Thai editorial: Corruption is killing thousands on our roads

nithisa78 · February 25, 2015

I agree with most of the posts on this subject. Corruption that seems to run right through to the high levels of everything mean there are two or maybe even three different societies existing here, all governed by money and greed and depending upon which you fit into will determine what 'favours' you receive.

The chaos on the roads is just one of the issues that cannot be addressed because 1) they don't know how 2) they can't be bothered and 3) some of them make too much money by looking the other way.

It is a psychological trait I think.

Thai's seem to place themselves above more learned people because 'no can do it better than a Thai' when in reality just about everybody can.

They refuse help, refuse advice and any kind of assistance that might give the impression they haven't got a clue.

And it seems to me that the more clueless you are the more likely it is you will achieve an elevated position.

I came here a year ago, thinking paradise was what it would be, but it doesn't take long for the truth to hit home.

This could be a fabulous country to live, many of the people are wonderful, but it is destroyed from within.

I have met some lovely people, even helpful policemen and army officials who have been nothing but courteous and respectful but it is not the norm.

The situation on the roads is a manifestation of the hypocrisy that seems to permeate a lot of Thai thinking and hence life here.

And for those of us who genuinely came here to help and make things just a little bit better, especially for young people and more especially the less privileged young people, it is soul destroying to sit and watch as those who could have an influence just couldn't give a damn and are quite happy to take their fat salaries, wallow in the glory their position gives them and ignore their responsibilities.

'Oh that's not how we do things here' we are told. No it isn't and you'd better wake up quick to the fact that it ought to be.

On my 11 hour flight here, filled with excitement about the possibilities and what I wanted to achieve I read some of the teachings of the Buddha. An attempt to begin to understand the culture and mindset.

Might as well not have bothered.

One thing I read that stuck with me though was his teaching that 'everything is not self'

My god there are a few here that need to apply that in their lives and actions.

It is the same in any monetised society. Thailand just has more cry babies. Check the mirror. Than the entire rest of the planet and all foreigners. Not too many grateful in the entire lot of them. Pass the tissues. Read something Christian and get back to us. You got a set of plastic ones, definately not brass. Bag of wind. Self righteous, pompus -wussy. Any of that mean anything to you? I'm asking because pal, you don't see yourself. That's your luck.

Edited February 25, 2015 by nithisa78

redandyellow · February 25, 2015

I note that in the road stats consistently over 70% of deaths involve motorbikes or other 2 wheel transport which would include the mentioned tragedy. From memory during the new year period it was 82%.

I see around here the police all line up for their flag raising at 8 oclock, have a natter and a ball scratch then go out and set up in shady spots and stop anyone without a helmet.

However they are all gone again by 5 in the afternoon and helmets come off and school kids race around at great speed on their bikes.

Policing should be a 24hr thing and not 8-30 to 4-30.

Hey Robbie volunteer and quit bitching. The girls are in the next room move on.

In principle, I agree with trying to do something, that's why I wrote a book

signed,

the complaint box is full

lucky11 · February 25, 2015

What a pointless article this is.

All of this crap about the roads being so dangerous because the rich or famous pay off the police if they do something wrong is completely irrelevant.

The Thai's riding their bikes against the flow of traffic, not wearing helmets and people passing on the inside (or outside) - over if they were driving a tank no doubt, is!!!

Additionally, I have come to believe that many Thais have bribed officials into granting licenses...I know 2 people who actually had accidents while taking the driving test!!! 5,000 baht tip, and they walked away with a license to drive and kill...

I believe this to probably be the case - but were these people rich or famous 'hi-so' people? I doubt it.

Just1Voice · February 25, 2015

I used to take trips on my CBR all over northern and north eastern Thailand. And I had my own set of rules to follow.

1 - Full riding kit and damn good helmet. Yes, sometimes it was hot as hell, but I always carried plenty of water, and always stopped if I began to feel the least bit tired.

2 - Never, ever drive at night. Too many idiot with no lights to run into.

3 - Even if doing 140 ( or more) on the highways, if I saw silver minivans in the mirrors, move over and get out of their way.

4 - Avoid the "motorbike lanes" unless absolutely necessary. Way too many idiots shooting out of side roads and paths without bothering to look to their right to see if anyone is coming.

5 - If a vehicle is in front of me, put it behind me. If it's behind me, try to keep it there. (Yeah, I know, maybe not the smartest rule, but it worked for me)

6 - On mountain roads, especially curves, always, always be on the lookout for idiots coming at you who are trying to pass on a blind curve.

In 5 years of these trips, I only had 1 minor accident where a guy in a pick up was bound and determined he was going to pass me on a curve and deliberately ran me off the road. Was only doing about 50kph at the time, and went off in a safe area.

Then I suffered a pinched sciatic nerve in my right leg, and just about the time that was healed, I had a stroke. Had to sell the CBR, and it's been a long road back. But I'm getting there and hope that by July or August I can buy a new 500cc CBR or CB 500f, and hit the road again.

If you're like me and love your bike, for goodness sake, wear proper equipment, never ever feel "relaxed" as that can lead to carelessness, and constantly be aware that Thailand is filled with idiots who drive as if Lord Buddha is sitting on their shoulder to protect them.

berybert · February 25, 2015

It's not just corruption tho is it ? The Thai truck driver who killed the two Brit's was hit by the full force of the law. Was it a 500 baht fine ?

razer · February 25, 2015

One answer is strict and impartial enforcement of the law. This is the problem and it sits on the desk of RTP.

mike324 · February 25, 2015

Perhaps installing more speed cameras will help in the beginning, that will cut down on speeding and road fatalities. That is the easiest and fastest solution I can think of. The rest such as police and bad driver will take time.

The roads are generally good for the most part, don't see why folks need to rant.

tif · February 25, 2015

Not only question of money. Question of values, as well.

Thais don't mind to kill => check in the prison => your sentence will be far lower if you kill your neighbor than to if you carry 100 gr of drugs.

Obviously in a street, GOD is the CAR. Not Buddha and first of all, not the pedestrian which is just a human being. A driver is more than that, it's a human being able to by a CAR. His value is higher than a pedestrian.

Nor need money or end corruption to drive with respect to the pedestrians or cyclists.

In some country pedestrians have the priority and the driver will care and respect them. In Thailand a driver can do ANYTHING to a pedestrian or a cyclist just because he has power but, one more time, it's not a question of money but of value => he could be rich and respect the poor. Or not.

A visiting friend of mine somersaulted over a parked SUV at an unlit area of a busy road. He managed to take a photograph of the car driver wiping the spot where my friend's bike had hit it, oblivious to my friend lying in the road. Then there are the sitting rooms of many rural houses used as garages for their on tick spanky new pickups, whilst the family sleep on the floor around it.

As an aside, I was chatting with a local motosai driver when a car hurtled past ignoring all and everything in it's way. 'He can because he has money' was the response to my @#$%! No amount of driver education will ever get past that mindset.

Edited February 25, 2015 by tif

wabothai · February 25, 2015

Why Thais passing at high speed in blind curves is the answer to all our questions and above posts.

bassman · February 25, 2015

In addition to the corruption mentioned above is the piss poor road construction using substandard materials and antiquated heavy equipment to finish surfaces. You would almost believe the contractors are paying up to someone to get full payment while delivering sub-par results. Most road construction/repair is done during the dry season, with the onset of rainy season the surfaces (concrete and asphalt) has dissolved leaving dangerous pot holes and drop off edges. Could go on and on like the new stoplights that never work, missing road signs, no flagman during construction, the use of tree branches on highways for warning ....

marko kok prong · February 25, 2015

I note that in the road stats consistently over 70% of deaths involve motorbikes or other 2 wheel transport which would include the mentioned tragedy. From memory during the new year period it was 82%.

I see around here the police all line up for their flag raising at 8 oclock, have a natter and a ball scratch then go out and set up in shady spots and stop anyone without a helmet.

However they are all gone again by 5 in the afternoon and helmets come off and school kids race around at great speed on their bikes.

Policing should be a 24hr thing and not 8-30 to 4-30.

Hey Robbie volunteer and quit bitching. The girls are in the next room move on.

In principle, I agree with trying to do something, that's why I wrote a book

signed,

the complaint box is full

Redandyellow,thanks for your excellent 2 posts,i think you covered just about everything that i wanted to say,when we look at the list of infractions,and the anaylasis of driver attitudes you have outlined,i must say that any hope this country will ever change in regards to the road toll are doomed.

hhinhh · February 25, 2015

no, it was global warming

Besides global warming which is responsible for almost everything it is not only bribing. The way motorcylist drive makes me wonder that still so many of them are still alive. They drive at any little space in the trafic, no matter which side of the road, no matter if it is only a few cm space between two cars, no matter if they link into a main raod with lots of traffic ignoring all cars coming along. Education and supervising their behaviour would already cut the death (an injury) toll by at least half.

tartempion · February 25, 2015

My head is shaking all the time: I drive 4x10 Kms daily to drive my 4 young to and from school.

Average near death experience for each and every km!

Edited February 25, 2015 by tartempion

Patmalone · February 25, 2015

I was told that Thais don't put their headlights on because it attracts the spirits (not the drink kind). I could be wrong, but it is Thailand after all.

wow64 · February 25, 2015

The only way Thailand will ever solve this issue is if they issue a "Crackdown" next week.

Run the "Crackdown" for 1 week.

Then and only then will we have this issue fixed.

Maybe combine it with random check points problem solved.

Edited February 25, 2015 by wow64

Srikcir · February 25, 2015

when the police start to obey the law then there may have been progress.

And yet in the South RTP are ticketing motor bike drivers for WEARING HELMETS!

Laws must be applied equally without regard to politics.

Strangebrew · February 25, 2015

I solved the problem bought myself a Bradley goes only 55 MPH but Nothing can hurt it and police seem afraid to ticket you looking down the muzzle of the cannon and the sign on back says tailgaters will be crushed.

Jeremy50 · February 25, 2015

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

The whole of Thailand has it's head in the sand on this issue.

On any issue

What is a "Issue"

An issue. A matter. A relevant topic. Also see dictionary.

Jeremy50 · February 25, 2015

Perhaps installing more speed cameras will help in the beginning, that will cut down on speeding and road fatalities. That is the easiest and fastest solution I can think of. The rest such as police and bad driver will take time.

The roads are generally good for the most part, don't see why folks need to rant.

How many deaths would it take to turn you into someone who rants?

smutcakes · February 25, 2015

I note that in the road stats consistently over 70% of deaths involve motorbikes or other 2 wheel transport which would include the mentioned tragedy. From memory during the new year period it was 82%.

I see around here the police all line up for their flag raising at 8 oclock, have a natter and a ball scratch then go out and set up in shady spots and stop anyone without a helmet.

However they are all gone again by 5 in the afternoon and helmets come off and school kids race around at great speed on their bikes.

Policing should be a 24hr thing and not 8-30 to 4-30.

Hey Robbie volunteer and quit bitching. The girls are in the next room move on.

In principle, I agree with trying to do something, that's why I wrote a book

signed,

the complaint box is full

Great original post.I drive about 2,000 km a week and agree with everything you say.

The only thing i would add as really dangerous are the u turns on highways where cars are trying to pull onto the overtaking lane. It is particularly bad on Petchkasem road when you get near Chaam-Hua Hin, barely a week goes past where i don't see a prang there. They need more u turn over/underpasses.

simonuk · February 25, 2015

A great article but i wonder who these articles are written for ? A few well educated thais who perhaps went to uni in the west, ex-pats etc. I'd like to know if pieces this honest appear in Thai language newspapers etc.

The real problem and one that prevents any real effort to tackle corruption is the education system. The vast majority of thais I see only read cartoons or watch lakorns, if they do read a newspaper it's to see gory photos.

Edited February 25, 2015 by simonuk

Thian · February 25, 2015

It's the police who don't do anything to correct agressive/selfish drivers. But honestly the Thai are the most selfish people i 've ever met if they drive a car, they don't have any responsibility at all to other people. I bet they don't give a dime if they kill somebody with their car. They even can't park the damn thing themselves, they need a guy with a whistle for that .

smedly · February 25, 2015

Johnsy · February 25, 2015

99% of Thai drivers/riders are the most selfish unconscious road users I have ever experienced anywhere except for Cambodia lol. Nothing will change while there is no proper training, instruction, testing, enforcement or while next to no one takes the business of driving and riding seriously....end of story. This was even more obvious to me today going past yet another accident where a person was laying on the side of the road, gasping their last breaths as a pool of blood leaked from their head. Another one knocked of a scooter by a car turning into oncoming traffic and of course the scooter rider was not wearing a helmet, a simple low speed accident that he should have walked away from but paid with his life because helmets aren't cool at all are they.

Carol Jadzia · February 26, 2015

As a British Motorcycle Instructor concerned about the state of play on Thai roads I have found this discussion very interesting. Thank you posters.

I cannot comment on corruption. I will accept it takes place. As a number of my Thai friends are serving police officers I must say I don't see them as all bad or necessary the cause of the problem.

Yes I understand that corruption is endemic at higher levels.

I think the obvious way to address that issue is a proper 'Traffic' police force. This could easily be funded by the revenue they receive from enforcing the current laws.

Specialist officers would know the traffic laws, be trained to an advanced driving/riding level and hopefully lead by example.

Also paid at such a respectable rate they would be less likely to consider accepting a bribe in the first place.

I also think you are not going to get anywhere with just a stick alone.

Better education into the dangers. Here in the UK we have a Cycling Proficiency test for all School Children who ride bicycles to school,

We also have a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) course that anyone wishing to ride a motorcycle on the road must undertake before riding.

Ok it's obvious that loads of school kids on a bike is wrong, but if it is the way it is, best not to just ignore it.

A road show, school education programme. Normally a CBT takes a day. It covers braking, emergency braking, controls, road safety, basic maintenance and some defensive driving skills.

30 years ago here we had the same problems, the start of the changes happened with a school education programme.

I wonder why if part of the Thai make-up is being "klaeng jai" then why are they so insistent on riders invading each others space on the road? If you respect someones space then why invade it at every opportunity?

Just an observation.

If anyone caught driving dangerously or illegally, as well as having a fine, also had to attend a driver or rider training day then that would certainly start making people think a bit more.

I would hate to see Thailand as tightly restricted as England. Thailand's freedom is partly why I love the country.

However there is a huge gap between the two in standards of driver training and something should be done to bridge the gap.

Every life saved is a victory?

selftaopath · February 26, 2015

WHERE ARE THE THAI POLICE ON THE ROADS?

Playing on Facebook or taking a nap.

laolover88 · February 26, 2015

How many years have we been round this topic?

If you have lived in Thailand for many years as have numbers of TV members...we all know the roads are lethal.

I have yet to see a satisfactory explanation, nor a sensible solution for the carnage, Sure under age drivers, sure bike riders with neither sobriety nor training, sure mobile phones, sure lax policing etc etc....But nothing for me explains what happens in a Thai person's head when they get into and onto vehicle. My wife is clever, level headed, has a UK Driving licence..passed a test....runs profitable businesses....but she still stops in the middle of the road for no reason, some days waits for 5 minutes to turn right with indicator, sometimes turns right in front of oncoming traffic with no indicator, stops for a green light, drives through a red light and says she has to drive because she is afraid of me driving...............I can only put it down to some deep seated primeval thing...No cars in Thailand for a million years, no cars in the US GB etc for 100 years....yet eventually the US/European etc monkeys managed to master the skill to mostly avoid self immolation. Now I take the children to/from school every day ......4 minute drive...never a day when a youth on a bike does not shoot out from a soi without looking, never a day when someone does not crash a red light and that is broad daylight, up country...............I don't think bribery, police, state of roads etc are the explanation; but I don't know what is!!

chainarong · February 26, 2015

After three years driving here without an accident (5000 Km/month) and installing a dash cam. I agree with most of the comments in the rant above. However I find that the root of the problem is that bad drivers are allowed to drive, even after blatant offences. No helmet? Ok walk to school, your parents can get the bike back tonight... and so on. In Europe many cities earn a huge income just from parking fines. Why Thailand hasn't latched on to this I can't imagine, 'tis the Thai way I guess.

The juggling act is disposable income, not many could keep paying fines, same as in lots of things in Thai from power bills water bills to parking tickets any penalty like impounding the vehicle only makes it harder for them to survive, most don't pay anyway.

Waldemar · February 26, 2015

As long as I will see the advertisement of Toyota, Nissan, Isuzu etc, teaching the people that street racing with their cars is fun, I don't believe that is gonna get changed.

selftaopath · February 27, 2015

One answer is strict and impartial enforcement of the law. This is the problem and it sits on the desk of RTP.

As I "see it" there is NO "R" in RTP. Unless of course it stands for "rat bastards." lol

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