German couple killed on motorcycle at Cha-Am U-turn

[slapout]

Most of the u turns built here are not built to include a wide enough divider between thru traffic going in opposite directions, to have a seperate u turn lane so traffic can make the uturn without danger and then get up to merging speed prior to entering main traffic flow.

 

Different ways are used by those schooled in different traffic flow design to ensure the most effecient, safe way to handle the different choices drivers will/can make, depending on the location.

Thailand does not seem to have a lot of people involved in sorting out traffic accident potential areas during the planing stage of construction much less correcting what was a rip off by many involved, to delet the funds provided into the pockets of those involved in the bids and construction of the work. That may be one of several reasons for the police escort they use while on the roadways and fly to get there.

[Psychic]

1 hour ago, Fookhaht said:

You just wait until all the oncoming u-turn vehicles have turned, and you can see your way clear.

What's so rocket-science about that?


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

And if the vehicles in the opposition direction do the same?

Nobody ever moves.

[Fookhaht]

29 minutes ago, Psychic said:

And if the vehicles in the opposition direction do the same?

Nobody ever moves.

Thais can't wait.  They'll be the first to move even if it endangers their own lives and all those around them.  Here's where they trust in Karma to the point of their undoing.  

However, your point is well-made.  The U-turns are death traps.  

Meanwhile, in this situation, be patient and at least protect yourself and your loved ones.  

Edited February 15, 2017 by Fookhaht

[gmac]

1 hour ago, Fookhaht said:

You just wait until all the oncoming u-turn vehicles have turned, and you can see your way clear.

What's so rocket-science about that?


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

Removed duplicated sentiment.

Edited February 15, 2017 by gmac

[Get Real]

7 hours ago, meatboy said:

people seem to believe that they are invincible [your referring to WHO]  when they choose to go or stay in thailand,say's you.

you need to GET REAL with a NEW BRAIN.

Transplantation successful! But I still live in the real world with the same definition of life.
Referring to all that are listed in the news everyday in different so called accidents or suicide attemps. Also to all the violence that nobody really have the knowledge about how much they can hit and kick on somebody before they might die. Just another accident, duh! Just don´t give me such easy things to reply. Just take a look at reality! For positive, and only you negative without a clue, so far.

Edited February 15, 2017 by Get Real

[ocddave]

U-Turns aren't the problem, the design of the U-Turns is though, they should have a lane that is blocked to traffic flowing, but allows the driver to make the U-Turn and then safely merge back with the flow of traffic. I know they have some of these here already, they should continue that design, and remove the dangerous ones.

[gdgbb]

6 hours ago, Mackstask said:

Looks like a built up area, no doubt the Honda Jazz driver was speeding. Thais! No perception of what might happen, always what won't happen.

No doubt you and your speculation will be way off.  It seems that the Germans had less awareness and perception than the Thai in this case.  "Germans!", to use your banal generalisation.

[Retiredandhappyhere]

A safer form of U-turn, recently installed on the dual carriageway (canal road) from Hua Hin to Cha-am is the one where a separate U-turn is provided for vehicles in each direction.  This means that vehicles using their U-turn coming from the opposite direction do not block the view of those using the other U-turn, placed some distance apart.  However, this does not stop inconsiderate vehicles and motor cycles from drawing alongside and in front, again blocking your view of oncoming traffic.  

 

So far, I have found the few round-a-bouts installed here to be a hazard as many vehicles simply ignore all the road markings and drive straight across at speed, not appreciating that vehicles already on the round-a-bout have preference. As in the West, they could work well, given proper education of all drivers.

 

As an aside, also a major hazard here are the number of  scooters without rear lights, even when the driver has a couple of kids on board. Do these people have no regard for their safety at all?  In most cases, a regular inspection of their scooter and a few baht for a replacement bulb is all that is required.  Last night, when travelling into Hua Hin from Palm Hills (about 9 km) I witnessed 7 scooters travelling without lights and the drivers with no helmets and often moving at speed.  One of them drove straight through a set of traffic lights showing 57 seconds before a light change.  Probably in a hurry to get home to his hammock but possibly heading for permanent residence in the local temple following cremation?

[oldgent]

RIP to the deceased. I just had a horrible thought what if the law decided to

change from driving on the left side to driving on the right side ?

was in Guernsey a few years back they had a great system at roundabouts

you took it in turns as to who went onto the roundabout, but it sure would not work in Thailand

[manarak]

14 hours ago, Carib said:

Getting rid of U-turns would help.

the cost would be hundreds of billions

[ocddave]

2 hours ago, Retiredandhappyhere said:

 One of them drove straight through a set of traffic lights showing 57 seconds before a light change.  Probably in a hurry to get home to his hammock but possibly heading for permanent residence in the local temple following cremation?

Daily occurrence here in Bangkok, I have seen police officers do it, motorcycles, and believe it or not a large brown/tan commuter bus that I see do it almost daily (Insane!). Best yet was while I was making a right hand turn from the right most lane, and Concrete truck behind me decides to pass me on the right at high speed while we are both making the turn, almost running right over my hood and passenger door, why? So he could get one vehicle more ahead than I was......so my wife, daughter, and my life aren't worth much to him, as he almost ran right over us. In America his CDL would be gone, and he would be sitting in a jail cell for driving to endanger.

[evadgib]

Having seen the footage I can confirm that SPEED was a significant factor, as was their decision to cross from L to R.

 

RIP to the deceased and condolences to their family.

[balo]

A 74 year old German on a motobike with his German wife in Thailand.  That just sounds  terribly wrong to me , why not pay someone to drive you around or rent a car. If you can't handle Thai traffiic and dangerous U.turns , don't do it! You need eyes in your neck and be 100% focused all the time , At that age you ask for problems. 

 

[bbbbooboo]

hmmmm..... and the slaughter on the thai killing fields(roads ) continues....

[bandito]

On ‎2‎/‎15‎/‎2017 at 4:55 AM, Carib said:

Getting rid of U-turns would help.

 

 Will not help.

Waiting your turn will help, not trying to jump till first place or blocking half the road trying to turn in oncoming traffic.

I make u-turns on a daily basis, 4 where I live, when I exit my soi and never have/had any problems because I wait, sometimes 10 minutes when there is heavy traffic.

I drive for over 40 yrs on Thai roads, no serious accidents.

Now 80 yrs old and still driving my motorcycle and car, daily.

 

[bandito]

6 hours ago, balo said:

A 74 year old German on a motobike with his German wife in Thailand.  That just sounds  terribly wrong to me , why not pay someone to drive you around or rent a car. If you can't handle Thai traffiic and dangerous U.turns , don't do it! You need eyes in your neck and be 100% focused all the time , At that age you ask for problems. 

 

 Age got nothing to do with it, experience will.

I am 80 yrs old and drive daily for over 40 (forty) yrs in Thai traffic with motorcycle and car.

It's the inexperienced Farang who is a danger in traffic here, driving motorcycles for the first time in their life and in South-East Asian traffic which is , to say the least, different.

They have a driving license of their home country and think that is the holy grail of driving.

This home license is totally worthless here regarding driving in Thai traffic, or in South-East Asia for that matter.

[Skeptic7]

22 hours ago, 01322521959 said:

Why not get rid of these u turns. Put something called roundabouts in and teach the Thais how to use them! Christ! Why don't the authorities look at my home country, the UK. You don't have all these dangerous u turns all over the place.


Sent from my i-mobile_i-STYLE_219 using Thaivisa Connect mobile app
 

Roundabouts?!? NO thanks. Gimme a U-TURN any day. 

[mettech]

I have noticed here in order to drive you have to be in a  good state of mind and always be ready for anything without being over excited by the traffic all around you. I call this Jungle Driving every thing go so confusion is there at all time and always be on the defensive .

So far so good but also not like these U-turn they are  a real danger.

So RIP for the couple that have lost their life while on holiday.

[geriatrickid]

On 2/14/2017 at 4:40 PM, Raymonddiaz said:

Very sad.RIP. This happens daily in LOS. How to stop the slaughtering?

I have watched the video; The Germans cut across 3 lanes at a slow speed. No helmets and improper clothing. They were hit broadside.  The speeding Thai motorist  was not paying attention and could have slowed down, He saw them, but didn't even brake. 

Equal responsibility to all parties.

[geriatrickid]

1 hour ago, bandito said:

 Will not help.

Waiting your turn will help, not trying to jump till first place or blocking half the road trying to turn in oncoming traffic.

I make u-turns on a daily basis, 4 where I live, when I exit my soi and never have/had any problems because I wait, sometimes 10 minutes when there is heavy traffic.

I drive for over 40 yrs on Thai roads, no serious accidents.

Now 80 yrs old and still driving my motorcycle and car, daily.

 

This road is poorly designed. It doubles as an autoroute and a local service road. It needs flyovers and traffic slowing in populated areas. Proper road design really is a foreign concept to Thailand and this is a country where safety is not a priority.

[xerostar]

Is it possible that the German guy had a lapse in concentration, thinking he was back in Germany ?

He may have been Looking right to see if there was any traffic coming and seeing nothing pulls out in front of the Honda coming from his left.

I did this sort of mistake when changing from UK driving on the left side to driving in France on the right side (first day ever in France).

I was able to avoid a head on collision by driving onto the median strip. I took more care after that scare!

[Get Real]

20 hours ago, ocddave said:

U-Turns aren't the problem, the design of the U-Turns is though, they should have a lane that is blocked to traffic flowing, but allows the driver to make the U-Turn and then safely merge back with the flow of traffic. I know they have some of these here already, they should continue that design, and remove the dangerous ones.

Right! It might help a little bit. Unfortunately people that drive hear believe it´s ok to, or just make a u-turn, at any possible place for it. So the carnage would still go on. The real problem here is that the Thai population does not have any proper education regarding getting a driver license, and many of the people coming here is driving different veicles without a driver license.

[Isaanben]

On 2/16/2017 at 9:33 AM, xerostar said:

Is it possible that the German guy had a lapse in concentration, thinking he was back in Germany ?

He may have been Looking right to see if there was any traffic coming and seeing nothing pulls out in front of the Honda coming from his left.

I did this sort of mistake when changing from UK driving on the left side to driving in France on the right side (first day ever in France).

I was able to avoid a head on collision by driving onto the median strip. I took more care after that scare!

I have watched the video and this happened before he mad the u-turn. He moved from the left/inner lane to the right without looking. So he was hit by the car from behind and right side. He should have looked right...

[ocddave]

1 hour ago, Isaanben said:

I have watched the video and this happened before he mad the u-turn. He moved from the left/inner lane to the right without looking. So he was hit by the car from behind and right side. He should have looked right...

Yeah, cutting across multiple lanes of traffic at the last second, especially on motorcycle is a REALLY bad idea. He should have kept going and taken the next U-Turn and made sure he was in correct lane long before he gets to the U-Turn. This is one of my biggest pet peeves here, people waiting until the last second to move over into the correct lane for their next turn, or lane shift. Waiting until the last second, then trying to jam your vehicle into the traffic lane with others, does nothing but create traffic jams and possibly an accident. The cops should sit in these locations, and hand out tickets left an right until they quit this moronic behavior, maybe make use of one of those traffic cameras they been boasting about that hands out tickets in the mail.

[jvs]

A few months ago there was an alternative U-turn installed just a few hundred meters from

where this accident happened.It passes under the road and we use it daily,a lot safer and it also saves time.

Not easy to see but the locals are catching on.Maybe there should be more signs for this U-turn,it could have saved two lives?

[Ombra]

On 15/2/2560 at 7:01 AM, Get Real said:

The question is how many 74 year olds that are driving a motorcycle in their home country, and how many of those that are out on the big roads making a u-turn.
I am not blaming anybody, and off course it´s another very sad story with a bad outcome. The thing is though, that people seem to believe that they are invincible when they choose to go to or stay in Thailand.

This is a good point. I live in the southern part of Prachuab Khirikhan province, and the area is popular with Swedish holiday makers. Many of them rent motorcycles, but I wonder how many are experienced riders. It is common to see a tourist approach a junction, look left and then start to move out into the road before looking right. I drive much more carefully when I see a foreigner on a motorbike.

[foxboy]

Momentary lapse from the old boy unfortunately, after seeing the video. I know this road well and always feared speeding traffic coming up behind me, much quicker than you could ever guage from a quick look in the mirror. 

I used to pull the bike in and only cross when I had clear sight of safe passage. Made me feel slightly inadequate doing it this way but at least I'm still here to tell the tale. Better safe than sorry.

 

R.I.P. to the German couple 

[manarak]

yes...

I found to video too after searching the internet (is it ok to post a link ?)

 

Although I can say that if I had been driving the car, I would have crushed the brakes as soon as I saw the German swerving to the center, it appears that the German is fully to blame for the accident as well as for its deadly outcome:

- he crosses through 2 or 3 lanes from the outer left to make the u-turn (very dangerous manoeuver, only possible with no traffic at all)

- he doesn't seem to look out for traffic

- no helmets neither for him nor for his passenger

 

so we can cut short to any discussions about road safety in Thailand, because this accident has nothing to do with it.

[balo]

I also watched the video , they are both to blame.

 

The German rider must have been thinking he was back in Germany and just turned into the road slowly trying to cross it without even look for cars behind him.  The Thai driver was probably speeding around 100-110 km/h , still he had time to spot the motorbike and just hit the brakes a couple of seconds before they hit them, but in Thailand this happens quite often .

It's always the responsibility of the rider of the motobike to look for speeding cars and trucks .  

 

 

 

 

[ocddave]

Just watched the video, this is totally on the motorcycle rider, no doubt about it, he tried to cross 3 lanes of traffic to do a U-Turn, no blinkers, and not even looking at traffic coming up behind him. If I was the Thai driver I wouldn't have expecting him to make that move either, you would think he was pulling into the second lane before he would then make another move to a third lane only after checking traffic. The motorcycle driver made one of the worst, and arguably stupidest decisions I have ever seen anyone make on a motorcycle, it had death wish written all over it. If this guy held a license to drive a motorcycle, I would be completely surprised, no one in their right mind would attempt this maneuver. 

Edited February 19, 2017 by ocddave