Cyclist on world record breaking trip killed on Thai roads

[oakdale160]

Wow GLCQ, don't hold back tell us what you really think.
Seriously, you are correct with your shopping list of inadequacies here. One thing is for certain, none of them are going to improve any time soon. We who sit here with all the nasties happening around us are aware of things.
Can I ask those of you who read the popular British press (and I ask about British press as they are much more go-for-the-jugular than others) are these deaths, the 'suicides', the murders, the road deaths etc being reported.
Is GLCQs 'Cesspit of the world' viewpoint getting any cover!!

[GLCQuantum]

Personally, I think it was a nice gesture to help the survivors to pay for their initial expenses. I've never known any government anywhere in the world to make such a gesture (I'm not saying they haven't, but I've never heard of it).

The real money will come when the guy's insurance settlement comes (of course, TIT and he mightn't have been insured).

It might sound like blood money to some, but as I said, to me, its a fantastic gesture.

A nicer gesture would have been to stand up and take responsibility for the actions of his countrymen. Something along the lines of...

"We are deeply sorry for the tragic death of a world cyclist in our country. We must emphasize that our roads are the second most dangerous in the world, so tourists should approach our roads with extreme caution. We are battling this important issue and intend to make our roads safer for Thais and tourists alike. We, as a country, are utterly ashamed of our status as one of the world's most dangerous roads and are doing everything in our power to bring ourselves into the 21st Century.

With this in mind we will gladly pay Mr. Juan's, his wife's and child's medical bills. We will also assist the surviving members of the family in returning home safely. Any continued medical assistance needed will be covered in full from the Thai government".

Instead what we get is...

"We'll give him 3 hundred grand in Thai baht. That should do it" (I got over 500k for a pick-up hitting me).

[dundrillin]

On this occasion I have to agree with BB very few governments would have acted like this. The road (lack of) safety is a different issue which has no easy solution. The standard of driving in Thailand is very poor . But what is the solution? Well enforcement of existing laws would be a big step forward, driver education programmes have a role ( I noticed that there was an accident at the roundabout on 112 this evening) and as much as I hate speed cameras due to them being used in the UK as revenue collection devices, a few placed on Petchekasen road between Soi 112 and the crossroads leading to the railway station/Hilton would definitely encourage more responsible driving.

However it has to be said that cycling on public roads in virtually every country in the world is pretty dangerous.

[hhfarang]

The road (lack of) safety is a different issue which has no easy solution.

Seems pretty easy to me. Forced driver education and stiff penalties for traffic violations with universal enforcment. Give that a few years and it would be much better, but most of you don't want that because that is too much like your home country. One of the reasons a lot of you like Thailand is because of the third world traffic law enforcement as has been stated on here by many.

Believe me, the threat of fines, jail time, and license points that result in higher insurance premiums and possible loss of license here make me a much better driver.

[Gérard]

Riding motorbikes or bicycles is a reckless thing to do here.....FFS, I can't even go for a walk down the road without being harassed by dogs, local baffoons or having to walk in the road because the pavement/sidewalk doesn't exist or has been overtaken by street stalls/shops extending themselves and therefore being under the constant danger of being randomly run over by some mindless twat that shouldn't be anywhere near anything that involves gasoline and movement.

Unfortunately, Thailand is very pedestrian and cyclist unfriendly......not to even start on how hard it must be for the disabled. There are a couple of things I find hard to get used to here, and they are the constant lies from everyone and the general shear irresponsibility plus apathy & lack of remorse so many have.

RIP dude...sorry you had it end like this at the hands of some f*$%ing asshole.

It's the same as you describe where I live with the addition of noisy scooters and supped up cars frequently drag racing up and down the street.

This is true for Huahin, Pattaya and all crowded cities, but there are many places in Thailand where you can enjoy a quiet life and many roads with low traffic.

[joelle]

this is very very sad specially so close to the end of their long trip
I was just wondering what would have happened if the driver was a "farang" and the victims a thai family ???

[Big Boy]

A nicer gesture would have been to stand up and take responsibility for the actions of his countrymen. Something along the lines of...

"We are deeply sorry for the tragic death of a world cyclist in our country. We must emphasize that our roads are the second most dangerous in the world, so tourists should approach our roads with extreme caution. We are battling this important issue and intend to make our roads safer for Thais and tourists alike. We, as a country, are utterly ashamed of our status as one of the world's most dangerous roads and are doing everything in our power to bring ourselves into the 21st Century.

With this in mind we will gladly pay Mr. Juan's, his wife's and child's medical bills. We will also assist the surviving members of the family in returning home safely. Any continued medical assistance needed will be covered in full from the Thai government".

Instead what we get is...

"We'll give him 3 hundred grand in Thai baht. That should do it" (I got over 500k for a pick-up hitting me).

So you received a 500K handout from a government agency to cover your expenses in Thailand whilst waiting for the insurance pay out.

Well, I must be naive - I thought this was a fantastic 'one off' gesture by the government. I'm sorry, I didn't realise government handouts after road traffic accidents in Thailand was the norm.

It's no wonder The Ministry of Tourism and Sports needs to raise more money through taxation of alcohol and tobacco.

[dundrillin]

The road (lack of) safety is a different issue which has no easy solution.

Seems pretty easy to me. Forced driver education and stiff penalties for traffic violations with universal enforcment. Give that a few years and it would be much better, but most of you don't want that because that is too much like your home country. One of the reasons a lot of you like Thailand is because of the third world traffic law enforcement as has been stated on here by many.

Believe me, the threat of fines, jail time, and license points that result in higher insurance premiums and possible loss of license here make me a much better driver.

It's the implementation of the solutions that's the difficult part. To change a nations culture is a big challenge. Perhaps the Thais have a fatalistic attitude to accidents but whatever it is it needs fixed.

I think primarily most people try to drive safely to protect themselves and others from harm , financial considerations come second.

[Gérard]

On my way back from a bicycle trip to Langkawi (Malaysia), I find this sad news :

HAT YAI — Emotions ran high as the body of a 27-year-old student killed by a hit-and-run driver in New York City was returned home on Friday night. The body of Ubonwan Kullanin was flown from New York...

link: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... n-songkhla.

Everything can happen everywhere, even in our perfect countries...

[Big Boy]

Everything can happen everywhere, even in our perfect countries...

Of course, but it happens more regularly in some, more than others.

[Big Boy]

Outrageous - TIT

http://www.stickboybangkok.com/news/dri ... 7500-baht/

[hhfarang]

I wonder what the punishment would have been if it had been a foreigner who killed a Thai on a bicycle...

[jumusman]

Riding motorbikes or bicycles is a reckless thing to do here.....FFS, I can't even go for a walk down the road without being harassed by dogs, local baffoons or having to walk in the road because the pavement/sidewalk doesn't exist or has been overtaken by street stalls/shops extending themselves and therefore being under the constant danger of being randomly run over by some mindless twat that shouldn't be anywhere near anything that involves gasoline and movement.

Unfortunately, Thailand is very pedestrian and cyclist unfriendly......not to even start on how hard it must be for the disabled. There are a couple of things I find hard to get used to here, and they are the constant lies from everyone and the general shear irresponsibility plus apathy & lack of remorse so many have.

RIP dude...sorry you had it end like this at the hands of some f*$%ing asshole.

It's the same as you describe where I live with the addition of noisy scooters and supped up cars frequently drag racing up and down the street.

This is true for Huahin, Pattaya and all crowded cities, but there are many places in Thailand where you can enjoy a quiet life and many roads with low traffic.

Yeah I know those areas where you can enjoy a quiet life with roads that have low traffic, wouldn't that be the same ones this cyclist was on at the moment he was killed ? Correct me if I am wrong..