Farlang Drivers..Phuket

[thaiIand]

oversized suv? thais suvs are no more larger than children toys

[petercallen]

I think some farangs here watch how some of the mini bus and

airport limousine drivers drive and since they are professional

drivers think its alright to drive the same way

[LivinginKata]

Time to remove some of the really off topic posts .... gone ...

[katabeachbum]

The reason there is a lot more black fortuna drivers who

drive badly is that colour has been around for ever while

white ones have only been available for a couple of years

Give it awhile the white ones will catch up

Yes, that's what I was thinking. the Fortuna just happens to be one of the most popular SUV's on the road and most are black. Obvious that they will attract more attention as there are so many.

more than 50% of all sold tunas are silver, black has a huge 20% share tho

but yes its Th most sold suv since 2004 without major exterior chnages, any other suv is less than 1 for every 10 tuna on the road

[Briggsy]

The reason there is a lot more black fortuna drivers who

drive badly is that colour has been around for ever while

white ones have only been available for a couple of years

Give it awhile the white ones will catch up

Yes, that's what I was thinking. the Fortuna just happens to be one of the most popular SUV's on the road and most are black. Obvious that they will attract more attention as there are so many.

more than 50% of all sold tunas are silver, black has a huge 20% share tho

but yes its Th most sold suv since 2004 without major exterior chnages, any other suv is less than 1 for every 10 tuna on the road

Why go and spoil everything with real facts.

[MissChris]

Hope you're not the driver petercallen when you say you can't see out the darkened windows...

Discovered that Sunday morning early is a good time to drive son's rot kabong to the petrol station. Hardly anyone about. Someone DID pass me on the wrong side down Chao Fa Rd East because I was percolating along a bit slowly...only to stop 100m up the road for the traffic light. I drive MUCH more carefully here, partly due to feeling stark, staring naked without a seatbelt, but also because of the invaluable advice I have had both here and from aforementioned offspring. He won't allow me to ride a motorbike anymore (had my R licence since 1969) so I'm going to start lobbying for a '3 wheeled mayhem maker'. He hates them

[steelepulse]

>>rot kabong

Excuse my lack of knowledge,but what's a kabong? It's not an illegal 3 wheeled vehicle is it?

[ooanndehnarak]

I am sorry but as bad as some of the tourists and expats may be here, they are no where near the real safefy problem on the roads in Thailand even in the tourist places.

[barka]

I am sorry but as bad as some of the tourists and expats may be here, they are no where near the real safefy problem on the roads in Thailand even in the tourist places.

they never used to be..but now its a diferant story,they are getting as bad as them..

[ooanndehnarak]

but that does not make sense. how can the people staying here temporarily and passing throught "get as bad as them"?...And do the accident statistics support that at all? The foreigners are the ones in Thailand causing wrecks and fatalities on the roads?

[F1fanatic]

I am sorry but as bad as some of the tourists and expats may be here, they are no where near the real safefy problem on the roads in Thailand even in the tourist places.

I disagree.

The locals (on 'bikes) know what they are doing generally and, those who have lived here for a few years, know that they turn left out of side roads without looking, will dodge in and out of traffic etc. BUT, they are fairly predictable.

Tourists on the other hand, somehow believe that they are invincible - they are on holiday so cannot be killed on the road.... They do all sorts of stupid things that are not at all predictable. I had a similar experience with an old ex-pat - the only time I've actually screamed on my bike, believing I was about to die.

[F1fanatic]

but that does not make sense. how can the people staying here temporarily and passing throught "get as bad as them"?...And do the accident statistics support that at all? The foreigners are the ones in Thailand causing wrecks and fatalities on the roads?

Amazingly, the "accident statistics" show that more locals than foreigners die on motorbikes. Could that possibly be 'cos more locals live here, whereas tourists are only here for 2 weeks or so?

[LivinginKata]

but that does not make sense. how can the people staying here temporarily and passing throught "get as bad as them"?...And do the accident statistics support that at all? The foreigners are the ones in Thailand causing wrecks and fatalities on the roads?

Really ... have you looked at the news reports ... ?? Most of the fatality accidents are caused by local drivers 'who always seem to run away'. Check your facts please.

[katabeachbum]

I am sorry but as bad as some of the tourists and expats may be here, they are no where near the real safefy problem on the roads in Thailand even in the tourist places.

I disagree.

The locals (on 'bikes) know what they are doing generally and, those who have lived here for a few years, know that they turn left out of side roads without looking, will dodge in and out of traffic etc. BUT, they are fairly predictable.

Tourists on the other hand, somehow believe that they are invincible - they are on holiday so cannot be killed on the road.... They do all sorts of stupid things that are not at all predictable. I had a similar experience with an old ex-pat - the only time I've actually screamed on my bike, believing I was about to die.

agreed, both TH car drivers and bike riders, I find very predictabel these days.

My first year here I was surprised each time they would indicate right and turn left, but beeing here for a while I find them to have a float and predictability in traffic not found among foreigners driving here

[barka]

How about this..I was sitting in Chalong beer garden, about 6 pm yesterday having a nice drink,watching all the tourists etc coming back fom there boatt trips..

when a big Fortuner coming from the pier parkiing area..came to the T junction by 7/11..a big guy [looked like Rusian] parked his car in the middle of the road on the T junction..got out of his car,went to 7/11,causing all sorts of mahem etc..came back to the car with his goodies then opened the pasenger doors and more poeple got out of the car,talking etc as if they were the only poeple that mattered..a line of cars including a pick up with a boat /trailer were wating for them to move out of the way....they just carried on, ,then 3 others joined them,there must have been about 10 of them in the car..

Thi is what i am seeing more of every day know..IGNORANT,AROGANT..TOURISTS..

[katabeachbum]

How about this..I was sitting in Chalong beer garden, about 6 pm yesterday having a nice drink,watching all the tourists etc coming back fom there boatt trips..

when a big Fortuner coming from the pier parkiing area..came to the T junction by 7/11..a big guy [looked like Rusian] parked his car in the middle of the road on the T junction..got out of his car,went to 7/11,causing all sorts of mahem etc..came back to the car with his goodies then opened the pasenger doors and more poeple got out of the car,talking etc as if they were the only poeple that mattered..a line of cars including a pick up with a boat /trailer were wating for them to move out of the way....they just carried on, ,then 3 others joined them,there must have been about 10 of them in the car..

Thi is what i am seeing more of every day know..IGNORANT,AROGANT..TOURISTS..

same thing in Kata. Due to narrow roads there are quiet a few places road is marked with red/white sidewalk edges indicating NO STOP. Fortuners usually with Russians do not give a shit, and park for 10-20 minutes, totally blocking traffic.

still nothing wrong with fortuners, and barka they are not big, size is less than Camry and Accord

[Kernow86]

Furthermore, if you see that the pilot of any vehicle behaving badly is not Thai you can be far more generous with your constructive criticism of their driving skills without fearing that they may choose to shoot you.

[barka]

Furthermore, if you see that the pilot of any vehicle behaving badly is not Thai you can be far more generous with your constructive criticism of their driving skills without fearing that they may choose to shoot you.

NO..Dont forget they me be Russian mafia types and they dont give a F..C.K..

[MissChris]

>>rot kabong

Excuse my lack of knowledge,but what's a kabong? It's not an illegal 3 wheeled vehicle is it?

No, son calls his 1977 silver Ford Escort (with burbling exhaust) a 'rot kabong' which he claims is Thai for 'can car'. His fiancee tries to call it the 'classic car'. I won't comment here. Too rude. Just that I love my little red Yaris & wish I had it here. Power steering, seat belts all around, power brakes, good all around vision, dings on every surface except bonnet & roof (teenage drivers & me sometimes), stereo, air con, 7 places to put your water bottle.

[F1fanatic]

Furthermore, if you see that the pilot of any vehicle behaving badly is not Thai you can be far more generous with your constructive criticism of their driving skills without fearing that they may choose to shoot you.

Good point! Even the Russians know that they will get in trouble if they shoot someone. I doubt that (as foreigners) they would possibly be able to just 'walk away'.

Nowadays though, I'm so 'laid back' about bad driving that I only roll my eyes at them.