Do Thai people know how to drive safely?

[joeyg]

2 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

No one living here would be surprised on reports and studies from western countries,  it really depends on as said how comfortable you are driving here,  an advisory answer to anyone's concerns are simple.

The referents to old people is insulting to say the least.   

Thank you.  I'm old but still do some sparring and work out pretty hard.  Not much scares me really.  The roads and especially riding motorcycles here scares the s$$t out of me.  I road bikes since I was 14.  Several cross country trips in the USA and through Canada.  I love bikes.  Sad living in Thailand I'll never ride one again.  I'm "going with my gut on this one."

[Kwasaki]

15 minutes ago, joeyg said:

Thank you.  I'm old but still do some sparring and work out pretty hard.  Not much scares me really.  The roads and especially riding motorcycles here scares the s$$t out of me.  I road bikes since I was 14.  Several cross country trips in the USA and through Canada.  I love bikes.  Sad living in Thailand I'll never ride one again.  I'm "going with my gut on this one."

 

Well as one of your fellow countrymen said  " You have to know your limitations "  

 

It's funny l feel much safer here in most parts of Thailand riding my motorcycle more so than driving a car,  you can get out of way quicker.

l wouldn't and couldn't do the same my scoot though, that's for just knocking about village.

 

I'll ride em and drive em until l can't get on em or in em stuff what anyone thinks of my age.

[JAFO]

59 minutes ago, joeyg said:

I've got 20/20 at 64 and have done some racing in "The Day" also.  Certainly not to your level of expertiseI'm sure. I'm quite physically fit and was an excellent albeit in my younger days somewhat aggressive driver.  If you are content driving here, great!  I try to stay out of the street here as much as possible, period.  In the past year I've seen 5 traffic fatalities in front of my face in Pattaya.

 

 I'm hard pressed to think of one I ever saw in the USA.

 

However, Happy Motoring!

 

Joeyg I hope you did not take my post as a comment at you, I tried to make it general.

 

Again everybody has different driving styles, skills and expectations of how others should drive to suit their comfort level but we both know that's not realistic. Every time we get in a vehicle here, or anywhere for that matter, the range of drivers skills is huge as is their driving attitude. Some are scared to death, others drive extremely aggressive with little regard. Some do not pay attention. Others have poor skills and some are very old. Its a challenge for sure. My dad who is now 80 was a race car driver(where I started) and now I see him and he drives very apprehensive and almost anxious. I asked him about it. He cited that he is older now and worries about misjudging things and has a hard time gauging speed. But he is 80. I guess my point is/was that as we all age we are far more critical of others crazy driving and coming here at a later age it can be overwhelming because we expect the same and its not. Also as you noted seeing someone die can be a huge wake up call. Pattaya must be hard because of the high level of congestion. I live up north in the mountains so I seldom see any wrecks. Most I see is someone got stuck in a ditch trying something they shouldn't have. However I was a volunteer fireman for years and I saw plenty of fatal accidents where we patrolled. Its always a shame. Thai people will learn,  I see this place in a transition period. For now, its suit up and let'er rip. 

[thai3]

12 hours ago, joeyg said:

My Lao girlfriends sister was just killed this morning driving her food cart home by a hit and run driver.  26 years old, one year old baby. If the family catches the driver outside Chonburi  he'll be crab food in some rice paddy.  As it should be.

 

 

On average one is killed about every 20 minutes, obviously it's not a priority as the govt only ever mentions the carnage at holiday times, they just don't care do they.

[BSJ]

Folks, you gotta stop worrying about it!  They where never tough to ride or drive in a manner which enhances their ability to follow rules or act safely.