How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

[buksida]

I’m not sure I’d agree that it’s not their job, but like so many things out here, there’s no accountability

Well of course, but that's probably how they see it, not how it *should* be.

[hhinner]

The traffic cops here do not patrol or police the roads to make them safer as they do in most countries; they lurk under trees at roadblocks, nabbing passers-by for easy money. This is why they'll ignore obvious traffic violations as it isn't their job to give a shit about dangerous driving; they're just there to clean up the mess afterwards.

I think there is some confusion about traffic police and highway police. VIP escorts and main highway patrols are for the highway police. Traffic police (sitting in their little huts changing traffic lights) are members of the local constabulary, specially trained in traffic law (sarcasm) and with a white armband on their otherwise usual uniforms.

Roadblocks are usually the latter variety.

Different departments in the Thai police.

[Dannie Boy]

Irrespective of what department they work for, I think that what most of us would like to see (but probably never will) are cops driving traffic cars that implement the rules of the road and pull over the speeding lane dodgers and other infringers that are a menace to the law abiding drivers.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[caller]

Traffic police (sitting in their little huts changing traffic lights) are members of the local constabulary, specially trained in traffic law (sarcasm) and with a white armband on their otherwise usual uniforms.

That made me smile and brought back memories.

When I lived in Korat, the police would emerge from their little hidey hole at about 4pm, and find refuge in their little huts, then at a pre-arragnged time a bit later, which I could never work out, as it seemed to vary, would take manual control over the centres traffic lights. I think this was primarily to do with 2 main schools being next to each other on the northern side of the road that wraps around the moat, which also saw incioming traffic from commuters trying to get home v all the school traffic coming from all directions (several roads), which obviously had a knock on effect pretty much all over the place. And the traffic was bloody awful, and something you did your best learnt to avoid.

Then one day, whilst the schools were still open, the traffic was much better. And driving through it all, I suddenly realised the Police weren't controlling the lights manually. So, I asked the other half about this, and she said it was always better when they weren't there. So, I responded by asking why did they normally do it then? To which the answer was, I don't know, they just always have! And that was a lesson learnt, that I think applies to much of what is, or isn't done, throughout Thailand.

It's just how it is here. No critical thinking and no-one really questioins why? No thought is given to the benefits or otherwise of the action beng taken, just rinse and repeat. It's how the Country works, or rather, doesn't so much anymore.

[Dannie Boy]

Similar to why they close every other u-turn crossing on holidays - i cannot think of a single benefit but they continue because that’s how it is!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Suua]

Traffic police (sitting in their little huts changing traffic lights) are members of the local constabulary, specially trained in traffic law (sarcasm) and with a white armband on their otherwise usual uniforms.

That made me smile and brought back memories.

When I lived in Korat, the police would emerge from their little hidey hole at about 4pm, and find refuge in their little huts, then at a pre-arragnged time a bit later, which I could never work out, as it seemed to vary, would take manual control over the centres traffic lights. I think this was primarily to do with 2 main schools being next to each other on the northern side of the road that wraps around the moat, which also saw incioming traffic from commuters trying to get home v all the school traffic coming from all directions (several roads), which obviously had a knock on effect pretty much all over the place. And the traffic was bloody awful, and something you did your best learnt to avoid.

Then one day, whilst the schools were still open, the traffic was much better. And driving through it all, I suddenly realised the Police weren't controlling the lights manually. So, I asked the other half about this, and she said it was always better when they weren't there. So, I responded by asking why did they normally do it then? To which the answer was, I don't know, they just always have! And that was a lesson learnt, that I think applies to much of what is, or isn't done, throughout Thailand.

It's just how it is here. No critical thinking and no-one really questioins why? No thought is given to the benefits or otherwise of the action beng taken, just rinse and repeat. It's how the Country works, or rather, doesn't so much anymore.

Totally correct.
I realised this a long time ago.
One of a multitude of awful legacies left by dictatorships.

[buksida]

I think there is some confusion about traffic police and highway police ...

Different departments in the Thai police.

Neither of which do any active patrolling or dangerous driving prevention to make the roads safer, so not sure what your point is, there is no confusion.

Irrespective of what department they work for, I think that what most of us would like to see (but probably never will) are cops driving traffic cars that implement the rules of the road and pull over the speeding lane dodgers and other infringers that are a menace to the law abiding drivers.

Agreed.


One of today's horror road stories where the "police" are doing jack shit as usual. From that video its pretty clear that the SUV ran the intersection and wiped out the bike ... but "right of way" isn't really a concept that exists in the land of "me first".

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/202 ... n-pattaya/

[hhinner]

^^ When I drive to and from Bangkok (admittedly not that frequently) I usually see highway patrol cars, and sometimes motorcycles, on Rama 2 Road (in Samut Songkhram mostly) having pulled over a truck or pickup.

There aren't many of them, granted. But they do have the duty to make sure that trucks have the correct stickers () on the windshield.

[hhinner]

And another crossing casualty in Bangkok.

[KhunLA]

A crosswalk, with an illuminated signal ... W T F
... https://x.com/RedSkullxxx/status/1782562606873772084

[HHTel]

From Buksi:

but "right of way" isn't really a concept that exists in the land of "me first".

Neither is the phrase found anywhere in the UK Highway Code:

The rules in The Highway Code do not give you the right of way in any circumstance, but they advise you when you should give way to others. Always give way if it can help to avoid an incident.

But I know what you mean. Zero common sense and the 'Me First' attitude.

[Dannie Boy]

From Buksi:

but "right of way" isn't really a concept that exists in the land of "me first".

Neither is the phrase found anywhere in the UK Highway Code:

The rules in The Highway Code do not give you the right of way in any circumstance, but they advise you when you should give way to others. Always give way if it can help to avoid an incident.

But I know what you mean. Zero common sense and the 'Me First' attitude.

I couldn’t see in the photo what colour the lights were at, but if they were red and the car didn’t stop then it’s a clear violation of the Highway Code.

[Nereus]

Thai drivers have absolutely no concept of speed, reaction time, braking distance, or driving to suit the prevailing conditions.

Just as they have no concept of looking at the "big picture" of what is going on around them. It goes much further than a simple "me first" attitude. And then you have the concept that it is all "karma", nothing to do with reality.

All marked pedestrain crossings need to have a bloody great speed hump installed on both sides of them. If they think that their precious car is going to get damaged, then they MAY slow down a bit.

[HHTel]

I couldn’t see in the photo what colour the lights were at, but if they were red and the car didn’t stop then it’s a clear violation of the Highway Code.

The crossing light changed from the 'red' man to the little green 'walking' man. Therefore the traffic lights must have been at red.

The black van was the first to ignore the red light.

[Dannie Boy]

I couldn’t see in the photo what colour the lights were at, but if they were red and the car didn’t stop then it’s a clear violation of the Highway Code.

The crossing light changed from the 'red' man to the little green 'walking' man. Therefore the traffic lights must have been at red.

The black van was the first to ignore the red light.

I noticed the van go past first - you’re definitely not safe anywhere here!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk