Thai Police Receive Training In Leading Motorcades

[webfact]

Police receive training in leading motorcades

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Training for police assigned to lead official motorcades of cabinet members and other VIPs was held Monday to ensure motorcades do not cause more traffic jams in Bangkok.

Traffic police commissioner Pol Maj Gen Piya Tawichai said the 60 police would be trained in the proper ways of driving motorcycles, balancing, signal hand signs, leading and overtaking other vehicles.

Piya said that deputy city police chief Pol Maj Gen Worasak Nopsittiporn was of the opinion that traffic in Bangkok has worsened partly because motorists did not follow the rules.

The training would ensure that the police leading a motorcade did not take over the routes of other motorists, which could lead to accidents.

This is also in line with HM the King's wishes that the motorcades of the royal family members do not impact the public.

-- The Nation 2012-10-30

[JeremyBowskill]

Can't recall ever being caught in 1 in any other country in the world, but over here every minor C lister gets 1 for little or no reason, I guess most people would feel aggrieved about it being a waste of the tax payers money if they actually paid tax in the first place.

[Thai at Heart]

Do they have top stick to the speed limit and keep left on the highway

[asiawatcher]

Motorcade escorts? Thai drivers are completely ignorant of adhering to road rules, watch any ambulance trying to make its way, or three lanes with 5 cars abreast, the continued push and shove with complete disregard towards any rule or protocol other than looking after #1. Then these statements?

"'The training would ensure that the police leading a motorcade did not take over the routes of other motorists, which could lead to accidents. This is also in line with HM the King's wishes that the motorcades of the royal family members do not impact the public."

Anyone who has lived in Bangkok has been subjected to complete standstills repeatedly due to royal use of roads and seemingly many of which happen in peak hour traffic. Does anyone really believe that will cease?

[JeremyBowskill]

police escorts usually about 8 or 10 handed on motorbikes for tuk tuk farang tour groups in Chinag Mai is 1 of my particular favorites for a total waste of time and money.

[ignis]

Bit off topic, but just wondered........ Do these Motorcade escorts of a school girl/boy get protection all day at school ?

[Kalbo]

"Traffic police commissioner Pol Maj Gen Piya Tawichai said the 60 police would be trained in the proper ways of driving motorcycles, balancing, signal hand signs, leading and overtaking other vehicles."

This made me giggle. So for all this time, Police motorcycle drivers have not been able, or were not trained to drive motorcycles properly, could not balance, did not understand hand signals, and were not aware how to lead or overtake other vehicles. Forgive my ignorance, but for all this time, I thought they were all pre-requisites to getting an actual driving license

" Piya said that deputy city police chief Pol Maj Gen Worasak Nopsittiporn was of the opinion that traffic in Bangkok has worsened partly because motorists did not follow the rules."

For such startling and acute observations as the above, it is indeed no wonder that Maj Gen 'Lightening Quick' has been made deputy police chief.

[pmem]

It would be just great if the police were trained to be proper police in the first place.

[OzMick]

Consider that if politicians, up to and including the PM, were DENIED motorcades and had to sit in traffic like other Thais, there may be some impetus to improve the situation.

But I thought Thaksin solved this problem years ago?

[smutcakes]

To be fair, the highway police motorbike patrols do seem very efficient and skilled, - as well as the ones who are doing the motorcades. Its many of the other motorists that need the training on which lane goes which way, and its not acceptable to simply go in the 'going left' or 'going right lane' to avoid the going straight on traffic jam!

[smutcakes]

Consider that if politicians, up to and including the PM, were DENIED motorcades and had to sit in traffic like other Thais, there may be some impetus to improve the situation.

But I thought Thaksin solved this problem years ago?

The same could be said for executives of people in the SRT having to use the trains, they would soon improve the service.

[kotsak]

Thanks God I haven't seen such a thing here yet :>

[EarthAlien]

Bad idea that would never work mainly due to local drivers not giving a hoot at anything other than what's more than 10m ahead of them (and then some that don't care as much as that). Thai drivers in my experience rarely use rear view or side mirrors and drive oblivious to everyone and everything else as long as it works for them.

That's why when any dignitary visits us here in Chiangmai they deploy what appears to be the entire local police force to shut down the main traffic route and stop all cross roads for mile around.

Under the circumstances it's probably the safest optio they have even though its HUGELY annoying!

[robblok]

police escorts usually about 8 or 10 handed on motorbikes for tuk tuk farang tour groups in Chinag Mai is 1 of my particular favorites for a total waste of time and money.

Actually my gf works for a tour compnay and they often just hire a few cops to make a motorcade for them. This is for normal Thai travel not VIP's.

[uptheos]

It would be just great if the police were trained to be proper police in the first place.

It's on the job training and since they like to avoid the heat and only venture out early morning and when the sun starts recede, it limits their training to about 4 hours a day, 3 of which are spent collecting tea money. I believe they are given a book to read at home and a DVD that covers all the training they need, it's called ' How To Be A Policeman'. So all in all it's a good mixture of practice and theory.

[Commander Tamson]

Pity they didn't give that basic training to the poor bugger who tried to stop a certain Ferrari.

[hellodolly]

Consider that if politicians, up to and including the PM, were DENIED motorcades and had to sit in traffic like other Thais, there may be some impetus to improve the situation.

But I thought Thaksin solved this problem years ago?

He did.

Then he found out their was no money in it for him so he scrapped the whole thing.

[americaninbangkok]

"... 60 police would be trained in the proper ways of driving motorcycles, balancing, signal hand signs, leading and overtaking other vehicles."

Are they really ready for this advanced training? I mean, this is really for professionals.

True story: they had to be taught that they should not turn off their engines when performing VIP escorts. They did it while waiting in traffic, at stop lights, or when letting the VIP in/out. But what would happen if the bad guys attacked? D'oh!

[Thai at Heart]

police escorts usually about 8 or 10 handed on motorbikes for tuk tuk farang tour groups in Chinag Mai is 1 of my particular favorites for a total waste of time and money.

Actually my gf works for a tour compnay and they often just hire a few cops to make a motorcade for them. This is for normal Thai travel not VIP's.

Considering that you can get a ticket for hogging the outside lane, to see convoys of dozens of buses in the outside lane in a line travelling in excess of the speed limit with a cop car front and back is the ultimate in basic law breaking actually being facilitated by the coppers.

[Keesters]

Do they have top stick to the speed limit and keep left on the highway

None that I've seen have done so......

[Keesters]

Consider that if politicians, up to and including the PM, were DENIED motorcades and had to sit in traffic like other Thais, there may be some impetus to improve the situation.

But I thought Thaksin solved this problem years ago?

The same could be said for executives of people in the SRT having to use the trains, they would soon improve the service.

Or if any city official tried to talk a walk we might get better pavements (sidewalks).

[robblok]

police escorts usually about 8 or 10 handed on motorbikes for tuk tuk farang tour groups in Chinag Mai is 1 of my particular favorites for a total waste of time and money.

Actually my gf works for a tour compnay and they often just hire a few cops to make a motorcade for them. This is for normal Thai travel not VIP's.

Considering that you can get a ticket for hogging the outside lane, to see convoys of dozens of buses in the outside lane in a line travelling in excess of the speed limit with a cop car front and back is the ultimate in basic law breaking actually being facilitated by the coppers.

You wont hear me disagreeing, its just the way it is. I think all those VIP convoys are a stupid thing.

[Thai at Heart]

police escorts usually about 8 or 10 handed on motorbikes for tuk tuk farang tour groups in Chinag Mai is 1 of my particular favorites for a total waste of time and money.

Actually my gf works for a tour compnay and they often just hire a few cops to make a motorcade for them. This is for normal Thai travel not VIP's.

Considering that you can get a ticket for hogging the outside lane, to see convoys of dozens of buses in the outside lane in a line travelling in excess of the speed limit with a cop car front and back is the ultimate in basic law breaking actually being facilitated by the coppers.

You wont hear me disagreeing, its just the way it is. I think all those VIP convoys are a stupid thing.

The convoys of buses are extremely dangerous, and barrel along in the outside lane, above the speed limit in very close proximity forcing everyone to pass them down the short side. If one goes, they will all pile into each other. Really stupid way to organise it.

[noitom]

Too bad their priorities are whacked out. These Thais - boy oh boy they are something else. To think, these Thais thought of the concept of "training" in this case. Wow, are they advanced thinkers. Impressive, these Thais.

[kotsak]

Consider that if politicians, up to and including the PM, were DENIED motorcades and had to sit in traffic like other Thais, there may be some impetus to improve the situation.

But I thought Thaksin solved this problem years ago?

The same could be said for executives of people in the SRT having to use the trains, they would soon improve the service.

Or if any city official tried to talk a walk we might get better pavements (sidewalks).

Would love to see something like this happening here..

http://youtu.be/snfSgi8_Cl4

Edited October 30, 2012 by kotsak

[JeremyBowskill]

police escorts usually about 8 or 10 handed on motorbikes for tuk tuk farang tour groups in Chinag Mai is 1 of my particular favorites for a total waste of time and money.

Actually my gf works for a tour compnay and they often just hire a few cops to make a motorcade for them. This is for normal Thai travel not VIP's.

Was refering to Tuk Tuk escorts seen quite often in Chiang Mai filled with farang not Thais.

[DaveHKT]

Consider that if politicians, up to and including the PM, were DENIED motorcades and had to sit in traffic like other Thais, there may be some impetus to improve the situation.

But I thought Thaksin solved this problem years ago?

Wasn't there an attempt many years ago by a Thai minister (Thaksin?) to survey the Bangkok traffic mess by helicopter but gave up on his attempt because traffic system was so clogged up he couldn't get to the airport?

[Jim walker]

So they are saying only 60 people in Thailand will be truly qualified and instructed how to ride a motorbike.

http://gothailand.about.com/b/2009/08/28/motorbike-accidents-killed-hundreds-of-tourists-in-thailand-last-year.htm

And the Brits are obviously not very good at riding motorbikes in Thailand going by the hundreds of death every year

[lizardtongue]

police escorts usually about 8 or 10 handed on motorbikes for tuk tuk farang tour groups in Chinag Mai is 1 of my particular favorites for a total waste of time and money.

I have seen this several times! I believe it is run by one of the big hotels I am not sure of the cost, but you can bet your bottom dollar that it ain't cheap and that the motorcycle cops ain't doing it for free!

[lizardtongue]

"... 60 police would be trained in the proper ways of driving motorcycles, balancing, signal hand signs, leading and overtaking other vehicles."

Are they really ready for this advanced training? I mean, this is really for professionals.

True story: they had to be taught that they should not turn off their engines when performing VIP escorts. They did it while waiting in traffic, at stop lights, or when letting the VIP in/out. But what would happen if the bad guys attacked? D'oh!

Maybe it is because they have to pay for their own gas?

When staying in Hua Hin there were frequent motorcades traveling to and from the Kings palace to Bangkok, you cannot believe the chaos it caused, they use to virtually clear the roads forcing vehicles onto gas station forecourts or onto flyovers etc.

Would love to see them attempt a 'rolling road block'