Just had an altercation at a U turn on Thappraya Road in Pattya where I was doing the turn, in the central reservation waiting for a space in the traffic coming uphill towards me. A motorbike comes up on my right, tight against the curb. Then another comes on my left. As I start to turn, so does he and I almost ran him into the curb on the opposite side. I showed my indignation with a blast on my horn. He stopped in the middle of the road and started mouthing off.......in Russian.

My question is, who was at fault? Me, the one on the left, who quickly <deleted>, or the one overtaking me on the right. Any thoughts folks?

Derogatory post containing vulgar language has been removed.

Keep your posts (and language) civil thanks.

Unfortunately it is a major problem in Pattaya and you always need eyes on swivel stalks to try and avoid the motorcyclists - turning left especially when they cut inside you.

If you had hit him then I would suggest always letting the insurance co and police argue it. Even when in the right I have heard examples where the car driver has paid some restitution to a bike driver - bigger vehicle and bike driver was poor and both were Thai by the way.

Just chalk it up to experience and try and learn from it

Another Eason why I installed a dash cam!

In answer to you question, both of the bike riders were in the wrong as according to you, you were there first and one came up on your right and the other on your left. They had to give way to you. But that's the way Thais and some farungs ride bikes, you see it at every intersection 100 times a day.

You see foreigners take massive advantage of lax law enforcement. They see Thais doing something unreasonable and unsafe, then foreigners take it further. Aggressive foreigners are the worst. Then come the teenage males on scooters going twice the speed of traffic. Then older ladies with kids who never look anywhere but straight ahead. \

To the OP, driving a car, you will never win. No matter how right you are.

There are just so many problems with U-Turns throughout Thailand. Sure, not every major intersection can be Traffic Light Controlled BUT...

If they installed ROUND-A-BOUTS instead of U-Turns, it would be a far more Cost-Effective way of "getting around the problem."

I think here we're not talking about driving rules or laws, we're talking about driving etiquette.

Western European / U.S. / Australian drivers have a similar etiquette to one another, whereas Thais drive without etiquette at all. And Russians, they do their own thing regardless of other road users.

So in your situation OP, you cannot win your situation. Honking will only provoke a situation.

Remember, Thai eyes register different information than foreigner eyes.

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You see foreigners take massive advantage of lax law enforcement. They see Thais doing something unreasonable and unsafe, then foreigners take it further. Aggressive foreigners are the worst. Then come the teenage males on scooters going twice the speed of traffic. Then older ladies with kids who never look anywhere but straight ahead. \

To the OP, driving a car, you will never win. No matter how right you are.

I disagree with you. My experience has been that the police is quite fair

and reasonable, and will fault the motorcycle if he is at fault.

My recommendation, in case of an accident, is to keep cool and let police

and your insurance settle the matter.

As to the situation you describe, I find farangs on motorcycles to be the

worst. It's like they have a death wish or something. Just slow down and

avoid them ...

luudee

PS: Your attitude in case of accident matters alot. Do like the thai smile and

explain the situation in a calm manner. I sometimes see farangs yelling at cops

and I bet those will seldom get the fair treatment they seek ...

Edited November 28, 201411 yr by luudee

There are just so many problems with U-Turns throughout Thailand. Sure, not every major intersection can be Traffic Light Controlled BUT...

If they installed ROUND-A-BOUTS instead of U-Turns, it would be a far more Cost-Effective way of "getting around the problem."

I think you need to sit at the roundabout in Pattaya and watch the antics of the drivers trying to navigate the thing it is hilarious they get on the roundabout and stop then let others go and have no idea why to do once they want to exit. I sat there for ten minutes once and nearly wet myself laughing it is so pathetic the standard of driving in this country

Edited November 28, 201411 yr by pitchag

The one on the left is in the wrong, because he should not be passing you on the left. The one on the right is on the correct side, but he is still an idiot for trying to pass where there is little or no room.

Both of the bikes should have stayed behind you, in line, awaiting their turn. But the odds of any motorbike rider actually doing that here are low.

the guy on the left was in the correct position, as he would have ended up where he should have been after the turn , but he should have hung back and allowed you to complete your turn, if nothing else other than being safer

Thoughtless derogatory/racist post removed

There are just so many problems with U-Turns throughout Thailand. Sure, not every major intersection can be Traffic Light Controlled BUT...

If they installed ROUND-A-BOUTS instead of U-Turns, it would be a far more Cost-Effective way of "getting around the problem."Thais

Thais have no concept of round a bouts or how one works they treat them like 4 way stops.

Will someone please teach Thai drivers to use a Circle.

I found all the posts interesting. I suppose we Brits (and others?) who drive on the left at home have a distinct advantage at times. Driving here is hazardous enough, without having to mentally keep reminding yourself to keep left etc.

I raise this in respect to the OP and the 'Russian'. If he's on holiday with a rented bike he has probably never driven on the left in his life before.

Also, I tend to agree that most Thai bike riders are pretty skilful and also lack any western 'road rage'. Mind you, it's the 10 percent who are not who are the real problem.!

Don't know about other posters but I'm sure that many, like me, try to maintain as much home courtesy as possible on the road, but find that at times you have to mix it with Thai style driving.

Like another post, I guess the OP needs to just put this down to experience and not try and figure out who is at fault. At least he was doing things correctly, which is all he can do.

More to the OP's point, there is no right or wrong in Thailand. You will be overtaken on both sides. It's you (meaning car drivers in general) who have to adjust. Car drivers actually have more responsibility for safety on the roads than moto drivers. I find this most remarkable, being a moto rider. Cars always give way. Truck drivers, well, they tend to be aggressive and pushy. Moto drivers, including me for the practical reason of the following two-wheeled traffic, go everywhere and anywhere.

To the OP, there's no point in searching for right or wrong. It just is.

I have felt much more secure while driving lately since putting a dash cam in my car. I have been blamed for accidents in the past that weren't my fault. At least I should have some evidence to help me out if an accident happens, just wish I could get one on my motorbike too.

There are just so many problems with U-Turns throughout Thailand. Sure, not every major intersection can be Traffic Light Controlled BUT...

If they installed ROUND-A-BOUTS instead of U-Turns, it would be a far more Cost-Effective way of "getting around the problem."

In case you havent noticed....there are many roundabouts in Thailand. Pun intended. But, how in the world is that suppose to help the problems with U-turns?

I think here we're not talking about driving rules or laws, we're talking about driving etiquette.

Western European / U.S. / Australian drivers have a similar etiquette to one another, whereas Thais drive without etiquette at all. And Russians, they do their own thing regardless of other road users.

So in your situation OP, you cannot win your situation. Honking will only provoke a situation.

Remember, Thai eyes register different information than foreigner eyes.

So you are saying the way people drive is governed by etiquette vs regulations and laws? Hahah thats a pretty funny statement.

And about the horn....oh how I love to let people know how stupid they are with a toot. LOL. It really digs under their skin to be told in public they are idiots.

The one on the left is in the wrong, because he should not be passing you on the left. The one on the right is on the correct side, but he is still an idiot for trying to pass where there is little or no room.

Both of the bikes should have stayed behind you, in line, awaiting their turn. But the odds of any motorbike rider actually doing that here are low.

Wrong

I LOVE THIS CRAZY COUNTRY, thats why i stay here, everything normal is boring. have a good friday

There are just so many problems with U-Turns throughout Thailand. Sure, not every major intersection can be Traffic Light Controlled BUT...

If they installed ROUND-A-BOUTS instead of U-Turns, it would be a far more Cost-Effective way of "getting around the problem."

I think you need to sit at the roundabout in Pattaya and watch the antics of the drivers trying to navigate the thing it is hilarious they get on the roundabout and stop then let others go and have no idea why to do once they want to exit. I sat there for ten minutes once and nearly wet myself laughing it is so pathetic the standard of driving in this country

What roundabout in Pattaya??????

I LOVE THIS CRAZY COUNTRY, thats why i stay here, everything normal is boring. have a good friday

SIR

same bloody same hahahahahaha

The one on the left is in the wrong, because he should not be passing you on the left. The one on the right is on the correct side, but he is still an idiot for trying to pass where there is little or no room.

Both of the bikes should have stayed behind you, in line, awaiting their turn. But the odds of any motorbike rider actually doing that here are low.

Wrong

Not a very informative comment.

More to the OP's point, there is no right or wrong in Thailand. You will be overtaken on both sides. It's you (meaning car drivers in general) who have to adjust. Car drivers actually have more responsibility for safety on the roads than moto drivers. I find this most remarkable, being a moto rider. Cars always give way. Truck drivers, well, they tend to be aggressive and pushy. Moto drivers, including me for the practical reason of the following two-wheeled traffic, go everywhere and anywhere.

Just because many people do it doesn't make it right. It just makes it common.