How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

[buksida]

It all comes down to education - or lack of.

You hardly see a cop in Vietnam yet everybody wears a helmet. Thailand is swarming with them and look a the difference.

If the 'traffic police' here sat outside the schools fining the kids (or parents) or actually did some patrolling instead of hiding under bridges nabbing tourists things may improve. Sadly they have no intention of improving things here ... just filling coffers (and coffins as it appears).

[HHTel]

Likewise in Malaysia, Buksi. Driven there several times over the years. Hardly ever see a cop and the standard of driving is way better than here.
However, getting a driving licence there is a major challenge.

Obtaining Your Driving Licence in Malaysia
Step 1: Register with a driving school. ...
Step 2: Complete the theory/computer examination. ...
Step 3: Get your LDL and complete a minimum of 16 hours of on-road lessons (practical) ...
Step 4: Complete and pass the road test. ...
Step 5: Drive on your Probationary licence for 2 years.

That's the procedure in brief. There's actually more to it and some heavy penalties if you trip up along the way.

[Big Boy]

Is that really much different to what 'should' be happening here now?

I know Thailand being Thailand many by-pass the learning/licence parts, but to do it properly would see a BIB revenue stream cut off. A win/win situation, and if you die along the way, it's Buddha's will.

[T.I.G.R.]

Wow......glad I have no inclination to drive in Malaysia!

These topics about driving accidents and deaths in Thailand are becoming repetitive though. How many times do we have to all suggest somone do something about teaching, enforcement and how we do things "at home"......no-one is listening.

We went from Cha Am to Hua Hin yesterday. After all the years we've been here I thought I had seen it all...............NOT!! It seems Friday is a bad day to be on the road! People were speeding like no tomorrow.....much worse than usual. Vans were speeding and seemed to be racing each other. Dumbass idiots abounded when we got into the Hua Hin traffic. Everyone was out of their lane halfway, dodging in front of me making me slam on my brakes to avoid them....people cutting in, crossing three lanes making everyone stop or dodge them............by the time I got to the second light I was actually opening my window and screaming at some of the f..k..ing idiots......and I know better. Unfortunately Mai ben rai and Thai yen yen were not in the equation......I'd have been happy to stop the car and kick someone's ass just to get rid of the road rage.

[fabman]

Wow......glad I have no inclination to drive in Malaysia!

These topics about driving accidents and deaths in Thailand are becoming repetitive though. How many times do we have to all suggest somone do something about teaching, enforcement and how we do things "at home"......no-one is listening.

We went from Cha Am to Hua Hin yesterday. After all the years we've been here I thought I had seen it all...............NOT!! It seems Friday is a bad day to be on the road! People were speeding like no tomorrow.....much worse than usual. Vans were speeding and seemed to be racing each other. Dumbass idiots abounded when we got into the Hua Hin traffic. Everyone was out of their lane halfway, dodging in front of me making me slam on my brakes to avoid them....people cutting in, crossing three lanes making everyone stop or dodge them............by the time I got to the second light I was actually opening my window and screaming at some of the f..k..ing idiots......and I know better. Unfortunately Mai ben rai and Thai yen yen were not in the equation......I'd have been happy to stop the car and kick someone's ass just to get rid of the road rage.

Friday is statistically the most dangerous time to be on the road in most countries. Most people are in a rush to get home for the weekend.. And beat the traffic. That's why you get all the loons on the road. A lot of them are just in a rush and thinking about what they are going to do over the weekend. I always try to avoid this time ( although not always possible of course) it's worse in Thailand though with all the appalling drivers.

[usual suspect]

I had the same scenario after lunch on a Friday afternoon a coupla yrs back leaving BKK to come down here...It was a like a race-track..the biggest idiots being the small hatchbacks..Cutting up the hard-shoulder at speed then scything across to the right hand lane, swerving across the other way if the r/h lane slowed at all.
This practice just never stopped..then the minivans joined in..akin to most PS11 games, but in reality.
Police presence..? Police action..? Nah, don't be daft...This is Thailand
(The hatchbacks will have been driven by young Hi-So's,so legally almost un-touchable, and the only time the minivans stop speeding is when they
ram into the back of that slow 6-wheeler truck..Ho-hum eh..?)

[HHTel]

A compilation of Thai crashes for your entertainment:

[JWWhite]

^
Sick Boy Published this on YouTube Jul 15, 2018 and you would have to be pretty sick to find this entertaining

[Nereus]

It starts before most of these ignorant ****holes even get on the road. Just look at where and how they park their cars.

I got after one such imbecile today at a shopping center. Parked his heap of junk in front of cars parked in the disabled bay, not even straight so that it could be pushed out of the way. Just shrugged his shoulders and walked off when I challenged him. Damn lucky it was not in front of my car, as the big Australian made bull bar on the front of it would have left a nice imprint along the side of his.

This type of thing has nothing what so ever to do with education or ignorance, it is ALL "me first".

[HHTel]

^
Sick Boy Published this on YouTube Jul 15, 2018 and you would have to be pretty sick to find this entertaining

There are dozens of compilations on YouTube, not just by Sick Boy. 'Bad Driving Asia' and many others. Most of the compilations are from Russia where dash cams are compulsory.

TV companies have whole series based on bad driving. The UK is no exception - 'Car Crash Britain'. Most of what is shown does not include fatalities. Entertainment and education maybe! Certainly makes people aware.

[HHTel]

It starts before most of these ignorant ****holes even get on the road. Just look at where and how they park their cars.

I got after one such imbecile today at a shopping center. Parked his heap of junk in front of cars parked in the disabled bay, not even straight so that it could be pushed out of the way. Just shrugged his shoulders and walked off when I challenged him. Damn lucky it was not in front of my car, as the big Australian made bull bar on the front of it would have left a nice imprint along the side of his.

This type of thing has nothing what so ever to do with education or ignorance, it is ALL "me first".

I've never understood why double parking is not only allowed in car parks but encouraged. Many times I've come back to find I have to push a couple of cars out of the way to get mine out.
I would never park my car in such a fashion (besides, I can't get the key out if in 'neutral'..... lol)

[Nereus]

It starts before most of these ignorant ****holes even get on the road. Just look at where and how they park their cars.

I got after one such imbecile today at a shopping center. Parked his heap of junk in front of cars parked in the disabled bay, not even straight so that it could be pushed out of the way. Just shrugged his shoulders and walked off when I challenged him. Damn lucky it was not in front of my car, as the big Australian made bull bar on the front of it would have left a nice imprint along the side of his.

This type of thing has nothing what so ever to do with education or ignorance, it is ALL "me first".

I've never understood why double parking is not only allowed in car parks but encouraged. Many times I've come back to find I have to push a couple of cars out of the way to get mine out.
I would never park my car in such a fashion (besides, I can't get the key out if in 'neutral'..... lol)

In this particular place, and a lot of others in fact, the disabled bays are near the entrance doors for obvious reasons. The space between the front of the parking bay and the wall of the building is only wide enough for two cars, so this idiots car was not only blocking the disabled bays, but also half the already narrow space. In hindsight I should have persisted with the ***ck, including getting my "equaliser baton" out of my car.

The point is: most of these ignorant "Buddhist" hypocrites are only Buddhist when it suits their own purpose!

[HHTel]

Sorry, Nereus. I assumed that you were talking of a parking lot out of town as the ones in HH don't really have the space or allow for 'double parking'. Very common in BKK especially at the airport where I've been frustrated many a time.

[buksida]

Not sure how civilized parking etiquette can curb Thailand's road fatality rate ... maybe a new thread on parking angst?

[Nereus]

Not sure how civilized parking etiquette can curb Thailand's road fatality rate ... maybe a new thread on parking angst?

Well, it seems pretty simple to me. Having a "me first" attitude whilst parking simply carries over to driving on a road!