Girlfriend killed as Bangkok cop crosses bridge on motorcycle - despite ban

[Tchooptip]

Losing a girlfriend is tragic, seeing her killed even more so. He will be going through hell. The grief will probably stay with him forever.

EVERYONE breaks laws, especially traffic laws. In Thailand and in every other country. I do it often, speed (when safe), forget to wear my seatbelt, sometimes am too lazy to put on a helmet for short trips. I used to drink drive, but taxis are so cheap and plentiful in Pattaya I have changed that habit.

He didn't intend to kill his girlfriend. No need to de badge him or bang him up for riding a motorbike on a bridge that allowed this anyway up until recently.

A tragic ACCIDENT.

Defending the indefensible.

Yes some like Roomuck feel more like having a lawyer soul than an attorney's one

[DM07]

So let me get this straight: he is a police officer (who should know better), taking his girlfriend on a ride with his "big bike", going over a bridge (which is forbidden) and she gets killed in an accident, where he obviously made a driving- mistake...and now I have to sympathetic about him?

R.I.P. his girlfriend and condolences to her family and friends.

But him?

Throw the book at him! (well...everybody can dream!)

[Moonmoon]

Another Royal Thailand Police officer gives a demonstration of the professionalism and respect for the law that the Thai police are famous for.

And this irresponsible fool is not only a police officer, but allowed to carry a fire arm. Impressive.

as much as I pity the guy for his plight, then again he had upheld the law which he had sworn to protect, then maybe his gf would still be around?

RIP .

[iReason]

I hope the deceased's family sues the <deleted> out of the lawbreaking cop and the RTP.

[ZeldasCavern]

It's not ignorance that kills them, it's stubbornness...

Na, It's culmination of the two !!!

[trogers]

Unfortunately this updated ban seems to have made no difference to the number of motor cycles crossing bridges and fly-overs. Did anyone think it would? The flyover in Bangkapi outside the Mall is a prime example of this continuing problem, and not a policeman in sight!

Thus, my post #01

I got busted a few times riding a motorcycle over bridges and overpasses but I still kept doing it because sometimes it was the only or shortest way from point A to B.

Heard the same reason about shortest way often from those who cross the roads under an overhead bridge...

[Gweiloman]

Unfortunately this updated ban seems to have made no difference to the number of motor cycles crossing bridges and fly-overs. Did anyone think it would? The flyover in Bangkapi outside the Mall is a prime example of this continuing problem, and not a policeman in sight!

Thus, my post #01

I got busted a few times riding a motorcycle over bridges and overpasses but I still kept doing it because sometimes it was the only or shortest way from point A to B.

Heard the same reason about shortest way often from those who cross the roads under an overhead bridge...

Do you ride a bike here in Bangkok? No? That figures......

[Chicog]

IMO though he shouldn't be de badged and banged up for an accident, especially in Thailand where the general population has a very laid back attitude to obeying traffic rules.

If he caused the death of a young woman by being drunk, damned right he should!

[NoshowJones]

Roommuck. If you have started driving or riding after having had in your own words "a few pints", you are 100% at

fault and should have the book thrown at you, heavily fined and banned for life for a start.

[antiscam]

Above the the law, as i am a policeman !

R.I P. your passenger.

Well said ! That's the sad truth in Thailand

[ThaiKneeTim]

BS..... You can't blame a whole cross section for the act of one person. I've never crashed on that bridge.

But then you probably drive with more care than the average Thai motorcyclist. Just today I've been into the big city only to be confronted by several motorcyclists driving down the wrong side of the road, including one coming towards me on the central strip of a dual carriageway. Then we have them weaving in and out of the traffic without so much as a backward glance.

Cutting across the road in front of me without signals or checking to see if I was there; it's almost as if they think they are on the roads alone, not giving a tinkers cuss about the consequences of their deplorable driving habits.

If I had 50 Baht for every time I've had to take evasive action to avoid a collision with a motorcyclist I'd be able to retire early.

[Dogmatix]

Another Royal Thailand Police officer gives a demonstration of the professionalism and respect for the law that the Thai police are famous for.

And this irresponsible fool is not only a police officer, but allowed to carry a fire arm. Impressive.

In fact most cops only have authorisation to carry a gun on duty while in uniform. They need s Por 12 concealed carry permit off duty and out of uniform which is only given to plain clothes cops who need to carry guns for their work. Otherwise they can go to prison but they are normally allowed to get away with carrying guns around sll the time.

[jackinthebox]

Yeah, why is Thailand the only country that doesn't allow motorcycles on bridges? I've driven in other countries on long bridges, high bridges, bridge/tunnel combinations, the Oakland bay bridge with metal grates for roadway, bridges with grooves in them, bridges over 1000' gorges, bridges on mountain overpasses but driving on a straight, flat 12 meter high overpass bridge in Thailand is illegal. Another revenue making scheme?

They let underpowered cars or unroadworthy cars or trucks use bridges but not a 1600 cc motorcycle.

Even with a gps programmed to avoid freeways it is damn near impossible to drive in large cities in Thailand on a bike and avoid all the illegal bridges. I wouldn't doubt most of the motorcycle accidents in bridges are caused by bikers trying to avoid the police.

The accident comes just three weeks after police announced a crackdown on bikes riding on many city bridges, overpasses and in tunnels.

(...)

Before Songkran, police checkpoints on this bridge resulted in many bikers turning back against oncoming traffic to avoid paying fines

This accident is tragic IMHO because the rule here (no motorbikes on bridges and overpasses) is completely useless. You may ban 50cc Mopeds or bicyles on fast lanes or motorways, but a big bike (and even a 125cc "Motorsaay") can easily "flow" with the moving city-traffic. So why ban them? And why buliding checkpoints and barriers that are dangerous and cause addicents. Better crackdown on riders without helmets, driving licences, with vehicels in bad conditiona etc!

[bangon04]

Who says Thai police are above the law?

[Mudcrab]

The firing of the pistol into the air was necessary to ward of evil spirits that wanted to enter the body of.........

The firing of the pistol into the air was necessary...because he missed the truck.

[Mudcrab]

This incident will be used as justification for the 'Bikes on Bridges' ban when being on the bridge doesn't appear to have any relevance.

Why are bikers all over the world allowed to use bridges like this one (except in high winds, when high-side vehicles & others are also restricted) and underpasses and do so without incident, millions of times every day, but the Thai authorities appear to have trouble with bikes using them?

We don't have any bridges like this in my locality and I almost never go to Bangkok so I don't know how Thai bikers behave on them - I only know that their general behaviour on the roads is pretty poor.

I don't think the problem is with bridges and underpasses, more to do with the death wish riding habits of Thai motorcyclists.

If you can't get riders to drive sensibly in a high risk area then the only other option is to ban them, and this officer has demonstrated that it is a wholly sensible move.

I think it was the truck that killed her.

Unfortunately Thailand has a lot of people on motorbikes. If you have an accident on a bike you wreck yourself, usually if you are in a car you just wreck the car.

80% of Thais who die on Thai roads are on a bike. If they were in cars the road toll would be considerably less, I reckon, less than half of what it is now.

(And the traffic would be considerably worse)

The truck was a secondary factor in this tragedy. Hitting the barrier was the primary cause...she may have already passed away before the truck hit her.

The cop is responsible for this - no-one else.

[Nobb]

All evidence removed so that this law breaking policeman will not have to go to jail even thought he killed his girl friend. New junta in control but the police and army run wild. Kill and murder but never convicted!

[lostinisaan]

The guy just lost his girlfriend and maybe saw when a truck rolled over her body. And there are people who talk about alcohol, speeding and other nonsense?

How do you live with such a tragic accident? And does it turn you on when you write something bad about a guy who's already fragged?

I was drunk quite a few times on a big bike and speeding. I only had good luck that nobody died.

RIP to the deceased.

It was karma...........

And...you were obviously stupid also, to have riden your bike while drunk!

I don't regret one minute of it. Sorry for being so stupid. We're doing 180 km'h in the city where i was born.

i love to drive fast and doing 280 km/h on a German Autobahn is much different, but could also turn out bad.

I am stupid and I'm happy that i know how stupid others can be.

[lostinisaan]

This incident will be used as justification for the 'Bikes on Bridges' ban when being on the bridge doesn't appear to have any relevance.

Why are bikers all over the world allowed to use bridges like this one (except in high winds, when high-side vehicles & others are also restricted) and underpasses and do so without incident, millions of times every day, but the Thai authorities appear to have trouble with bikes using them?

We don't have any bridges like this in my locality and I almost never go to Bangkok so I don't know how Thai bikers behave on them - I only know that their general behaviour on the roads is pretty poor.

I don't think the problem is with bridges and underpasses, more to do with the death wish riding habits of Thai motorcyclists.

If you can't get riders to drive sensibly in a high risk area then the only other option is to ban them, and this officer has demonstrated that it is a wholly sensible move.

I think it was the truck that killed her.

Unfortunately Thailand has a lot of people on motorbikes. If you have an accident on a bike you wreck yourself, usually if you are in a car you just wreck the car.

80% of Thais who die on Thai roads are on a bike. If they were in cars the road toll would be considerably less, I reckon, less than half of what it is now.

(And the traffic would be considerably worse)

The truck was a secondary factor in this tragedy. Hitting the barrier was the primary cause...she may have already passed away before the truck hit her.

The cop is responsible for this - no-one else.

No assumptions, please. She might have been well aware that the truck was coming. It creates tears in my eyes to think about it.

RIP i hope that there's something much better after life than some weird posts on a forum like this one.

[Lingba]

someone who is supposed to be enforcing the law, clearly violates it....Nice example you set...and now the price that was paid.

[dbrenn]

Cops ride motorbikes on toll ways all the time. They drink in bars in full uniform too. They think that the law doesn't apply to them and hold it in contempt.

[Roomuck]

Roommuck. If you have started driving or riding after having had in your own words "a few pints", you are 100% at

fault and should have the book thrown at you, heavily fined and banned for life for a start.

I know some people seriously oppose drink driving. I understand why.

But the reality is most people who do do it, do so without ever having a problem. I am not talking about being blind drunk, but having a few beers (which puts you over the limit).

I did it twice every week in Australia, playing in team pool comps. If I had to pay for taxis it would have been too expensive. So the choice was to go and have fun in a team bonding experience ( winning numerous grand finals, having some real times AND LIVING LIFE) with good mates or sit at home watching the idiot box. I always drove safer than normal, never speeding etc (for fear of being pulled over). Hundreds of times, without a single incident.

I did it for a while in Pattaya also, but a few mates got caught and the punishment is being put in a cell until the courts open so you can be bailed out. I realized it was stupid, because even it wasn't my fault and someone ran into me, I would be screwed. And the fact that taxis are dirt cheap here. I now have a regular taxi driver and it costs me 200-300 baht depending on where I am, so the price of 2 or 3 beers.

In Australia the taxis would have cost me more than the price of the beer.

If you are sensible about it there isn't a problem. The problems are caused by idiots who can't handle their grog and then drive like idiots, often showing off with a carload of people ( or in this case maybe racing his other mates on a bike).

Or maybe this cop was cold stone sober. In Oz they reckon 60% of all fatal accidents are caused by people who HAVENT had a drink.

Maybe he hit something on the road. Sh.t happens.

[Happy Grumpy]

Above the the law, as i am a policeman !

Above the the law, as i am a Thai!

Fixed that for you.

[Happy Grumpy]

Cops ride motorbikes on toll ways all the time. They drink in bars in full uniform too. They think that the law doesn't apply to them and hold it in contempt.

It doesn't.

Only the law of nature applies to them. Almost all Thais hold that in contempt.

[moe666]

Too much nonsense in the first page post, you do not know this guy or the real ciecumstances about the accident but the silly post have to come in a deluge.

[NoshowJones]

Roommuck. If you have started driving or riding after having had in your own words "a few pints", you are 100% at

fault and should have the book thrown at you, heavily fined and banned for life for a start.

I know some people seriously oppose drink driving. I understand why.

But the reality is most people who do do it, do so without ever having a problem. I am not talking about being blind drunk, but having a few beers (which puts you over the limit).

I did it twice every week in Australia, playing in team pool comps. If I had to pay for taxis it would have been too expensive. So the choice was to go and have fun in a team bonding experience ( winning numerous grand finals, having some real times AND LIVING LIFE) with good mates or sit at home watching the idiot box. I always drove safer than normal, never speeding etc (for fear of being pulled over). Hundreds of times, without a single incident.

I did it for a while in Pattaya also, but a few mates got caught and the punishment is being put in a cell until the courts open so you can be bailed out. I realized it was stupid, because even it wasn't my fault and someone ran into me, I would be screwed. And the fact that taxis are dirt cheap here. I now have a regular taxi driver and it costs me 200-300 baht depending on where I am, so the price of 2 or 3 beers.

In Australia the taxis would have cost me more than the price of the beer.

If you are sensible about it there isn't a problem. The problems are caused by idiots who can't handle their grog and then drive like idiots, often showing off with a carload of people ( or in this case maybe racing his other mates on a bike).

Or maybe this cop was cold stone sober. In Oz they reckon 60% of all fatal accidents are caused by people who HAVENT had a drink.

Maybe he hit something on the road. Sh.t happens.

I understand what you are saying, and I believe you when you say that you were never speeding, and I also believe that 60% of fatal accidents are caused

by people who have not had a drink. but what is the chances of driving while over the limit, and you come up against a sudden emergency, someone walks on to the road without looking, or a driver pulls out of a side street, how are your reactions going to be? There is no excuse for driving over the limit.

[Pigdog747]

The guy just lost his girlfriend and maybe saw when a truck rolled over her body. And there are people who talk about alcohol, speeding and other nonsense?

How do you live with such a tragic accident? And does it turn you on when you write something bad about a guy who's already fragged?

I was drunk quite a few times on a big bike and speeding. I only had good luck that nobody died.

RIP to the deceased.

It was karma...........

And...you were obviously stupid also, to have riden your bike while drunk!

Yes, driving Drunk was foolish but we all did stupid/foolish things when we were young and we learnt from them

[balo]

I know it's a silly question , after all he is the law, but did they wear helmets... ?

[Caveat Emptor]

I had a near head on with a vehicle coming the wrong way on a one way street. The driver was BIB in uniform and his attitude was " you go back, I am police. "

[Roomuck]

Roommuck. If you have started driving or riding after having had in your own words "a few pints", you are 100% at

fault and should have the book thrown at you, heavily fined and banned for life for a start.

I know some people seriously oppose drink driving. I understand why.

But the reality is most people who do do it, do so without ever having a problem. I am not talking about being blind drunk, but having a few beers (which puts you over the limit).

I did it twice every week in Australia, playing in team pool comps. If I had to pay for taxis it would have been too expensive. So the choice was to go and have fun in a team bonding experience ( winning numerous grand finals, having some real times AND LIVING LIFE) with good mates or sit at home watching the idiot box. I always drove safer than normal, never speeding etc (for fear of being pulled over). Hundreds of times, without a single incident.

I did it for a while in Pattaya also, but a few mates got caught and the punishment is being put in a cell until the courts open so you can be bailed out. I realized it was stupid, because even it wasn't my fault and someone ran into me, I would be screwed. And the fact that taxis are dirt cheap here. I now have a regular taxi driver and it costs me 200-300 baht depending on where I am, so the price of 2 or 3 beers.

In Australia the taxis would have cost me more than the price of the beer.

If you are sensible about it there isn't a problem. The problems are caused by idiots who can't handle their grog and then drive like idiots, often showing off with a carload of people ( or in this case maybe racing his other mates on a bike).

Or maybe this cop was cold stone sober. In Oz they reckon 60% of all fatal accidents are caused by people who HAVENT had a drink.

Maybe he hit something on the road. Sh.t happens.

I understand what you are saying, and I believe you when you say that you were never speeding, and I also believe that 60% of fatal accidents are caused

by people who have not had a drink. but what is the chances of driving while over the limit, and you come up against a sudden emergency, someone walks on to the road without looking, or a driver pulls out of a side street, how are your reactions going to be? There is no excuse for driving over the limit.

You are right, I don't do it anymore.

But,

I don't regret that I did it as I did it safely and lived more. I can honestly say I was a much safer driver after a few beers because I concentrated more and drove slower, always indicated, always drove on the quietest back roads etc, did nothing to give police reason to pull me over. Maybe lives were saved because of this.

I believe I can drive unaffected at about double the limit. It is very low .05.

The limit is too low for me personally IMO but maybe right for some people. The law has to be the same for everyone.

Heaps of people, Thai and farang do it everyday in Pattaya. I had an American mate who was in his eighties, with one working eye who drunk drove just about every afternoon. Thinking of him, and others like him put me off riding a push bike in Pattaya. He never had an accident, and did really enjoy the last few years of his life.

I am out on it tomorrow arvo and evening, some people think it is strange I now arrive in a taxi (I don't like motorbike taxis, to me they are more dangerous than driving myself).

I reckon most afternoon dark side drinkers drive/ride. Many are old with not the best site. They all do seem to manage though.