Daffy D Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 (edited) Driving back last evening saw some movement and dim lights ahead. Thought it was the usual collection of bikes without lights and people and dogs at the road side . Wasn't till I switched to main beam did I realize it was a ruddy great bus doing a 3 point turn in road Have deleted the audio from the clip to protect sensitive ears Edited May 11, 2015 by Daffy D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP1 Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Didn't notice any hazards on this video. What did you expect the bus to wait till morning before it turns? Lack of road warning signs, during the night, is a bigger hazard in Thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cumgranosalum Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 It worries me that there are people driving in Thailand who are taken by surprise by this sort of thing......it really shouldn't come as a surprise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_smith237 Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Yup... A good example of some of the idiotic maneuvers we see here. Many drivers over here have little concept of visibility or lack of it and consequence. Fortunately the Op was switched on to such possiblilities... A good reminder for us all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE1 Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 I also notice the lines in the information lines in the middle of the road are never to be trusted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickJ Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Driving will be an Olyimbic Event in the upcoming Bangkok Games.....its just a matter of working out the categories so they seen fair for rhe rest of rhe world.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_smith237 Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 I very rarely drive at night... usually because I've consumed wine or a beer with dinner. I guess that in Thailand many others driving at night have consumed ! This means at night my Wife drives (no alcohol consumption)... She's been driving in Bangkok since she was 15, She's never performed a test yet somehow has a licence - I'm astonished, but thats the way it is here. How many people (Thai's) driving in Thailand have actually taken a lesson or a half decent test? If your Wife drives, did she ever take a test? your Thai friends ? and really how good was that test anyway? When alone I get a taxi - this poses its own lottery of 'get home safely'... 10% of the time the taxi ride home makes me feel a dash uncomfortable - Taxi driver issues, safety etc has been discussed extensively in other threads - from my point of view sometimes taxi drivers are down right dangerous... a necessary negative when living here ?... probably.. Anyway.... back to my point... My Wife's driving isn't terrible, but its 'Thai' driving if that makes any sense without seeming like a Thai basher (it makes sense to me, I've lived here most of my adult life). I do see some common issues - sense of space being the greatest issue... many seem to 'hold' in the blind spot of another car and generally seem not to predict possible / potential events. This could be said of Thai's walking around in the street. Spatial awareness of others seem be lacking over here more so than many other capital cities (I mention capital cities only because we must compare like for like - there is no point comparing Bkk to my quiet little UK countryside village). ----- Slightly off topic: Lets Face it - As a Western Male in Thailand any topic on driving standards is likely to either end up as racist or sexist. I've had the 'sexist' conversations with taxi drivers throughout Asia... I've had the 'racist' conversation with other countrymen regarding the standard of driving in pretty much every country outside of the UK. We Brits think we poop rose petals when it comes to driving standards, for the most part the driver education the majority Western countries is rather decent - again, not a bash against Thailand, just a point many would agree with. ----- I would like to be fair.. Accidents happen anywhere. In the UK a very close friend driving to her work place (a Primary School) had a an accident. The Van driver had exceeded hours, in court later testified that he was also using his radio and simply did not make the corner. The ensuing head on collision took my dear friends life less than 2 months after she was married. A tragedy can strike anywhere at any time.... BUT: Without wishing to bash driving in Thailand which seems impossible because we are discussing driving in Thailand !!... I see some very silly things happening here. Some extreme carelessness, so absolute stupidity. I've tried to counter as much of this as possible by not riding bikes and by driving solid cars. But, I see lorries making a turn in Bangkok, sometimes they go a little too fast, I've seen reports of the Container Truck tipping over.. The lorry not stopping... Again, in the Interest of 'Balance' - one of the aspects I do enjoy about driving in Thailand... The lack of 'direct aggression'... by that I mean horn blasting, hand signals, people shouting at each other etc... That said, I consider people quite aggressive drivers, blocking others, deliberately not giving way, cutting people off... Driving here really is a social enigma... ----- So.. Big Question: Is it Safe? Night time? - IMO Well much less so, especially outside of the city / town... in town the speeds are slow enough (usually) not to create major life threatening issues when in another car... Outside of the town, cars travel fast which means when drunk, dangerous... Thus: In the Day time... visibility is generally clear enough to maintain safe awareness. ---- Digressing a little.. A bin lorry didn't stop in the UK recently. For reasons of balance this must also be mentioned. The Bin Lorry killed 6 people... See! accidents happen anywhere... However - The big question really is: How much more likely is it that something like this has a serious effect on my [or your] life here in Thailand compared to living back home (where you came from our could be). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zyphodb Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 I live in rural Isaan, driving at night is a complete no no unless you have a deathwish, vehicles & animals including Elephants, of all shapes & sizes with no lights, coming at you from all directions mostly off their faces on Lao Chow, (not the animals it's to be hoped). A very bad place to be driving after dark..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace of Pop Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 If you took that GUNJ off the Window it might help.I prefer night driving personally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rdrokit Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Problem of driving at night is that a lot of people out drive their headlights and most of them do not even know what out driving their headlights mean or how to figure it out.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T_Dog Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Those buses have hazard lights, and the driver just did not turn them on. I have noticed that Thai drivers in general are extremely hesitant to use hazard flashers when stopped and they will just turn on a left directional signal. Not sure what they think the hazard flashers are for but this would have been an obvious time to use them. Glad the OP saw the bus in time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daffy D Posted May 12, 2015 Author Share Posted May 12, 2015 I've been here long enough to know about local driving standards and while I might say nothing surprises me any more there always seems to be another one round the corner. With the bus maneuvering across the road the simple act of turning on the interior lights, the lighted windows would have shown other motorists what was ahead. Seems my expectations are obviously still too high Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fullstop Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 (edited) I bet that bike rider was pissed off at the high beams shining in his mirrors for so long .... Oh! Hang on...this is Thailand...he probably didn't have any mirrors. Carry on... Edited May 13, 2015 by Fullstop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fullstop Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 <script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script> I also notice the lines in the information lines in the middle of the road are never to be trusted. What? "Information lines"? On a road? "Lines in lines"??? I'll have what you're smoking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emilymat Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Those buses have hazard lights, and the driver just did not turn them on. I have noticed that Thai drivers in general are extremely hesitant to use hazard flashers when stopped and they will just turn on a left directional signal. Not sure what they think the hazard flashers are for but this would have been an obvious time to use them. Glad the OP saw the bus in time. The hazard flashers are to use when double parking on main roads!. I'm sure that's what they are taught. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannot Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Problem of driving at night is that a lot of people out drive their headlights and most of them do not even know what out driving their headlights mean or how to figure it out.... Thats cuz they dont freaking have any!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liquorice Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 When alone I get a taxi - this poses its own lottery of 'get home safely'... 10% of the time the taxi ride home makes me feel a dash uncomfortable - Taxi driver issues, safety etc has been discussed extensively in other threads - from my point of view sometimes taxi drivers are down right dangerous... a necessary negative when living here ?... probably.. Teeth marks in the front headrest are a visual warning sign not to take that taxi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liquorice Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 With the bus maneuvering across the road the simple act of turning on the interior lights, the lighted windows would have shown other motorists what was ahead. The problem with turning on interior lights is that it then restricts the outside view especially at night and while reversing. As he was creating a potential hazard to other motorists, it would seem logical to turn on the hazard warning lights. But that would be being thoughtful to other motorists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernphil Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 I live in rural Isaan, driving at night is a complete no no unless you have a deathwish, vehicles & animals including Elephants, of all shapes & sizes with no lights, coming at you from all directions mostly off their faces on Lao Chow, (not the animals it's to be hoped). A very bad place to be driving after dark..... Funny you should mention elephants without lights on. About 8 years ago when I lived in Hua-Hin ,coming home from the pub one night along kang klong road was a red light up high ,it was a 'phant with a light tied to its back side, and what a good idea , large grey beast taking up most of the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnehaha Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 I very rarely drive at night... usually because I've consumed wine or a beer with dinner. I guess that in Thailand many others driving at night have consumed ! This means at night my Wife drives (no alcohol consumption)... She's been driving in Bangkok since she was 15, She's never performed a test yet somehow has a licence - I'm astonished, but thats the way it is here. How many people (Thai's) driving in Thailand have actually taken a lesson or a half decent test? If your Wife drives, did she ever take a test? your Thai friends ? and really how good was that test anyway? When alone I get a taxi - this poses its own lottery of 'get home safely'... 10% of the time the taxi ride home makes me feel a dash uncomfortable - Taxi driver issues, safety etc has been discussed extensively in other threads - from my point of view sometimes taxi drivers are down right dangerous... a necessary negative when living here ?... probably.. Anyway.... back to my point... My Wife's driving isn't terrible, but its 'Thai' driving if that makes any sense without seeming like a Thai basher (it makes sense to me, I've lived here most of my adult life). I do see some common issues - sense of space being the greatest issue... many seem to 'hold' in the blind spot of another car and generally seem not to predict possible / potential events. This could be said of Thai's walking around in the street. Spatial awareness of others seem be lacking over here more so than many other capital cities (I mention capital cities only because we must compare like for like - there is no point comparing Bkk to my quiet little UK countryside village). ----- Slightly off topic: Lets Face it - As a Western Male in Thailand any topic on driving standards is likely to either end up as racist or sexist. I've had the 'sexist' conversations with taxi drivers throughout Asia... I've had the 'racist' conversation with other countrymen regarding the standard of driving in pretty much every country outside of the UK. We Brits think we poop rose petals when it comes to driving standards, for the most part the driver education the majority Western countries is rather decent - again, not a bash against Thailand, just a point many would agree with. ----- I would like to be fair.. Accidents happen anywhere. In the UK a very close friend driving to her work place (a Primary School) had a an accident. The Van driver had exceeded hours, in court later testified that he was also using his radio and simply did not make the corner. The ensuing head on collision took my dear friends life less than 2 months after she was married. A tragedy can strike anywhere at any time.... BUT: Without wishing to bash driving in Thailand which seems impossible because we are discussing driving in Thailand !!... I see some very silly things happening here. Some extreme carelessness, so absolute stupidity. I've tried to counter as much of this as possible by not riding bikes and by driving solid cars. But, I see lorries making a turn in Bangkok, sometimes they go a little too fast, I've seen reports of the Container Truck tipping over.. The lorry not stopping... Again, in the Interest of 'Balance' - one of the aspects I do enjoy about driving in Thailand... The lack of 'direct aggression'... by that I mean horn blasting, hand signals, people shouting at each other etc... That said, I consider people quite aggressive drivers, blocking others, deliberately not giving way, cutting people off... Driving here really is a social enigma... ----- So.. Big Question: Is it Safe? Night time? - IMO Well much less so, especially outside of the city / town... in town the speeds are slow enough (usually) not to create major life threatening issues when in another car... Outside of the town, cars travel fast which means when drunk, dangerous... Thus: In the Day time... visibility is generally clear enough to maintain safe awareness. ---- Digressing a little.. A bin lorry didn't stop in the UK recently. For reasons of balance this must also be mentioned. The Bin Lorry killed 6 people... See! accidents happen anywhere... However - The big question really is: How much more likely is it that something like this has a serious effect on my [or your] life here in Thailand compared to living back home (where you came from our could be). Well reasoned response. I agree there is very different 'sense of space' - spatial abilities, sense of personal space, etc. These affect how people move about - on foot or in a vehicle, as you well pointed out. In general, I summarize the predominant attitude among many Thai drivers vs western countries drivers as... Thais drive thinking "you are not going to hit me". Others drive thinking "I am not going to hit you". One driving maneuver that is common here as well as California is the rolling stop. It is the move where you inch out or roll through an intersection or the like with a slow roll that is fast enough so others can see you are doing it and they need to stop or allow you to go and yet you are slow enough to stop immediately to allow for others to pass and avoid any collision. In California it is done at stop signs where there is no traffic. Here is is a necessary move that everyone uses. In fact, if you don't you mess up the flow of traffic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jitar Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 I live in rural Isaan, driving at night is a complete no no unless you have a deathwish, vehicles & animals including Elephants, of all shapes & sizes with no lights, coming at you from all directions mostly off their faces on Lao Chow, (not the animals it's to be hoped). A very bad place to be driving after dark..... Funny you should mention elephants without lights on. About 8 years ago when I lived in Hua-Hin ,coming home from the pub one night along kang klong road was a red light up high ,it was a 'phant with a light tied to its back side, and what a good idea , large grey beast taking up most of the road. The elephants around restaurants & markets at night often have a little red light tied to their tail. Brings a whole new meaning to tail light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoshowJones Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Those buses have hazard lights, and the driver just did not turn them on. I have noticed that Thai drivers in general are extremely hesitant to use hazard flashers when stopped and they will just turn on a left directional signal. Not sure what they think the hazard flashers are for but this would have been an obvious time to use them. Glad the OP saw the bus in time. The hazard flashers are to use when double parking on main roads!. I'm sure that's what they are taught. or to go straight ahead at traffic lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maswov Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Lack of road warning signs, during the night, is a bigger hazard in Thailand. I don't think it would be cost effective to put a "Thai Driver Ahead' sign every 50 meters or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maswov Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Problem of driving at night is that a lot of people out drive their headlights and most of them do not even know what out driving their headlights mean or how to figure it out.... I don't know what that means either. Can you translate to English? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
how241 Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Yup... A good example of some of the idiotic maneuvers we see here. Many drivers over here have little concept of visibility or lack of it and consequence. Fortunately the Op was switched on to such possiblilities... A good reminder for us all. +1...Good video, thanks ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onionluke Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 I very rarely drive at night... usually because I've consumed wine or a beer with dinner. I guess that in Thailand many others driving at night have consumed ! This means at night my Wife drives (no alcohol consumption)... She's been driving in Bangkok since she was 15, She's never performed a test yet somehow has a licence - I'm astonished, but thats the way it is here. How many people (Thai's) driving in Thailand have actually taken a lesson or a half decent test? If your Wife drives, did she ever take a test? your Thai friends ? and really how good was that test anyway? When alone I get a taxi - this poses its own lottery of 'get home safely'... 10% of the time the taxi ride home makes me feel a dash uncomfortable - Taxi driver issues, safety etc has been discussed extensively in other threads - from my point of view sometimes taxi drivers are down right dangerous... a necessary negative when living here ?... probably.. Anyway.... back to my point... My Wife's driving isn't terrible, but its 'Thai' driving if that makes any sense without seeming like a Thai basher (it makes sense to me, I've lived here most of my adult life). I do see some common issues - sense of space being the greatest issue... many seem to 'hold' in the blind spot of another car and generally seem not to predict possible / potential events. This could be said of Thai's walking around in the street. Spatial awareness of others seem be lacking over here more so than many other capital cities (I mention capital cities only because we must compare like for like - there is no point comparing Bkk to my quiet little UK countryside village). ----- Slightly off topic: Lets Face it - As a Western Male in Thailand any topic on driving standards is likely to either end up as racist or sexist. I've had the 'sexist' conversations with taxi drivers throughout Asia... I've had the 'racist' conversation with other countrymen regarding the standard of driving in pretty much every country outside of the UK. We Brits think we poop rose petals when it comes to driving standards, for the most part the driver education the majority Western countries is rather decent - again, not a bash against Thailand, just a point many would agree with. ----- I would like to be fair.. Accidents happen anywhere. In the UK a very close friend driving to her work place (a Primary School) had a an accident. The Van driver had exceeded hours, in court later testified that he was also using his radio and simply did not make the corner. The ensuing head on collision took my dear friends life less than 2 months after she was married. A tragedy can strike anywhere at any time.... BUT: Without wishing to bash driving in Thailand which seems impossible because we are discussing driving in Thailand !!... I see some very silly things happening here. Some extreme carelessness, so absolute stupidity. I've tried to counter as much of this as possible by not riding bikes and by driving solid cars. But, I see lorries making a turn in Bangkok, sometimes they go a little too fast, I've seen reports of the Container Truck tipping over.. The lorry not stopping... Again, in the Interest of 'Balance' - one of the aspects I do enjoy about driving in Thailand... The lack of 'direct aggression'... by that I mean horn blasting, hand signals, people shouting at each other etc... That said, I consider people quite aggressive drivers, blocking others, deliberately not giving way, cutting people off... Driving here really is a social enigma... ----- So.. Big Question: Is it Safe? Night time? - IMO Well much less so, especially outside of the city / town... in town the speeds are slow enough (usually) not to create major life threatening issues when in another car... Outside of the town, cars travel fast which means when drunk, dangerous... Thus: In the Day time... visibility is generally clear enough to maintain safe awareness. ---- Digressing a little.. A bin lorry didn't stop in the UK recently. For reasons of balance this must also be mentioned. The Bin Lorry killed 6 people... See! accidents happen anywhere... However - The big question really is: How much more likely is it that something like this has a serious effect on my [or your] life here in Thailand compared to living back home (where you came from our could be). The Glasgow bin lorry accident happened in the afternoon , the driver had a seizure and his mates in the cab couldn't stop the truck from running away.Terrible accident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dotpoom Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 (edited) How about when you come around a bend on a dimly lit (or not lit at all) road only to find yourself on top of a broken down vehicle with the only warning being a bit of a branch of a tree at it's rear end. Edited May 13, 2015 by dotpoom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grin Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 For me a hazard for night driving is non-standard traffic signal lights or traffic lights that are obscured by other lights or signs near intersections. I've seen traffic lights that are halfway between red and amber, lights that are too dim to notice until you are right up on them, etc. On routes that I drive with some regularity I pretty much know what to expect but on new routes I usually have to drive a bit slower at night. Grin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thailandforumaddict Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 What is your dashcam ? where did you buy it ? Quality seem good <3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace of Pop Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Most folks create night driving hazards with tinted screens , as the Video shows, add 40% extra light and one can see the Bus, i know im boring with my detest of tint, but dont want folks here hurt for no reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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