Important Research Results on Thai Road Safety

[SunsetT]

Introduction:

I have been regularly visiting Thailand for 8 years now, and during this time I have been carrying out important scientific research. Data has been gathered from hours and hours of careful observation of Thai driving from outside of the 'Champagne Bar', which is on a busy road junction in the centre of Nakhon Phanom. I must, at this point, give heartfelt thanks and due credit to my research assistant Peter for his tireless help and prompting during our periods of traffic observation. I am not sure if I could have completed the hours and hours of research necessary without his regular and genuinely anguished cries of "What the hell is he trying to do?" or, after sitting quietly for at least 30 seconds, his jumping up and shouting loudly "She cant do that!"

But all this painstaking research and hard work has paid off as I am sure that I have discovered something with very important implications for Thai road safety.

Background Information:

The Thai concept of 'Sanuk' means that Thai people like to be distracted and amused by having a bit of a laugh and a joke while they are working or doing something. So consequently you often seem to get better and friendlier service in a Thai shop or restaurant if the staff are chatting away with each other, or distracted watching their ever popular Thai movies on a TV blaring away somewhere in the room. Likewise, if you carefully observe Thai people driving or riding motorbikes etc. they seem to drive much better with a bit of 'sanuk', that is to say if they are happily distracted in some way or another. This might be by chatting away on their mobiles, or perhaps enjoying the ever popular Thai pastime of picking their nose in the rear view mirror. If riding a motorbike, it might be by carrying a huge object, or maybe a dog or 2. Carrying an unstable load of some kind, or perhaps 30 or so construction workers, or maybe a village birthday party are all quite popular on the back of a pickup or tuk tuk. One often sees 3 or more people on a motorbike, not looking where they are going but laughing and joking with each other. They might also be observed passing objects between the motorbikes while cruising side by side. This might be a machete or a Samurai sword, or sometimes even a baby. But the strange thing is that when distracted in this way the Thais seem to drive more slowly and steadily. They keep a relatively straight course, staying in one lane, and on occasion even do this on the correct side of the road.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrates quite clearly that it is only when Thai people are not distracted and have to pay attention that their driving skills seriously deteriorate.

My scientific data proves, without a shadow of doubt, that, if not distracted by something, Thai people become very confused and don't know where they are going or what they are doing. And, as we all know to our cost, they then drive totally unpredictably in any direction at any speed anywhere on the road!

So, therefore, as soon as Government is restored, I intend to write to the Thai Ministry of Transport recommending that all Thai vehicles and motorbikes are immediately fitted with TV screens on the dashboard or the handlebars to enable them to watch TV movies at all times while driving. I am absolutely convinced that this measure would drastically reduce the number of road accidents and fatalities in Thailand.

Edited June 9, 2014 by SunsetT

[SunsetT]

I found the edit button!!!!

Edited June 9, 2014 by SunsetT

[SunsetT]

Introduction:

I have been regularly visiting Thailand for 8 years now, and during this time I have been carrying out important scientific research. Data has been gathered from hours and hours of careful observation of Thai driving from outside of the 'Champagne Bar', which is on a busy road junction in the centre of Nakhon Phanom. I must, at this point, give heartfelt thanks and due credit to my research assistant Peter for his tireless help and prompting during our periods of traffic observation. I am not sure if I could have completed the hours and hours of research necessary without his regular and genuinely anguished cries of "What the hell is he trying to do?" or, after sitting quietly for at least 30 seconds, his jumping up and shouting loudly "She cant do that!"

But all this painstaking research and hard work has paid off as I am sure that I have discovered something with very important implications for Thai road safety.

Background Information:

The Thai concept of 'Sanuk' means that Thai people like to be distracted and amused by having a bit of a laugh and a joke while they are working or doing something. So consequently you often seem to get better and friendlier service in a Thai shop or restaurant if the staff are chatting away with each other, or distracted watching their ever popular Thai movies on a TV blaring away somewhere in the room. Likewise, if you carefully observe Thai people driving or riding motorbikes etc. they seem to drive much better with a bit of 'sanuk', that is to say if they are happily distracted in some way or another. This might be by chatting away on their mobiles, or perhaps enjoying the ever popular Thai pastime of picking their nose in the rear view mirror. If riding a motorbike, it might be by carrying a huge object, or maybe a dog or 2. Carrying an unstable load of some kind, or perhaps 30 or so construction workers, or maybe a village birthday party are all quite popular on the back of a pickup or tuk tuk. One often sees 3 or more people on a motorbike, not looking where they are going but laughing and joking with each other. They might also be observed passing objects between the motorbikes while cruising side by side. This might be a machete or a Samurai sword, or sometimes even a baby. But the strange thing is that when distracted in this way the Thais seem to drive more slowly and steadily. They keep a relatively straight course, staying in one lane, and on occasion even do this on the correct side of the road.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrates quite clearly that it is only when Thai people are not distracted and have to pay attention that their driving skills seriously deteriorate.

My scientific data proves, without a shadow of doubt, that, if not distracted by something, Thai people become very confused and don't know where they are going or what they are doing. And, as we all know to our cost, they then drive totally unpredictably in any direction at any speed anywhere on the road!

So, therefore, as soon as Government is restored, I intend to write to the Thai Ministry of Transport recommending that all Thai vehicles and motorbikes are immediately fitted with TV screens on the dashboard or the handlebars to enable them to watch TV movies at all times while driving. I am absolutely convinced that this measure would drastically reduce the number of road accidents and fatalities in Thailand.

Edited June 9, 2014 by SunsetT

[WitawatWatawit]

I would personally like to see the steering wheels of pickups made thinner so it's easier for 5 year olds to grip. Lovely to see them stand on dad's lap and weave between the traffic.