Ladies and Gentlemen,
Please do not make this thread into a House of Commons or Senate debate.
What Guru Dave started here is very serious.
I would welcome any replies on how we could reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on the roads of Thailand.
I am not quite sure that this topic should be on beach bar.
In Malaysia if you get caught driving on the wrong side of the road you will lose you license. If you kill someone you will be hung.
In Singapaore the project is more or less completed. Nobody breaks even the most petty rules on the road.
Action is needed now to make the people of Thailand aware of the dangers of driving like idiots. Farang need to obey the rules as well.
Usefull tips for Staying Alive On The Road In Thailand
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dr dave soul monsta
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On the subject of helmets
there is a very limited choice here in HH there is a shop a few doors down from BKK bank and also a weekly visit from a mobile spares truck on the pee mai market they have a relatively good selection but you need to know what you are buying and that it fits snug on the old head .if the thing is loose and you can physically move your head about inside the helmet it is no use, it could actually cause more damage than good in the case of impact,
Construction also needs to be looked at if it is of a polycarbonate construction (plastic) and it’s full of stickers that have been lacquered over don’t buy!
The glue chemicals and lacquer will no doubt weaken the helmet, a polycarbonate helmet has a life span of about 3 years max then the structure starts to weaken and break down
Ideally you need to be looking at Fiberglass or fiberglass mix with Kevlar or similar materials these are the best deal and have a life span of around 5 years but not cheap by any means but as “AJFâ€
there is a very limited choice here in HH there is a shop a few doors down from BKK bank and also a weekly visit from a mobile spares truck on the pee mai market they have a relatively good selection but you need to know what you are buying and that it fits snug on the old head .if the thing is loose and you can physically move your head about inside the helmet it is no use, it could actually cause more damage than good in the case of impact,
Construction also needs to be looked at if it is of a polycarbonate construction (plastic) and it’s full of stickers that have been lacquered over don’t buy!
The glue chemicals and lacquer will no doubt weaken the helmet, a polycarbonate helmet has a life span of about 3 years max then the structure starts to weaken and break down
Ideally you need to be looking at Fiberglass or fiberglass mix with Kevlar or similar materials these are the best deal and have a life span of around 5 years but not cheap by any means but as “AJFâ€
"I don't often agree with the RSPCA as i believe it is an animals duty to be on my plate at supper time"
Good to know but I am strictly 4 wheels these days - Mrs Jaime has been warned but I am sure there is a domestic confrontation in the offing there!Norseman wrote:Yes of course!!!Jaime wrote:Is it even possible to buy proper childrens' motorcycle helmets?
They sell helmets, designed for children, here in Hua Hin.
You only have to buy it, and make sure your child use it!!
To take this a practical step further, I couldn't agree more that it's a sight for sore eyes when the schools are going in/coming out.
However, how are the kids meant to get there in the first place? Many, I'm sure live in areas where school cattle trucks/songthaews don't pass by. Their parents don't have cars. The kids can't walk. So, the overloaded motorbike is a common occurence. It's simply the cheapest (and in most instances the only affordable) method of getting the sprogs to some form of education. Of course the police turn a blind eye. They have to, otherwise maybe 50% of the kids wouldn't go to school.
Again, I totally agree that the children should wear helmets. But again, three kids @ 200 Baht each is a lot of money to some.
As I understand it, the law here is that the pillion rider(s) must wear helmets as well. As far as I know, BKK is about the only place this is enforced.
What the town needs is a better system of getting the children to school, without having to rely on their parents to do it.
Then again, it seems to me that most Thais don't understand the concept of taxes, so where's the money going to come from??
Etc etc ad nauseam. Hope you all get my drift?
However, how are the kids meant to get there in the first place? Many, I'm sure live in areas where school cattle trucks/songthaews don't pass by. Their parents don't have cars. The kids can't walk. So, the overloaded motorbike is a common occurence. It's simply the cheapest (and in most instances the only affordable) method of getting the sprogs to some form of education. Of course the police turn a blind eye. They have to, otherwise maybe 50% of the kids wouldn't go to school.
Again, I totally agree that the children should wear helmets. But again, three kids @ 200 Baht each is a lot of money to some.
As I understand it, the law here is that the pillion rider(s) must wear helmets as well. As far as I know, BKK is about the only place this is enforced.
What the town needs is a better system of getting the children to school, without having to rely on their parents to do it.
Then again, it seems to me that most Thais don't understand the concept of taxes, so where's the money going to come from??
Etc etc ad nauseam. Hope you all get my drift?
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dr dave soul monsta
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slightly disagree with you there loumo the school in question above is a private school surly if the parents can afford the fees they could afford to buy and inforce the off spring to wear the things etc, the school should educate both parents and kids alike and the police should do their job no exeptions
certainly not an exeptoin but the facts understood too well about lack of funds by attenders of the government schools but even so the law is the law and both the schools and the police should enforce the law of their own country full stop..even to prevent one single death
certainly not an exeptoin but the facts understood too well about lack of funds by attenders of the government schools but even so the law is the law and both the schools and the police should enforce the law of their own country full stop..even to prevent one single death
"I don't often agree with the RSPCA as i believe it is an animals duty to be on my plate at supper time"
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ajarnfrank
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- Location: Hua Hin
I doubt that we farang can make a sea change in the attitudes of the Thais, and you could say we have no right to try to change Thai culture. However, for ourselves and our loved ones, we should do what we can.
One of the staff needed to run into town and she heard the police were checking for helmets (which is unusual). I offered her my cheapest helmet, a Thai one I bought for 650 baht. She hesitated "Oh, Ajarn Frank, that helmet is very expensive!" I offered her the 9,000 baht helmet instead; she declined. They only wear helmets when the police make them.
Pillion passenger? Maybe the law requires them to wear helmets. Only time I didn't wear a helmet in Thailand, I was on the pillion and we got stopped. My 40-kilo houseboy, who of course was helmetless, got by and I had to pay the fine for just me being bareheaded. I pleaded temporary insanity, but the policeman thought I was always baaa.
There's much more to it than just wearing a lid on your noggin. Once a week, check your tire pressures (not just with your thumb). If I forget, I can tell the rear tire is low when I navigate the turnaround at the flyover. Adjust your cables (with that little wheel by the lever) so you don't have to squeeze lever into the handgrip before anything happens. Use BOTH brakes. Keep your right hand and foot near the brake levers. Use the mirrors, but never change lanes without whipping your head to the side quickly. Remember, it's a full time serious job any time you've got your hands on the bars. If you're on the pillion, don't distract the pilot and don't move too much.
Don't ride drunk. Don't ride drunk. Don't even begin to commence to consider driving drunk.
One of the staff needed to run into town and she heard the police were checking for helmets (which is unusual). I offered her my cheapest helmet, a Thai one I bought for 650 baht. She hesitated "Oh, Ajarn Frank, that helmet is very expensive!" I offered her the 9,000 baht helmet instead; she declined. They only wear helmets when the police make them.
Pillion passenger? Maybe the law requires them to wear helmets. Only time I didn't wear a helmet in Thailand, I was on the pillion and we got stopped. My 40-kilo houseboy, who of course was helmetless, got by and I had to pay the fine for just me being bareheaded. I pleaded temporary insanity, but the policeman thought I was always baaa.
There's much more to it than just wearing a lid on your noggin. Once a week, check your tire pressures (not just with your thumb). If I forget, I can tell the rear tire is low when I navigate the turnaround at the flyover. Adjust your cables (with that little wheel by the lever) so you don't have to squeeze lever into the handgrip before anything happens. Use BOTH brakes. Keep your right hand and foot near the brake levers. Use the mirrors, but never change lanes without whipping your head to the side quickly. Remember, it's a full time serious job any time you've got your hands on the bars. If you're on the pillion, don't distract the pilot and don't move too much.
Don't ride drunk. Don't ride drunk. Don't even begin to commence to consider driving drunk.
One more useful tip; CHINA HAS WORLD'S DEADLIEST ROADS, just stay away.
BEIJING, Feb 27 (XINHUA-AAP)
China again topped the world list of road deaths and accidents last year, with nearly 99,000 people killed in 450,000 accidents.
Vice-Minister of Communications Xu Yahua said that both figures ranked a first in the world's most populous country.
"In 2005, 98,738 people were killed in 450,000 road accidents and 470,000 were injured, with direct property losses totalling 1.88 billion yuan ($233.8 million)," Xinhua news agency quoted Xu as saying.
China's roads have long been the deadliest in the world, largely a result of drivers who commonly switch lanes without signalling, ignore traffic lights, speed down the wrong side of the road or even throw their vehicles into reverse when they have missed a highway exit.
Wu called for strengthening management over drivers' training schools to improve quality and said road safety had become one of the top concerns of the country.
"With the fast expanding auto market in China, the number of drivers increased by 5.5 million a year, or an annual growth of 10 per cent, during the country's 10th Five-Year plan (2001-2005) period," Xinhua said.
BEIJING, Feb 27 (XINHUA-AAP)
China again topped the world list of road deaths and accidents last year, with nearly 99,000 people killed in 450,000 accidents.
Vice-Minister of Communications Xu Yahua said that both figures ranked a first in the world's most populous country.
"In 2005, 98,738 people were killed in 450,000 road accidents and 470,000 were injured, with direct property losses totalling 1.88 billion yuan ($233.8 million)," Xinhua news agency quoted Xu as saying.
China's roads have long been the deadliest in the world, largely a result of drivers who commonly switch lanes without signalling, ignore traffic lights, speed down the wrong side of the road or even throw their vehicles into reverse when they have missed a highway exit.
Wu called for strengthening management over drivers' training schools to improve quality and said road safety had become one of the top concerns of the country.
"With the fast expanding auto market in China, the number of drivers increased by 5.5 million a year, or an annual growth of 10 per cent, during the country's 10th Five-Year plan (2001-2005) period," Xinhua said.
I intend to live forever - so far so good.
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usual suspect
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- Location: Huahin
HELMETS....
If you happen to commute between Europe and T/land same as I have to do then consider buying a 'lid' with an ACU standard while you are there.
After your head is nicely wrapped up, look down at your feet,..count your
toes and assess how vunerable they are in your flip-flopply sandals???
Why do tourists always copy Hollywood actors and just sit a helmet on their head, don't bother to fasten it, then ride off..usually leaving their
indicator flashing away all the way into the sunset.
Last winge...why O why do people believe 'Bob the builder' helmets are
suitable for bike-riddin'????
(Huahin danger-zone..Petkasem Rd, at Grand Hotel entrance any time at
weekend after 2.00am...those pissed-up kids just pile outa there without
any thought of anything/body moving along the main road....
.....SMASH!...DEAD!...ONE MORE!)
If you happen to commute between Europe and T/land same as I have to do then consider buying a 'lid' with an ACU standard while you are there.
After your head is nicely wrapped up, look down at your feet,..count your
toes and assess how vunerable they are in your flip-flopply sandals???
Why do tourists always copy Hollywood actors and just sit a helmet on their head, don't bother to fasten it, then ride off..usually leaving their
indicator flashing away all the way into the sunset.
Last winge...why O why do people believe 'Bob the builder' helmets are
suitable for bike-riddin'????
(Huahin danger-zone..Petkasem Rd, at Grand Hotel entrance any time at
weekend after 2.00am...those pissed-up kids just pile outa there without
any thought of anything/body moving along the main road....
.....SMASH!...DEAD!...ONE MORE!)
Well, it's low season and I guess that doesn't make any difference concerning crazy drivers over here across the gulf. Have a friend expat who just moved here a few months ago and bought a small Yamaha automatic, I think Nouvo? Cruising today on uncrowded city streets, only doing about 20KPH when a pickup truck came around a bus in the wrong lane. Friend had to put the bike down to avoid crashing head on into him.
Result: 2 broken big toes, 2 broken elbows, 2 dislocated shoulders with internal bleeding in the right, two badly sprained wrists. Bumps and bruises everywhere else. You can see what happened from the above description....he went over and extended his arms and that did all the damage. He's a heavy guy, about 130 kilos. He also hit his head but...he had his helmet ON and STRAPPED tight. Probably saved his life right there.
He's going to have at least six weeks of splints and misery and possibly an operation on his shoulder.
Before you ask, the Thai driver of the car fled the scene. Pete
Result: 2 broken big toes, 2 broken elbows, 2 dislocated shoulders with internal bleeding in the right, two badly sprained wrists. Bumps and bruises everywhere else. You can see what happened from the above description....he went over and extended his arms and that did all the damage. He's a heavy guy, about 130 kilos. He also hit his head but...he had his helmet ON and STRAPPED tight. Probably saved his life right there.
He's going to have at least six weeks of splints and misery and possibly an operation on his shoulder.
Before you ask, the Thai driver of the car fled the scene. Pete
