I thought I had seen everything on Thai roads

[Baan Buakao]

Twice fallen of the motorbike. Once because of sand and stones on the road on a downhillbend. People came right away to help. It was daytime, round noon. Second time, driving uphill and slipped because of oil on the road. Nobody stopped. It was nighttime.

1 cant generalize that all thais are the same. There is good and bad.

Riding my CB400 was going up a hill midway thru 3rd gear. Out of nowhere a cop comes running on to the road yelling and pointing!! ..............To this day have no idea why he ran onto the road ha ha ha

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I had a similar experience 35 years ago. Only he picked my bike up, dusted me off and said "you litta bit slow next time OK"

Originally I'm pretty sure he was going to pull the "on the spot instant bike license" scam which they ran back then. For a "fee" of course.

[bunta71]

Twice fallen of the motorbike. Once because of sand and stones on the road on a downhillbend. People came right away to help. It was daytime, round noon. Second time, driving uphill and slipped because of oil on the road. Nobody stopped. It was nighttime.

1 cant generalize that all thais are the same. There is good and bad.

One can certainly generalize. The word does not mean everyone. Generally speaking, world wide, flashing your headlights at another motorist tells them to go ahead. This is courtesy. In Thailand motorist flashing their headlights is NEVER courteous and means "I am important, and get out of my way <deleted>!" That brings us to never making way for an ambulance, even when it is easy. Says a lot generally about the culture...

[ratpiece]

Why should I stop, am I a doctor ? NO !

Nor are you much of a human being either!

[Aussieroaming]

I've only got 6 [more] words to say:

Dash Cams Dash Cams Dash Cams

You said 2 words....3 times each

[Aussieroaming]

Drive in Vietnam .... then you will think Thailand is stella

[Bender]

I can provide all the documentary evidence anybody wants, to back up what happened to me at Song Kran 2010:

Was doing an overnight drive from Bangkok to Ubon in an SUV. It was about 4:30am and had just arrived on main road into Ubon; saw some flashing red lights ahead and someone in the road waving a red-light stick. Slowed down and stopped; lowered the passenger window, but they were just slowing me down and waved me on. Didn't take too much notice of what was going on, but saw a couple of ambulances there, a car, a motorbike, and some people crowded round something on the ground. About a kilometer up the road, was t-boned by a drunk in a pick-up. Car was undrivable. Waiting then for the police, insurance, tow truck (& GF) etc to arrive, when suddenly the police did arrive with host of people in tow and all shouting and pointing at me. Seemingly there were 4 witnesses who saw me drive over, and kill, a road sweeper a km back down the road and then speed off. Unbelievable! Denied the whole thing of course, but was arrested and charged. Got the insurance lawyers involved, the British Embassy and even hired my own lawyers. Everyone, including the Embassy, to begin with, said I should just admit guilt - the insurance company would pay and I would 'probably' get a small fine. In any other country, a fatal hit & run is manslaughter, and I wasn't having that on my record, even if Thailand law said it was a lessor charge. To cut a very long long story short, 3 years later I was acquitted of the whole thing. All the forensic evidence was in my favour, but what really clinched it was that my lawyer managed to track down the ambulance drivers at the original scene and who remembered me stopping. Three f'ing years, during which time I had to put up 300k baht bail and had restrictions on my passport, whereby I was interviewed each time I wanted to leave/enter the country. Still don't have my money back - some certificate from the court has yet to be signed seemingly - might be a nice Christmas present! I was asked if I wanted to now bring counter charges, but after 3 years I just want it all ended.

And would I now still stop if I saw an accident? - I think I'd have an accident with GF if I did. My earlier motorbike tale just lended credence to any resolve I may have had.

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Really scary story, now i understand better why my closest thai friend advice me to never stop if i do witness an accident.

[peecee]

Gotcha.

Gets you (& a few more inc me) a post; question is why?

[geronimo]

I too, have wondered what I would do if I were there when something like that happened. I feel I'd have a problem just driving away but it's one of those situations where you don't really know what you'd do until it happens.

There are really kind Thais who would stop (as in the OP case) and we must remember that Buddhists often will not involve themselves as it changes the person's karma (just pointing this out, it's not my philosophy)

We are all a product of our environment, so for all you TV members who ask why they do this and why they do that, reflect on their upbringing. Try to imagine what values you would have and what opinions (if any) after 12 years of standard rote learning!

It can be constantly humorous though, driving in Thailand,

One time I was travelling on the elevated section coming into Bkk towards the Rama VIII bridge. I was transporting student chairs in my pick up. Upon seeing the load approaching him, he flagged me down and was surprised to see a westerner. Fluent in Thai, I decided this was not one of those "English only" moments and I courteously waied him before asking what the problem was.

He looked at the chairs and said it was a dangerous load. We are both standing alongside the rear end and I grabbed one of the tie ropes and started to rock the load. The entire vehicle started to move but the load was solid. I smiled, he returned the smile adding that 500 would do it.

I must admit that at this point I knew I had him and decided to play a little.

Wow, nice gun!" I remarked, pointing to his handgun. He glanced round and said it was really expensive, adding that he had to buy it himself.

Having changed the subject, I took out my phone and started to dial, telling him that there were 36 grade 5 kids sitting in a classroom waiting for me (I was wearing an International School Polo shirt) and could he please explain why I'm not there.

He shuffled nervously and said if I gave him 100 bt, he'd give me a police escort to the bridge.

I whole heatedly agreed, adding that we'd better get a move on and off he sped, lights blazing on his 150 cbr.

I followed him in the fast lane as he vigorously waved traffic aside, clearing the path. The problem for me is that I'd have been going much faster had I not had this escort, still I bathed in the feeling of being a VIP and when we reached the bridge we both pulled over and he said that if ever I wanted a policeman to come into the classroom and talk about the duties of a cop, he'd be honored to do it! As he walked past my load he pulled hard on a rope and it never budged, "mmmm Falang Gaeng" he remarked, tucking the 100 bill into his pocket.

[Commander Tamson]

Twice fallen of the motorbike. Once because of sand and stones on the road on a downhillbend. People came right away to help. It was daytime, round noon. Second time, driving uphill and slipped because of oil on the road. Nobody stopped. It was nighttime.

1 cant generalize that all thais are the same. There is good and bad.

One can certainly generalize. The word does not mean everyone. Generally speaking, world wide, flashing your headlights at another motorist tells them to go ahead. This is courtesy. In Thailand motorist flashing their headlights is NEVER courteous and means "I am important, and get out of my way <deleted>!" That brings us to never making way for an ambulance, even when it is easy. Says a lot generally about the culture...

Couldn't have put it better myself!

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Commander Tamson]

I too, have wondered what I would do if I were there when something like that happened. I feel I'd have a problem just driving away but it's one of those situations where you don't really know what you'd do until it happens.

There are really kind Thais who would stop (as in the OP case) and we must remember that Buddhists often will not involve themselves as it changes the person's karma (just pointing this out, it's not my philosophy)

We are all a product of our environment, so for all you TV members who ask why they do this and why they do that, reflect on their upbringing. Try to imagine what values you would have and what opinions (if any) after 12 years of standard rote learning!

It can be constantly humorous though, driving in Thailand,

One time I was travelling on the elevated section coming into Bkk towards the Rama VIII bridge. I was transporting student chairs in my pick up. Upon seeing the load approaching him, he flagged me down and was surprised to see a westerner. Fluent in Thai, I decided this was not one of those "English only" moments and I courteously waied him before asking what the problem was.

He looked at the chairs and said it was a dangerous load. We are both standing alongside the rear end and I grabbed one of the tie ropes and started to rock the load. The entire vehicle started to move but the load was solid. I smiled, he returned the smile adding that 500 would do it.

I must admit that at this point I knew I had him and decided to play a little.

Wow, nice gun!" I remarked, pointing to his handgun. He glanced round and said it was really expensive, adding that he had to buy it himself.

Having changed the subject, I took out my phone and started to dial, telling him that there were 36 grade 5 kids sitting in a classroom waiting for me (I was wearing an International School Polo shirt) and could he please explain why I'm not there.

He shuffled nervously and said if I gave him 100 bt, he'd give me a police escort to the bridge.

I whole heatedly agreed, adding that we'd better get a move on and off he sped, lights blazing on his 150 cbr.

I followed him in the fast lane as he vigorously waved traffic aside, clearing the path. The problem for me is that I'd have been going much faster had I not had this escort, still I bathed in the feeling of being a VIP and when we reached the bridge we both pulled over and he said that if ever I wanted a policeman to come into the classroom and talk about the duties of a cop, he'd be honored to do it! As he walked past my load he pulled hard on a rope and it never budged, "mmmm Falang Gaeng" he remarked, tucking the 100 bill into his pocket.

Great story! As you say, it's often best to just take the humorous view. We personally will never change the way that most Thais drive, or their views on how to, so why try? You can't drive or ride 100 metres in this country without seeing something stupid - just laugh and NEVER interfere. As is all too often pointed out on Thaivisa we are guests - it's their country

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[Globeman]

I got hit by a car driving straight through redlights once while I was cycling through a green light on a crossroads. While I was lying injured in the road other cars beeped their horns for me to get out their way.

This was in Coventry.

Isn't "Coventry" a byword for ignoring someone?

[taotoo]

Gotcha.

Gets you (& a few more inc me) a post; question is why?

If that's a question for me, could you rephrase it please?

[turner34]

A couple of Years ago, on one of my 1st journeys through Bangkok on the Expressway, had an accident with a motorbike.

Was just pulling up to one of the toll booths, when out of the corner of my eye just got a glimpse of a the back end of a motorbike as it dissapeared out of view under the front side of the car. It was only as i saw the POLICE motorcyclist skid across the road & come to a stop at the concrete side of the road, that the inormaty of what had happened hit me.

As soon as i saw who it was who had come into contact with the car, i was trying to work out how long i would be spending in prison, because no amount of 'tea' money was going to sort this out.

He walked over to my window & then noticed my Thai gf sitting in the passenger seat, so headed round to her window, to speak to her. After a couple of minutes discussion she told me to carry on driving & we could leave.

Still shaking & wondering what the hell had just happened, she explained that he had asked her if we were heading to the Toll booth, which we were & then he had apologised & said he was in the wrong for trying to cut in front of me at the last minute & we could go

My last image of him, was through the rear view mirror, still attempting to pick his bike up & sort it out.

[HeijoshinCool]

A couple of Years ago, on one of my 1st journeys through Bangkok on the Expressway, had an accident with a motorbike.

Was just pulling up to one of the toll booths, when out of the corner of my eye just got a glimpse of a the back end of a motorbike as it dissapeared out of view under the front side of the car. It was only as i saw the POLICE motorcyclist skid across the road & come to a stop at the concrete side of the road, that the inormaty of what had happened hit me.

As soon as i saw who it was who had come into contact with the car, i was trying to work out how long i would be spending in prison, because no amount of 'tea' money was going to sort this out.

He walked over to my window & then noticed my Thai gf sitting in the passenger seat, so headed round to her window, to speak to her. After a couple of minutes discussion she told me to carry on driving & we could leave.

Still shaking & wondering what the hell had just happened, she explained that he had asked her if we were heading to the Toll booth, which we were & then he had apologised & said he was in the wrong for trying to cut in front of me at the last minute & we could go

My last image of him, was through the rear view mirror, still attempting to pick his bike up & sort it out.

Great story.

But the east you could have done, was help him pick up his bike.

[turner34]

I would have helped him, but i was still suffering from shock, not only from knocking somebody off their motorbike, but also from finding out it was the Police

[Shayne123]

That is a scary scene, I would have been terrified

[Tomtomtom69]

Drive in Vietnam .... then you will think Thailand is stella

I've driven in Vietnam (both cars and motorcycles) and can tell you that the Vietnamese drive rather slowly compared to their Thai counterparts. Given that speeding enforcement is rated at 7/10 compared to 3/10 for Thailand according to http://roadskillmap.com/#-22.350075806124853,-107.22656249999999,3 it's not hard to understand why.

Perhaps one of the reasons the Vietnamese don't want any Thai cars on their roads (apart from the steering wheel being on the wrong side) is that Thai drivers just can't drive? They can't take corners (last night on the Mae Sot-Tak road I saw numerous overturned trucks) and another truck coming in the opposite direction took up half my lane (which probably explains the accident I saw a few km down the road). Why can't they just understand that not all roads are going to be flat and straight? How hard is it to take a corner? The Tak-Mae Sot road is laughably easy to drive on, there are so many more difficult roads.