Driving in South of UK versus Driving in Thailand

[Pilotman]

I'm sure that this has come up before, so please forgive the rant! On my frequent trips to LOS in the last 25 years, I have driven rental cars each time. Yes I have had my scares, yes the driving is sometimes a bit 'odd', yes I try to avoid country driving in the dark and I have had to take avoiding action on drunk or drugged up truck drivers. I have also been ripped off by corrupt traffic cops on occasions. Having said all of this, the driving in Thailand never winds me up as much as driving standards in southern UK. The Thais do seem to look in their mirrors. They may not do anything about it, but they do tend to look. They are also fairly predictable in their reactions, whereas, in the UK, young and old, many have not the slightest idea of what good driving looks like. If ever asked, I advise people not to be afraid of renting and driving in LOS, just be well insured and always concentrate, but its not as bad as is sometimes painted and if you have ever driven in London, then BKK is a doddle.

[topt]

You are a having a laugh...........

oh and southern UK is not just London just as BKK is not all of Thailand.

[John_Betong]

When I was in UK, I passed and became a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorcyclist Riders

Their motto was "Make Progress..".

When here that was soon replaced with "Survival..."

[VocalNeal]

Pointless waffling thread with no end point. Thailand is not UK, UK is not Thailand. Vive la difference!

Edited December 2, 2013 by VocalNeal

[Sceptict11]

I wonder if the OP has bothered to check the statistics ?

The number of road deaths in Thailand v the UK.

Has he bothered to notice the number of bus/van crashes ?

I wonder if when in Thailand the OP drives in a dream world ..................

[Lokie]

Only common denominator is both countries have crap drivers behind the wheel

(although my defensive driving technique/self preservation radar is notched up a good few bars when in LOS)

[loseless]

Whilst I would always question statistics themselves, road deaths in Thailand per registered vehicle over recent years suggest that you are between 18 and 23 times more likely to die driving in Thailand than driving in the UK. Cross-referencing this against various published statistics brings about similar results. I sympathise with the poster, however, one person's perceptions are never a strong indicator and so we have to try and think big picture. I have been living in LOS for 8 years and I have only witnessed a small number accidents, but I fear I have been extremely fortunate in that respect. I lost a girlfriend aged 18 to drink-driving and so I feel strongly about the issue (neither in Thailand nor the UK). I think we should all do whatever small things we can do to re-edcuate people about helmets, seatbelts, drink/drugged driving, losing loved -ones etc. I see change here, but it takes generations, so we have to be patient and be positive.

[Bpuumike]

Am equally happy in central London and central Bangkok.

Possibly more so in Bangkok as there is much more give and take (no egos and road rage) which keeps everything flowing and prevents gridlock.

Get up country then take care.

[Bpuumike]

Whilst I would always question statistics themselves, road deaths in Thailand per registered vehicle over recent years suggest that you are between 18 and 23 times more likely to die driving in Thailand than driving in the UK. Cross-referencing this against various published statistics brings about similar results. I sympathise with the poster, however, one person's perceptions are never a strong indicator and so we have to try and think big picture. I have been living in LOS for 8 years and I have only witnessed a small number accidents, but I fear I have been extremely fortunate in that respect. I lost a girlfriend aged 18 to drink-driving and so I feel strongly about the issue (neither in Thailand nor the UK). I think we should all do whatever small things we can do to re-edcuate people about helmets, seatbelts, drink/drugged driving, losing loved -ones etc. I see change here, but it takes generations, so we have to be patient and be positive.

It can be done, slowly.

Finally the wife will not go out on her motorcai without her helmet and first thing she does when getting into the pick-up or car - fasten seat belt.

[roamer]

The death stats make the opening post a nonsense.

Next !

Hmmm, it's your post that is nonsense methinks. Death stats in LOS owe a lot to motorcycle riders with no helmets, large numbers of people in backs of pickups, inadequate emergency services. Take those factors out of the equation and you see a very different set of figures.

Think I would tend to agree with a friend of mine in LOS who spent 20 years as a cop in london....idiots in both countries but more aggressive driving in the UK.

[Estrada]

I have driven millions of kms in the UK, as well as many overseas countries. The overall standard of driving in the UK is the best I have experienced. For those of you who say you have hardly ever seen an accident in Thailand, you must live in a remote village. When driving in Thailand you will see many accidents in the course of a year. If you think the standard of driving is good in Thailand, think again. I have had my cars damaged 9 times in the car park, just because many local drivers cannot reverse without hitting something. Recently my brand new CRV was hit by a car which did not stop, but was likely from a nearby housing estate. When I looked at the cars along the street for damage, thinking I could find the culprit, I found that 95% of the cars had accident damage. It is not surprising as the majority of local drivers drive badly and insanely close to the vehicles in front of them. The only Country I found worse than Thailand was Libya, where a trip to town with a Libyan driver was dubbed "The White Knuckle Ride", because your hands are holding on for grim death.

[hansnl]

Whilst I would always question statistics themselves, road deaths in Thailand per registered vehicle over recent years suggest that you are between 18 and 23 times more likely to die driving in Thailand than driving in the UK. Cross-referencing this against various published statistics brings about similar results. I sympathise with the poster, however, one person's perceptions are never a strong indicator and so we have to try and think big picture. I have been living in LOS for 8 years and I have only witnessed a small number accidents, but I fear I have been extremely fortunate in that respect. I lost a girlfriend aged 18 to drink-driving and so I feel strongly about the issue (neither in Thailand nor the UK). I think we should all do whatever small things we can do to re-edcuate people about helmets, seatbelts, drink/drugged driving, losing loved -ones etc. I see change here, but it takes generations, so we have to be patient and be positive.

I think you forget the most important thing.

The driving education and the examination.

Edited December 2, 2013 by hansnl

[delh]

Only common denominator is both countries have crap drivers behind the wheel

(although my defensive driving technique/self preservation radar is notched up a good few bars when in LOS) alt=blink.png width=20 height=20>

e

Tell us of your experience then please, also the country where you were taught to drive? As it stands, your comments are just an easy swipe at other drivers.

I may agree or disagree, as the land lies, there is not sufficient information, Thanks

Edited December 2, 2013 by delh

[StreetCowboy]

The last time I drove any distance in the UK it was an absolute joy. Well-marked roads, good signposts, good road surfaces, good road geometry. If you got in the right lane, you ended up in the right place.

I didn't notice any aggressive driving, and although I was driving on roads I had not been on before I was able to pretty much find my way around.

I'm not sure what the OP means by "the South of the UK", and maybe the driving style changes at Watford, but that's not my recollection from many years back. But to be fair, my recent trips home have never taken me as far South as Birmingham.

SC

Edited December 3, 2013 by StreetCowboy

[ignis]

Have no problem driving here, up to a point is easier, in UK you have to have one eye glued to the speed [ last time stopped was in 1972 for speeding in UK] here there is no points system here, and you can drive with both eyes on the road and other users.

[phitsanulokjohn]

It would appear the OP has been slated for his views.I'll only say this.As a semi-retired taxi driver of 27 years on the south coast of UK there is simply no comparison across a variety of fields concerning driving.It's like trying to compare Apples and oranges.

[DILLIGAD]

It would appear the OP has been slated for his views.I'll only say this.As a semi-retired taxi driver of 27 years on the south coast of UK there is simply no comparison across a variety of fields concerning driving.It's like trying to compare Apples and oranges.

Agree.

When was the last time you saw a vehicle at night driving without any lights and on the wrong side of the road, also in the wrong direction!!!

T.I.T.

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[NoshowJones]

That article I read in the magazine saying be prepared to spend about 20% of your spending money on tips got my back right up. It was not just referring to restaurants, it meant all round, taxis, hotels etc. If it was not for that article, I would have done what I do in other countries, if I am getting good value and service, then I will tip.

[NoshowJones]

Am equally happy in central London and central Bangkok.

Possibly more so in Bangkok as there is much more give and take (no egos and road rage) which keeps everything flowing and prevents gridlock.

Get up country then take care.

I will agree about the egos and road rage, you hardly ever hear horns being honked in Thailand, where in the UK it happens all the time. One thing about Thai drivers, if you are driving down a road, and see a vehicle coming in your direction, and there is an obstruction on his side, ie a parked vehicle, 99% of the times, he will not give way, he will come over on to the wrong side of the road right in front of you always causing you to brake.

In eight years of driving here in Thailand, I have always refused to reverse in those circumstances.

[NoshowJones]

That article I read in the magazine saying be prepared to spend about 20% of your spending money on tips got my back right up. It was not just referring to restaurants, it meant all round, taxis, hotels etc. If it was not for that article, I would have done what I do in other countries, if I am getting good value and service, then I will tip.

Sorry, I have this comment on the wrong thread. Maybe the mod can move it.

[NoshowJones]

The death stats make the opening post a nonsense.

Next !

Hmmm, it's your post that is nonsense methinks. Death stats in LOS owe a lot to motorcycle riders with no helmets, large numbers of people in backs of pickups, inadequate emergency services. Take those factors out of the equation and you see a very different set of figures.

Think I would tend to agree with a friend of mine in LOS who spent 20 years as a cop in london....idiots in both countries but more aggressive driving in the UK.

Good post, but "more aggressive driving in the UK" I not sure about that, but there are a lot of drivers in Thailand who drive far too slow, and that can be as dangerous as driving far too fast.

[NoshowJones]

That article I read in the magazine saying be prepared to spend about 20% of your spending money on tips got my back right up. It was not just referring to restaurants, it meant all round, taxis, hotels etc. If it was not for that article, I would have done what I do in other countries, if I am getting good value and service, then I will tip.

Wrong thread, my apologies.

[NoshowJones]

I have driven millions of kms in the UK, as well as many overseas countries. The overall standard of driving in the UK is the best I have experienced. For those of you who say you have hardly ever seen an accident in Thailand, you must live in a remote village. When driving in Thailand you will see many accidents in the course of a year. If you think the standard of driving is good in Thailand, think again. I have had my cars damaged 9 times in the car park, just because many local drivers cannot reverse without hitting something. Recently my brand new CRV was hit by a car which did not stop, but was likely from a nearby housing estate. When I looked at the cars along the street for damage, thinking I could find the culprit, I found that 95% of the cars had accident damage. It is not surprising as the majority of local drivers drive badly and insanely close to the vehicles in front of them. The only Country I found worse than Thailand was Libya, where a trip to town with a Libyan driver was dubbed "The White Knuckle Ride", because your hands are holding on for grim death.

The overall standard of driving in The US, is the best I have experienced.

[NoshowJones]

That article I read in the magazine saying be prepared to spend about 20% of your spending money on tips got my back right up. It was not just referring to restaurants, it meant all round, taxis, hotels etc. If it was not for that article, I would have done what I do in other countries, if I am getting good value and service, then I will tip.

Sorry, wrong thread.

[NoshowJones]

That article I read in the magazine saying be prepared to spend about 20% of your spending money on tips got my back right up. It was not just referring to restaurants, it meant all round, taxis, hotels etc. If it was not for that article, I would have done what I do in other countries, if I am getting good value and service, then I will tip.

Sorry, wrong thread.

[lostmebike]

The Thais do seem to look in their mirrors.

Absolutely hilarious!

[John_Betong]

I heard from a Malaysian guy who has ran a business here for the past nine years, the reason Thais do not sound their horns is they are concerned that the other driver may have a gun.

Yes I have also noticed the vain drivers checking their appearance.

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[apetley]

I don't really enjoy going back on visits to the UK but I always feel relaxed when driving there.

In over 40 years of driving and motorcycling in the UK I saw one dead body on the road there, a friend killed in a motorcycle accident. In 12 years of driving in Thailand I have seen close to 30 dead on the road.

[overherebc]

When I was in UK, I passed and became a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorcyclist Riders

Their motto was "Make Progress..".

When here that was soon replaced with "Survival..."

Did the course but failed on the test.

That is probably the most difficult advanced test to do.

[bushman1666]

This post is the most pointless utter tosh imaginable. Perhaps the poster has very little real driving experience in London area? Sundays are a good to avoid driving in London as that's when the occasional drivers blow the cobwebs off their cars and venture into the big city. Other than that there is no comparison between UK and Thai driving standards. I offer this opinion as a seasoned UK driver of 30+ years, most of that in and around London and the southeast. Last experienced four weeks ago.

So to summarise; stop talking <deleted> sir!

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