Song Krahn traffic to/from Isaan (Chaiyaphum)

[glegolo]

I must go on a trip to Bangkok (sad to say) leaving Chaiyaphum at tuesday early morning at about 03.00... Want to beat the rush-hour in Bangkok. Make a quicky in our embassy (swedish), and then ASAP back home to paradise again.

 

I have some thoughts about this plan, and would love to ask you guys for your opinion, about this going to Bangkok during Song krahn.....

 

When are the bangkokians starts their trafic-rush up northbound??? Is it already on sunday sometime??? Or is the worst shit happens during tuesday some time????

 

I have NO experience about this, so all help is useful for me.. Thanks in advance guys..

 

Glegolo

[NanLaew]

The trip inbound may be OK on Tuesday but will be bad outbound from Bangkok.

Edited April 6, 2017 by NanLaew

[cooked]

. I wouldn't foresee any problems getting to Bangkok. . According to Google maps, returning on Tuesday starting at 10am may take 2 hours longer than usual. I have seen some horrific jams on the road north but fortunately up to now, while going the other way.

[glegolo]

Thank you guys, but how is it to wait one more day and go back to Isaan from BKK on wednesday instead, is that even worse??

 

Glegolo

[KhunBENQ]

Return on Wednesday 12th,  afternoon is terrible!!!

No worse date I can think of.

10h to 12h bumper to bumper.

(I know such numbers from the granddaughter traveling by pickup from Ayuthaya to our area (130 km north of Chaiyaphum).

 

Tuesday 11th, afternoon/night? May work out somehow?

 

[KhunBENQ]

Just came to my mind:

normally a road trip in Thailand does not require much prepartion.

Fuel, drinks, food about every few miles.

 

But you won't believe before you have seen it:

the big gas stations on the highways are crowded like mad.

Cars jamming back on the driveway.

No way to drive in and find a parking lot.

 

So before you start: 100% fuel up! Absolutely avoid the need of fuel stops on the major highways.

Also I suggest to have a cooler box (ice) and some water and snacks on board.

Small business done in the bushes

[glegolo]

Guys, would like to thank you all for your nice information.... You are VERY helpful...

 

Glegolo

[recycler]

If possible I would do it another time.

 

We avoid trips during Songkran like the plague, there are 100 times more nutters on the road than normal and it takes only one to hit you.

[happylarry]

If you have to go then why not book a seat on the return bus, take your tablet or a good book, enough drink, sarnies and snacks and just settle down for a long read and rest, letting someone else worry about the slow traffic.

If you go on the NakhonChai 21 bus that just started recently then you can prebook and they have wifi and phone chargers and toilets on board. So if you know and expect a long journey and prepare for it accordingly it may even be enjoyable.....lol

HL

[lungbing]

Book a seat?  It's far too late for that.  Fly there and back.  Much easier.

[KhunBENQ]

2 hours ago, lungbing said:

Fly there and back.  Much easier.

Misc problems.

Next airport Khon Kaen (> 100 km).

No very early flights. Too late for many embassies opening hours.

11th April to Bangkok about 1800 Baht oneway.

11th return about 3200 Baht or more.

12th return: 5 out of 7 flights from Suv. full (not on the list anymore).

Situation from DMK unlikely much different.

 

Flight would mean going late on Monday 10th, overnight in Bangkok. Return on Tuesday,

(Still) doable but pretty expensive.

 

[bbbbooboo]

7 hours ago, recycler said:

If possible I would do it another time.

 

We avoid trips during Songkran like the plague, there are 100 times more nutters on the road than normal and it takes only one to hit you.

I agree...tho probably a 1000 times more nutters on the road

[CGW]

I had to do a similar trip a couple of years back to go to a funeral, yes the outbound traffic is bad, what I wasn't prepared for was in a lot of areas they close down one lane going into Bangkok & then they put the outbound traffic on it, so you are basically driving on a one lane road, dangerous and not advisable! Took about 14 hours, double the time is usually takes me. Be careful!

[kevc]

Sorry but you would not get me driving on any road here at 3.00am in the morning especially Songkran time, just about peak time for the crazy accidents to happen. I'd rather go daytime take my time and stop overnight instead.

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[NanLaew]

On 4/8/2017 at 1:29 PM, kevc said:

Sorry but you would not get me driving on any road here at 3.00am in the morning especially Songkran time, just about peak time for the crazy accidents to happen. I'd rather go daytime take my time and stop overnight instead.

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Night time is the safest time to drive on the main highways in LOS as long as you have rested and slept during the day. I typically load up and pack by tea time and go sleep till around midnight before hitting the road. The only difference with Songkran is it is a whole lot slower and in general all road travel should be avoided if only for the sheer boredom and fatigue. Journeys typically take twice as long. The thing that I picked out of their analysis of the 7 deadly Christmas/New Year days was that most accidents involve motorbikes and most accidents of any sort happen between 4 PM and 8 PM.

Edited April 10, 2017 by NanLaew

[kevc]

Night time is the safest time to drive on the main highways in LOS as long as you have rested and slept during the day. I typically load up and pack by tea time and go sleep till around midnight before hitting the road. The only difference with Songkran is it is a whole lot slower and in general all road travel should be avoided if only for the sheer boredom and fatigue. Journeys typically take twice as long. The thing that I picked out of their analysis of the 7 deadly Christmas/New Year days was that most accidents involve motorbikes and most accidents of any sort happen between 4 PM and 8 PM.

Sorry I disagree with you there are so many badly lit roads and unlit roads and so many idiots driving without headlights, motorbikes riding side by side and mini buses still overtaking when theres no room and no light to see whats ahead. Take a look at when all the accidents happen and you'll see nearly all of them are at night.

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[NanLaew]

9 hours ago, kevc said:

Sorry I disagree with you there are so many badly lit roads and unlit roads and so many idiots driving without headlights, motorbikes riding side by side and mini buses still overtaking when theres no room and no light to see whats ahead. Take a look at when all the accidents happen and you'll see nearly all of them are at night.

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I have either experienced or witnessed a fair few 'near death' experiences on Thai highways, most of them during daylight and only a couple of them at night.

 

Note that I am talking about "the main highways in LOS" and not the secondary and rural roads. They are death traps and should be avoided at night

 

The official government statistics from the Christmas and New year death tolls stated that between 4 PM and 8 PM is the most dangerous time. From my experience of making many cross country drives between 11 PM and 7 AM, the roads are a whole lot quieter and traffic is notably slower. Virtually all the HGV's park up for the night and the buses travel pretty much all on the same schedules so when one pulls off for noodles and a piss stop, pretty much all of them are doing the same. I can easily do the drive from Pattaya to Udon in 8 hours during the night (was possible in 7 hours about 8 years ago but there's whole lot more junctions with traffic lights on the Mitrapharb these days). However, you add on a couple of hours during daylight because... get this, there's a whole lot more traffic on the roads during the day, more traffic lights and more police check points (they usually give up after 1 AM but leave the lights on). More drivers means an increased chance of having a wreck. As for the 4 PM to 8 PM 'death wish', I guess those that planned badly are racing to get to where they want to be before it gets dark. That, or they are tired already and the twilight probably enhances bad judgment.

Edited April 12, 2017 by NanLaew