No wonder for car accidents and carnage

[ThaiTrav]

My GF wants her drivers licence ,so I pay 3500 baht at local driving school. 10 hours of practice and they guarantee the licence. On the weekend after 8 hrs I take her out in my car to see how confident she is ? Can;t reverse park in one ,doesn;t indicate , does not concentrate on road .....in my world FAIL. But get this the stupid driving school doesn't even issue or quiz the book of road rules ???? I said then how do you know what signs mean ? a red light even ? Its not taught she replies ,give way to the right ,proper use of mirrors ,hill starts , correct motoring distance from other uses .....not important and not taught ,They get multitude chances to 3 point reverse park and when they do it once get a pass with flying colors .The real frightening aspect is the licence is GUARANTEED based on these bullshit tests.???? and then another unexperienced obstacle hits the roads .Honestly this place is the biggest joke we read accidents and carnage every day no one gives a toss your life is in your hands there is NO safety measure or any sign of intelligent life here and I,m sorry to all who take offence to my words but only fools would think different! No wonder the Cars accidents and Carnage keeps happening .......HELLOW !!!!!

No one has to venture too far to see how many car brake lights don't work, people not wearing helmets , no indication , speeding ,not stopping at curbs,unroadworthy vehicles. Cops don't give a toss only if they see a baht to be made from farang or they can act as a gang . Besides no one really dies here we come back again!...................................."the general mentality of Mai Pen Rai! is so sad"...poor f..ks nothing will change mabey we can help by throwing more litter around the place or feeding up the stray dogs so that more of the recarnated can arrive!

[CharlieH]

Applying western standards in an Asian environment never works! You are thinking about a highway code, it doesnt exist, the only rule here is ........dont get killed and try not to kill, try being the operative word......everything else is "mai pen rai "......oh and how much can I make ?

Yiu know whats more scary, they can take a test in an automatic but then legally go drive a manual bus ! Think of all those extra people they can wipe out in one go........unbelievable !

[wprime]

Applying western standards in an Asian environment never works! You are thinking about a highway code, it doesnt exist, the only rule here is ........dont get killed and try not to kill, try being the operative word......everything else is "mai pen rai "......oh and how much can I make ?

Yiu know whats more scary, they can take a test in an automatic but then legally go drive a manual bus ! Think of all those extra people they can wipe out in one go........unbelievable !

It exists, you occasionally see trucks looking out for you, particularly at night. They'll indicate left when it's safe to overtake, indicate right if you begin an overtake when there's an oncoming car.

[Travel2003]

My wife paid about 500 baht in Kalasin province.

1 hour driving.

1 hour theory.

Paperwork, etc.

I was scared scared scared, in the beginning.

Just a little scared now.

[CharlieH]

Applying western standards in an Asian environment never works! You are thinking about a highway code, it doesnt exist, the only rule here is ........dont get killed and try not to kill, try being the operative word......everything else is "mai pen rai "......oh and how much can I make ?

Yiu know whats more scary, they can take a test in an automatic but then legally go drive a manual bus ! Think of all those extra people they can wipe out in one go........unbelievable !

It exists, you occasionally see trucks looking out for you, particularly at night. They'll indicate left when it's safe to overtake, indicate right if you begin an overtake when there's an oncoming car.

It exists amongst experienced drivers of course, the point of the OP I believe is new drivers and the pathetic test they take and the non existent training or standards required before they can legally get behind the wheel and kill someone.

[CharlieH]

My wife paid about 500 baht in Kalasin province.

1 hour driving.

1 hour theory.

Paperwork, etc.

I was scared scared scared, in the beginning.

Just a little scared now.

Wow, that was extensive in comparison to my wife, she had never and to this day cannot drive a manual car, she had 20 minutes on a video machine, and 10 minutes around a one way track, with 1 junction.

Passed ! And id she wanted to pay 1000 baht she didnt even have to do that !

[Travel2003]

My wife paid about 500 baht in Kalasin province.

1 hour driving.

1 hour theory.

Paperwork, etc.

I was scared scared scared, in the beginning.

Just a little scared now.

Wow, that was extensive in comparison to my wife, she had never and to this day cannot drive a manual car, she had 20 minutes on a video machine, and 10 minutes around a one way track, with 1 junction.

Passed ! And id she wanted to pay 1000 baht she didnt even have to do that !

I am guessing you were as scared as I was when you sat next to her the first time?

[ThaidDown]

On the bright side....if the car is insured, and she has an accident, the insurance company will not be able to reject the claim due to 'no driving license'.

[wprime]

Applying western standards in an Asian environment never works! You are thinking about a highway code, it doesnt exist, the only rule here is ........dont get killed and try not to kill, try being the operative word......everything else is "mai pen rai "......oh and how much can I make ?

Yiu know whats more scary, they can take a test in an automatic but then legally go drive a manual bus ! Think of all those extra people they can wipe out in one go........unbelievable !

It exists, you occasionally see trucks looking out for you, particularly at night. They'll indicate left when it's safe to overtake, indicate right if you begin an overtake when there's an oncoming car.

It exists amongst experienced drivers of course, the point of the OP I believe is new drivers and the pathetic test they take and the non existent training or standards required before they can legally get behind the wheel and kill someone.

The new drivers aren't that dangerous, they're usually clueless but predictable enough to avoid. In my experience the worst ones are the ones with some experience so they're confident, but not enough that they can drive well.

[JSixpack]

Yet another HATE THAI DRIVING thread.

I'll contribute my standard reply: in proportion to their respective numbers in Thailand, farang generally drive worse than Thais. If I find myself near a farang on the road, I try to put distance 'tween me and him.

Drive here a long time and you get used to the Thai style, know what to expect, and even adopt it yourself!

Be careful out there.

[FarangKino]

None of us are ever going to change the way people drive or ride here or their attitude to their own and everyone else's safety. All you can do is drive with your eyes looking everywhere, and simply shake your head at all the stupidity you see. Someone wrote in another post that the average IQ of Thai people is 87 - Forest Gump's IQ was 90 - go figure and feel sorry for them.

[kurnell]

A lady colleague of mine gave me a lift home one day in her new car. It was truly frightening especially when she told me that she didn't have a licence. Several days later she came to my desk and told me she had just had an accident and did I want to see what she did to her car? Curious, I followed he to the car park where she showed me where the back end of her car had been caved in. I asked her of someone had hit her from behind, and she said no, she had reversed into the wall I was standing next to. I looked at the wall and couldn't see where she had hit as there were no marks and asked her how it was possible. She said "yes, there are marks, look, above your head!"

[Travel2003]

Yet another HATE THAI DRIVING thread.

I'll contribute my standard reply: in proportion to their respective numbers in Thailand, farang generally drive worse than Thais. If I find myself near a farang on the road, I try to put distance 'tween me and him.

Drive here a long time and you get used to the Thai style, know what to expect, and even adopt it yourself!

Be careful out there.

So you do acknowledge they have their own style here?

I am guessing that as soon as you make the distance between you and the other farang, on the road, another car squeezes in between you.

Btw, my wife has become so good driving now that she has started to complain about the other drivers, and especially about the mopeds.

[jvs]

I am very careful and stay away from new vehicles,old cars en pick-ups have experienced drivers and are not too dangerous.

New vehicles have new drivers and are easy to spot.

[Travel2003]

I am very careful and stay away from new vehicles,old cars en pick-ups have experienced drivers and are not too dangerous.

New vehicles have new drivers and are easy to spot.

That is indeed an interesting observation.

[Commander Tamson]

I am very careful and stay away from new vehicles,old cars en pick-ups have experienced drivers and are not too dangerous.

New vehicles have new drivers and are easy to spot.

 

That is indeed an interesting observation.

 

Yes interesting! But totally nonsensical

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[vtjforyou]

You just landed ?

[seajae]

Today we followed a truck carrying gas with a highly flammable sticker on the back, he went through as red light around 5 plus seconds after they changed then sat a metre off the bum of a petrol tanker swerving to the other side every couple of seconds attempting to get past it, we backed right off and let them go , luckily there was no explosion caused by this idiot. On the way back home we were behind a female driver that was talking on her mobile phone and trying to get past the car in front of her, she was driving half on the opposite side of the road and blocking all cars coming from the other way and still on the phone the whole time, cars were flashing her and honking horns but too no avail, she refused to move back to our side. This is extremely typical of thai drivers, they are not aware of the driving rules and make them up as they go, you only need to see how they are unable to park between lines at shopping centres to realize they are totally unaware of what is required of them. Thailand drivers are scary as hell and it will never change because it would mean that 90% of drivers would be put off the roads. All you can do is keep thinking the worst and drive like they are all going to crash into you because that is what is a good chance of happening. You also have to remember not to go through a green light for a while after changing as there is a great chance some idiot is running a red light because they dont want to stop. Driving in Thailand is simply as scary as hell.

[kkerry]

I was walking along the footpath a couple of weeks ago when this new car decides to do a u-turn in a wide street with no parked cars or any obstructions. Doing only about 5 kph it managed to hit a street light on the footpath with the glass from the light falling right in front of me. It reversed a few feet, went forward and hit it again before reversing again and driving off. Middle of the day but the tint was jet black so no idea who or what was doing the driving.

Walked home and five minutes later a car drives into my dead end street. Attempts a three point turn to get out and bang, straight into a wall, boot all dented. Goes forward and an inch short of crashing in to a house... unbelievable. Drove off without even getting out to check the state of their vehicle.

[AYJAYDEE]

The real wonder is why so many farang stay in thailand when all they seem to do is whinge about how bad everything is!

[GinBoy2]

When I lived in Miami thought the quality of driving was appalling. Then a friend pointed out to me, everyone was actually driving according to the rules of the road....trouble was it was the rules of the country they came from!

[edwinchester]

Yet another HATE THAI DRIVING thread.

 

I'll contribute my standard reply: in proportion to their respective numbers in Thailand, farang generally drive worse than Thais. If I find myself near a farang on the road, I try to put distance 'tween me and him.

 

Drive here a long time and you get used to the Thai style, know what to expect, and even adopt it yourself!

 

Be careful out there.

Have a quick read of post #17 in todays news.

[robblok]

Today we followed a truck carrying gas with a highly flammable sticker on the back, he went through as red light around 5 plus seconds after they changed then sat a metre off the bum of a petrol tanker swerving to the other side every couple of seconds attempting to get past it, we backed right off and let them go , luckily there was no explosion caused by this idiot. On the way back home we were behind a female driver that was talking on her mobile phone and trying to get past the car in front of her, she was driving half on the opposite side of the road and blocking all cars coming from the other way and still on the phone the whole time, cars were flashing her and honking horns but too no avail, she refused to move back to our side. This is extremely typical of thai drivers, they are not aware of the driving rules and make them up as they go, you only need to see how they are unable to park between lines at shopping centres to realize they are totally unaware of what is required of them. Thailand drivers are scary as hell and it will never change because it would mean that 90% of drivers would be put off the roads. All you can do is keep thinking the worst and drive like they are all going to crash into you because that is what is a good chance of happening. You also have to remember not to go through a green light for a while after changing as there is a great chance some idiot is running a red light because they dont want to stop. Driving in Thailand is simply as scary as hell.

90% crazy percentage. Id put it closer to 10% and that is even overstating it but if it makes you feel superior please keep thinking like this.

I agree far more idiot drivers here as back home but 90% is simly not true. I drive the car and bike a lot and most cars drive normal but every trip you see dangerous stuff but they are far from a majority.

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[meatboy]

My wife paid about 500 baht in Kalasin province.

1 hour driving.

1 hour theory.

Paperwork, etc.

I was scared scared scared, in the beginning.

Just a little scared now.

my wife drove for 18yrs in the uk.although she has a thai licence she wont drive here at any cost.

had the car 15months and only 1,480kiloms on the clock.enough is enough.

do i venture out at night do i hell its bad enough walking when some idiot with headlights,spots and fog lights all on coming towards you at full speed who cant see over the top of the steering wheel.

[alfieconn]

Iv'e told my daughter that before she goes out on the roads she has to pass 2 test's, the government test and my test !

[foopower]

Applying western standards in an Asian environment never works! You are thinking about a highway code, it doesnt exist, the only rule here is ........dont get killed and try not to kill, try being the operative word......everything else is "mai pen rai "......oh and how much can I make ?

Yiu know whats more scary, they can take a test in an automatic but then legally go drive a manual bus ! Think of all those extra people they can wipe out in one go........unbelievable !

Disagreed with your first sentence. Japanese and Singaporean drivers comply, if not driver better than most standards set in western countries.

[HeijoshinCool]

If drivers are so great in the west, why did this happen?

Answer. Nobody was paying attention. Those vans, by the way, are for-hire passenger vans, like mini-buses here.

Reports vary between 22 and 27 killed.

[edwinchester]

That accident was caused by brake failure.

Thailand has a death rate over ten times that of the UK one of the safest countries in the world to drive in.

[apetley]

If drivers are so great in the west, why did this happen?

 

 

 

 

Answer. Nobody was paying attention. Those vans, by the way, are for-hire passenger vans, like mini-buses here.

 

Reports vary between 22 and 27 killed.

Yes accidents can happen anywhere but sadly for whatever reasons Thailand has such a staggeringly high death rate on it's roads that is the third most dangerous country in whole world to drive in.

[Travel2003]

The real wonder is why so many farang stay in thailand when all they seem to do is whinge about how bad everything is!

Don't forget that most likely, the majority of the complainers doesn't really live here, but come once in a while on holiday.

Having said that, there is no doubt drivers in this country has a "special way" to behave on the road.