, with cars turning right across the other lane.

* Avoid the Mae Jo / Superhighway intersection for as long as you live. If you live there, move. Horrific stuff. (Involves all of the above, with parallel lanes and traffic turning right across the other lane.)

* Most people actually stop after an accident and help (or at least inspect) the victim. Several cases of people just taking off, but only a minority. And CCTV will have caught them, resolution seems decent.

* Not a single case of an altercation after an accident. Many cases however of victims remaining in the middle of the road longer than necessary.. Get the F*k to the side of the road after an accident!

* If you're looking for a cheap daytime attraction, plan a family visit to the Transport Department. BYOB.

I include picture. (Anyone know where that is? Bet you do. )

[cmsally]

Whaho. I think that's Tapae Gate, whoops missed the turning. Or perhaps he's parked for an early morning Starbucks!

[elektrified]

I watched it for about an hour too, last time I was there. I was shocked but when I looked around the waiting room, most of the Thais had blank expressions on their faces.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Whaho. I think that's Tapae Gate, whoops missed the turning. Or perhaps he's parked for an early morning Starbucks!

Yup.. Went straight ahead into some flower pots and things. Then just drove off.

[cmsally]

The most memorable traffic "accident" I came across in CM; was when there was a women stuck up the bank on the inner corner of Jeng Hualin - NW corner of the moat. She had driven up there come to a stop and didn't dare to get out of the car in case it tipped (the car was at a serious angle). She wasn't even drunk!!

[anonymouse]

Interesting post Winnie

Most of the night-time accidents involve running red lights at speed.. This should make anyone think twice about just taking a green light for granted, especially at night.

This I can believe, on the way back to Doi Saket late at night I've seen some near misses and some real risk takers.

[NancyL]

That video has been there for at least several months. Didn't change my mind about driving here -- I'd already decided it is a stupid thing to do when song thaews, tuk-tuks and rental of a car with driver are so cheap. I use my drivers license as an ID and got it because my U.S. drivers license was about to expire and I have no plans to return to the U.S.. Besides, the Thai drivers license looks really cool, with the pandas in the lower right corner. The staff and facilities at the Transport Dept are excellent, always a pleasure to deal with.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

That video has been there for at least several months. Didn't change my mind about driving here -- I'd already decided it is a stupid thing to do when song thaews, tuk-tuks and rental of a car with driver are so cheap. I use my drivers license as an ID and got it because my U.S. drivers license was about to expire and I have no plans to return to the U.S.. Besides, the Thai drivers license looks really cool, with the pandas in the lower right corner. The staff and facilities at the Transport Dept are excellent, always a pleasure to deal with.

Right, I also use it as ID on domestic flights for example. I was there to get an international driving permit. Which looks really UN-cool, but is required to drive in the USA on a Thai license.

[midas]

I am just curious about your statement " I'm changing my mind about driving in this town " ....

can you clarify in what way has your mind changed ?

I also want to comment on something i have noticed as a relative newcomer to CNX.

I have never seen so many VIP motorcades zipping through this city and there seem to be more here than

in Bangkok I can understand all hands on deck if it is the Royal Family passing through but many of the ones

i see are just 2 or 3 minivans and I see them everyday. Who are they ? And i was trying to work out the cost in terms of police man hours required to block intersections.

And yet last weekend I was watching some very near misses at a busy intersection when the lights

had failed. This went on for a long time and yet not one traffic policeman turned up to help direct the chaos

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I am just curious about your statement " I'm changing my mind about driving in this town " ....

can you clarify in what way has your mind changed ?

It was a joke I made. Told the rest of the audience I was changing my mind.

I have never seen so many VIP motorcades zipping through this city and there seem to be more here than

in Bangkok I can understand all hands on deck if it is the Royal Family passing through but many of the ones

i see are just 2 or 3 minivans and I see them everyday. Who are they ? And i was trying to work out the cost in terms of police man hours required to block intersections.

You can buy a police escort here. So if I'm a company and have a couple guests coming who I want to impress, then I rent a police escort. Of course it could also be members of government, etc.

[realthaideal]

You're talking about stuff just like this:

It's interesting to see the intersections you know, like the Suan Dok Gate one, Rinkham,... too many to name. It's a little old - about 6 yrs on this clip - but still applicable. The host and the ambulance driver give some solid advice... if only the local citizenry will listen. Indeed, these are some of the dumbest accidents imaginable. It takes a real lack of presence-of-mind to barrel into intersections (...because it's nighttime, so nobody will be there, right ?) like some of these people do. Thoughtlessness of one driver taking down his other two buddies on the bike with him. And then the other moron who also assuems nobody's gonna be there. 4-5 people on two vehicles down at once ! It makes you wonder. Or just confirms some theories.