Phuket Opinion: You call that a hill?

[Lite Beer]

Phuket Opinion: You call that a hill?
Phuket Gazette -

Be alert to truck drivers riding their brakes. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: I operated very large trucks, buses, cranes and earth-moving vehicles for more years than I care to remember, in various countries including Austria – whose mountain passes make “monster” Patong Hill look like a pimple on an elephant – and Australia, in giant mines in the northwest.

The cardinal rule for going downhill is: Let your engine help retard your speed. That means shift down through the gears before it’s too late.

I am truly amazed at the frequency of vehicles – mainly buses – losing control on Patong Hill. It begs the question: Where and how do the drivers of these vehicles get their licenses to operate these vehicles? Innocent people’s lives depend on the experience, capability and knowledge of the guy behind the wheel.

Have the drivers had any mechanical tuition? Do they know what makes the damn thing work? That is, do they understand the braking mechanism, the gearbox – yes, even on automatics you can shift down, and should – or the engine vacuum retarder?

I understand the average holiday-maker coming here doesn’t want to engage in thinking about such matters, they just want to get to their hotel, kick off their sweaty gear and get down to the beach or to Bangla Road.

But if it weren’t for these poor trusting souls, there would be no need for these death traps and drivers of same. Why not help them accomplish their well-earned dream vacation in paradise by monitoring the drivers? Bus companies, police, tour companies and traffic authorities should all be responsible for this.

And here’s some advice for all those who use “the monster”: The next time you use it, check the vehicles in front of you and see how far they travel with their brake lights on. Brake lights blazing means they’re riding their brakes, which means the brakes are getting very hot, which means the brake fluid is going to boil, which means it’s going to dry up, which means… Goodbye all

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2014/Phuket-Opinion-You-call-that-a-hill-23314.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2014-01-19

[andreandre]

An accurate article in all ways..good explanation of what does happen.

The last sentence, whilst absolutely correct is, IMO not a frequent occurance tho' i cant recall reports of any light vehicle ''losing brakes' on this hill

All the heavy vehicles whose drivers cause brake failure by doing exactly as OP says use airbrakes, not hydraulic,

[theslime]

My brother in law, ex Tiger Commando ,trained with SAS in Melbourne ,has been driving for Decades, still doesn,t comprehend that the Gear Box will slow down his car. Suggestions from Farang, in one Ear and out the other.

[Tywais]

All the heavy vehicles whose drivers cause brake failure by doing exactly as OP says use airbrakes, not hydraulic,

Perhaps that is the issue, improper training for that class of braking. Some countries, such as the US, require specific training and licensing to drive airbrake equipped vehicles.

[LivinginKata]

Good article - pity none of the Thai HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) and PSV (Public Service Vehicle) drivers will ever read it

[Johnnie99]

The writer of the article must either be new to Thailand or simply doesn't get out much.

He asks the question: Where and how do the drivers of these vehicles get their licenses to operate these vehicles? Loathe as I am to use popular slang but surely this is a 'no brainer'.

Who does he think he is to state, to quote a famous Brit, 'the bleedin' obvious' to those of us who live here?

As an afterthought - can I have his job - if he actually gets paid for this?

Edited January 19, 2014 by Johnnie99

[Ulic]

An article that states the obvious. It needs to be read by all drivers and truck/bus drivers in particular.

Signage posted at the top of the hill in both directions telling drivers to gear down would help to remind

drivers. Of course proper training and licencing of professional drivers would be even better.

[andreandre]

All the heavy vehicles whose drivers cause brake failure by doing exactly as OP says use airbrakes, not hydraulic,

Perhaps that is the issue, improper training for that class of braking. Some countries, such as the US, require specific training and licensing to drive airbrake equipped vehicles.

I agree, there usually is ''extra training''needed for airbraking vehicles,as there are different and important proceedures to adhere to, but here in LOS there appears to be no training required for any class of vehicles..

point of interest..has anyone seen the actual theory test/driving ability required to be passed to gain a heavy vehicle license ?

I presume one does exist.

[MrY]

I've occasionally seen "Use low gear" signs in Thailand, in both English and Thai. Are there no such signs in Phuket?

[LivinLOS]

I ride bikes around the north and regularly go to various mountain roads and high points..

Each and every time, when theres car drivers there, you can smell the brakes where they just ride them all the way down cooking them.

Letting the engine take that strain seems to be simply unheard of.

[timber]

Coming from British Columbia and being involved in road engineering, one problem in the mountains often over looked in the grade brakes.

In B.C. you are limited to the amount of percentage a grade changes in Thailand you don't have any guidelines on mountain roads. Have

seen trucks out of control because of not shifting down when going into a steep downhill grade. No warning signs on said grade.

[Pinot]

Preventative maintenance is an unfathomable concept in LOS.

An occasional vehicle inspection might help stats.

Is it vehicle or driver failure that's the problem? It's the failure to deal with the problem...it's Thailand.