Officials Combat Road Accidents By Monk Prayers

[Lite Beer]

Officials Combat Road Accidents By Monk Prayers

CHUMPON: Officials in Thung Tako district of Chumphon province have unveiled the latest tool to combat the notoriously large number of road accidents during New Year season: monk incantation.

District Director Wachira Pandusa led a merit making ceremony along a section of the Asian Highway Network, AH2, which runs through the province, in which a group of monks blessed holy water and sprayed the said substance on the road to chase away evil spirits which are believed to have caused frequent deaths and accidents on the road.

According to the officials, the eviction of bad spirits will prevent future accident and help boost the morale of motorists.

However, Mr. Wachira also stressed that road safety depends on the commuters′ caution and willingness to follow safe driving practice.

Volunteers from ′Stop Drink Network′ and a group of student reinforced the message by joining the ceremony to promote a campaign against drunk-driving habit during the festive season. The volunteers also organised a service stop at Khao Peeb Intersection where drivers are given wet napkins to refresh themselves.

“It is crucial not to drink and drive, not to drive too fast, and not to drive while you are too tired”, said Mr. Wachira, “Our district had prepared the service point to facilitate the drivers when they are looking for a stopover, and we had instructed officials to carefully monitor the roads to prevent any accidents.”

Reportedly, the authority also renamed the Asian Highway Network in the district area as “Mongkhol Road (Holy Road)”, to strengthen the luck of all commuters and passengers.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNE9ESXhNalEyT1E9PQ==

-- Khaosod English 2013-12-28

[Thaddeus]

Good grief.

[Briggsy]

Short cuts, Thais love their short cuts.

[davejones]

It's true that evil spirits are to blame for most road accidents, mostly whiskey.

[Guest]

to chase away evil spirits which are believed to have caused frequent deaths and accidents on the road.

I see these evil spirits daily on the roads of Phuket. The evil spirits tend to like black Fortuners.

[ginjag]

It's true that evil spirits are to blame for most road accidents, mostly whiskey.

Thai white whisky, Loas Khow. This is the most favoured one they call Nong Khai label.

Suppose Monk prayers are a better bet, look at all the smashed up amulets in crashed vehicles.

But it is up to the individual, if he/she feels safer -good. Their driving plays a big part though.

[englishoak]

ohhh so now its the ghosts fault ? ............................. riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight

[englishoak]

lau kaow or lao kao ? or laow kaow... dammit i know how it goes in spoken thai but never got an agreement on the spelling version... now i have to add Laos Khow to the list... good grief

[happynthailand]

Oh now I realy feel safe,not

truck and motorcycle stay parked

[marcusd]

It's true that evil spirits are to blame for most road accidents, mostly whiskey.

Thai white whisky, Loas Khow. This is the most favoured one they call Nong Khai label.

Suppose Monk prayers are a better bet, look at all the smashed up amulets in crashed vehicles.

But it is up to the individual, if he/she feels safer -good. Their driving plays a big part though.

The Thais have turned Buddism into EVIL spirits? Monks Prayers? So they say there is a super being and not "we are part of a greater universe as Buddah taught? What a load of CRAP. Just stupid, ill trained and non caring people behind wheels who have paid 300 baht for a license to control a mass murder machine.

[ginjag]

lau kaow or lao kao ? or laow kaow... dammit i know how it goes in spoken thai but never got an agreement on the spelling version... now i have to add Laos Khow to the list... good grief

Never knew, my version from the fact it has areas from origin --the best the locals say is from Nong Khai label. Issan -Laos as the saying goes.

stinking stuff a gut rotter for sure and so powerful. many drink it with M150. or neat past around a group and drink when it gets to your turn--Favourite style.

Spoken up here in all districts, Lao cow. about right as the Thai speaks.

[clockman]

Third world, and always will be!

[Tokay]

This place never ceases to amaze.

[Fiddlesticks]

Well, the Thai officials found the solution that has been evading us for years. Here I was silly to think that law enforcement was the answer but all that is really needed was a bunch of monks taking time out from shopping for iPhones and digital cameras to chant a few prayers. The answer is so simple and so obvious! No wonder it took an OFFICIAL to figure out the answer!

Too bad for us that the drivers believe that the monks prayers will protect them even if they are blind drunk and driving like they OWN the road.

The rest of us better look for some lucky rabbits feet.

[englishoak]

lau kaow or lao kao ? or laow kaow... dammit i know how it goes in spoken thai but never got an agreement on the spelling version... now i have to add Laos Khow to the list... good grief

Never knew, my version from the fact it has areas from origin --the best the locals say is from Nong Khai label. Issan -Laos as the saying goes.

stinking stuff a gut rotter for sure and so powerful. many drink it with M150. or neat past around a group and drink when it gets to your turn--Favourite style.

Much prefer beer lao when up there. imo the finest beer in SE Aisa

[Costas2008]

englishoak, on 28 Dec 2013 - 14:05, said:englishoak, on 28 Dec 2013 - 14:05, said:

ohhh so now its the ghosts fault ? ............................. riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight

As long as it is not the ignorance of Thai Drivers and the police's role to uphold the law........then it could be anybody else's fault.......even my grandfather's!

[NeverSure]

Oh, good idea. No more road accidents now. What can they fix next?

[noahvail]

Hey, if they can have monks blessing the major airports to prevent accidents, why not a little stretch of roadway? Evil Spirits, eh...back in my old computer days we called them gremlins - which could always be traced back to some human's failure.

[Tokay]

Oh, good idea. No more road accidents now. What can they fix next?

Maybe they could get a bunch of monks to pray for their education system.

[paquito]

How about sacrificing a couple of goats? Works like a charm for the Hindudus: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/6979292.stm

[JetsetBkk]

According to the officials, the eviction of bad spirits will prevent future accident and help boost the morale of motorists.

This is a very risky approach that could easily back-fire.

What if the number of deaths rises significantly compared with other years?

What will these officials say then?

[LuckyLew]

Guess someone swiped the budget for driver safety program and this was all that was left

Fricken banana republic

NOT TO SELF - stay away from Chumpon

[MJP]

Please note what the Director actually said . . .

However, Mr. Wachira also stressed that road safety depends on the commuters′ caution and willingness to follow safe driving practice.
Volunteers from ′Stop Drink Network′ and a group of student reinforced the message by joining the ceremony to promote a campaign against drunk-driving habit during the festive season. The volunteers also organised a service stop at Khao Peeb Intersection where drivers are given wet napkins to refresh themselves.
“It is crucial not to drink and drive, not to drive too fast, and not to drive while you are too tired”, said Mr. Wachira, “Our district had prepared the service point to facilitate the drivers when they are looking for a stopover, and we had instructed officials to carefully monitor the roads to prevent any accidents.”

Using their religion to also convey safety messages is actually pretty smart. The merit making gets the attention of those who rely on amulets rather than defensive driving and then introduces them to other means of protecting themselves and other road users.

Or is my thinking going a little too deep here?

[simondan]

It's true that evil spirits are to blame for most road accidents, mostly whiskey.

Thai white whisky, Loas Khow. This is the most favoured one they call Nong Khai label.

Suppose Monk prayers are a better bet, look at all the smashed up amulets in crashed vehicles.

But it is up to the individual, if he/she feels safer -good. Their driving plays a big part though.

The Thais have turned Buddism into EVIL spirits? Monks Prayers? So they say there is a super being and not "we are part of a greater universe as Buddah taught? What a load of CRAP. Just stupid, ill trained and non caring people behind wheels who have paid 300 baht for a license to control a mass murder machine.

As long as they arent colour blind. Those colour blind drivers are to blame for most of the accidents unless they are ruthlessly rooted out.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[MJP]

Third world, and always will be!

Nope.

This is the Third World.

[Halion]

The intellect of Thai officialdom is simply outstanding. Perhaps they have the same plan in place should the country ever be subjected to nuclear attack .Efficient and effective governance at it's finest.

[Gsxrnz]

Yes, rather a simple and hugely ineffective method of keeping people safe on the roads.

Thank God goodness that the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Pope, or Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, or the President of the United States would never pray to (their) God for the safety and well being of their followers and citizens during the festive season.

And even if they did, they wouldn't allow their prayers to be publicised by addressing a million people in the Vatican Square, or appearing on Television and saying something as ludicrous as "....may God bless and look after you all."

I mean, that would be just too ironic and no better than these third world superstitious Thais who pray to ghosts.

[DocN]

Oh, good idea. No more road accidents now. What can they fix next?

Their heads?!

[catmac]

All joking aside, the danger here is that many motorists will think that this blessing means that they are somehow even more "safe" than they were with just the magic amulets, and will drive with even less care and consideration because of it.

[siampolee]

Methinks the most common prayer over this holiday season will be said a time or two as outlined below. .

A form of birth control, though highly ineffective.

Prayer: Please, please God, don't let me get pregnant. Oh Jesus, please let my period show up on time.