Carnage

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:14 am

Two things I noticed on the new (almost completed) race track to BKK on my journey up this morning.

1) On the new sections where they have installed concrete crash barriers down the centre of the carriageways, I counted 7 dead dogs. It's clear that the poor creatures run out onto the road, cannot escape oncoming traffic and then get swatted - it's not nice and of course dam dangerous for all.
2) Just South of the traffic lights at Kao Yoi road junction there was a fully loaded articulated truck that had swerved off the road and demolished a house!! Someone had got a rude awakening and of course not sure if any fatalities, but it looked a mess.

Be careful - there's carnage out there

Post by **buksida** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:51 pm

The stretch between HH and Pranburi has to be the worse for me, often drive past an overturned bus or get held up in a queue for an accident.

Its usually always some twat in a 12 year old pickup driving like Lewis Hamilton trying to overtake a constant stream of traffic by driving into oncoming vehicles.

Good to see the cops vigilantly patrolling this section of road instead of hiding behind vans in Hua Hin waiting to jump out and nab farangs on bikes.

Post by **Gordon Bennett** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 7:16 pm

Unfortunately, it is quite common to see an overturned truck in the central reservation between Hua Hin - Bangkok - Pattaya.

Do not get me started on the quality of driving by the Bus drivers. Those people should never be allowed to take normal peoples lives in their hands. They drive like they own everything. Has anyone else noticed that all the buses seem to drive on a sideways slant all the time?

Post by **Jim** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:23 pm

Something to do with the genetic attachment of bus drivers to their mobile phones.

The maths are: bus driver+text/talk+100kph=carnage.

Post by **Farang** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 8:49 am

There are cultures, where visually impaired people weave Baskets.
There are cultures where they drive buses, taxis, tuk-tuks, lorries, whatever.

Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes the bug.

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:54 am

On my commute to BKK this morning it rained.

Well - it more than rained - it PI55ED down.

You could not see more than 100 - 150m in front of you between Samut Songkhram and the outer ring road.

What was the result?

4 multiple shunts (restyling contests)

3 pickups in the central reservation

4 10 wheel trucks overturned (Including two with jack-knifed trailers)

And it's not even the rainy season.

Post by **lomuamart** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:46 am

It's definitely frightening out there. I'm glad I don't have to be on the roads too much. I have enough difficulty walking most of the time

VincentD · Post by **VincentD** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 1:18 pm

Terry,
yesterday morning after a light drizzle, there were two pile-ups on Rangsit near the university. The first involved two pickups and the back of a bus; the other was a seven vehicle pileup - one of the vehicles involved was a passenger minibus like you get from Bangkok to Hua Hin - fortunately only the back door was damaged.

This is why I don't sit in the last row, or anywhere on the driver's side if I can help it if I ever have to ride on those minibuses.

I always use rain repellent on the windscreen, rear window and wing mirrors - visibility is vastly improved especially in the conditions you describe.

Post by **Nereus** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 1:46 pm

Terry wrote:On my commute to BKK this morning it rained.
Well - it more than rained - it PI55ED down.
You could not see more than 100 - 150m in front of you between Samut Songkhram and the outer ring road.
What was the result?
4 multiple shunts (restyling contests)
3 pickups in the central reservation
4 10 wheel trucks overturned (Including two with jack-knifed trailers)
And it's not even the rainy season.

I`m surprised at you Terry. Surely you know that the way to stop accidents is to switch on the hazard lights, stomp down a bit harder to get through the deep water on the road, and flash your lights at those that happen to be using "their" road!
The last time this happened to me it was night time, something that I try and avoid if I have any option.

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 1:58 pm

Yep - sad to say that some folk leave their brains behind when they get onto / into vehicles here.

A few simple rules in the heavy rain:-

Switch your lights on - all of them - except hazards, which should only be used in a hazardous situation and NOT to indicate 'I'm going straight on' or 'it's raining therefore I'm a mobile hazard'

BACK OFF - i.e. slow down and keep a sensible distance between you and the guy in front. IF some half brained f*c*w*t takes the space - back off and let him kill himself

Vincent - your advice re rain repellent is a good one - if you can't get it, try rubbing your windscreen with some screwed up old newspaper - it does the same job.

Keep that screen wash bottle full and change your wiper blades yearly.

On another note, I read recently that tyres in this part of the world should be changed a minimum of every three years if not neccessitated by the mileage done. This is because sunlight attacks the tyre walls and apparently can weaken them.

Don't know how true this is but I just happen to have changed mine on the car and the pickup on Saturday.

That extra rubber sure felt better this morning

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 2:00 pm

Sorry Nereus - guess my dad taught me wrong then

Post by **fach3003** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:08 pm

Hi all,

my tale is funny looking back...

Getting the BKK to HH Minibus couple years ago

6 of us inc the wife....

I was watching the driver as he drifted off to sleep...

We were playing cards i said to my brother..'is the
driver sleeping ?' Yes he said........
as we drifted across the lanes and back!!!

We woke him up and i got the missus to sit up front
and talk to him...

According to him he was resting his eyes....Thats ok then i thought!!

Not like you hit the barriers...more like drop down 3metres
and hit the trees plants every 10m or so...

We wouldnt have known much....

I nearly dropped my cards....

Post by **chelsea** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 12:58 am

Vincent I think that the rain repellent that you are using is called Rainex.
I use it here is Australia. It is good because what it does it turn the water on the screen into beads of water and clears off the screen while you are driving without using your wipers.

Post by **margaretcarnes** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 7:09 am

Shucks Lomu - you just made me splutter coffee all over with that one!
'I have enough difficulty walking most of the time'
Now recovered and mopped up - my tactic with minibus trips in LOS is to sit up front in order to keep driver awake. Keep them supplied with Red Bull. Practice your Thai on them. Play ZZ Top. Anything. Just KEEP THEM AWAKE!
And no offence Fach but if your wife is Thai I wouldn't trust her with the task either!

Post by **fach3003** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 5:09 pm

Your right Margaret....
Probably was i bad idea!!!

Everytime i travel in Los i always see carnage!
mind its the same here everyday going to work...
Though i know its not a bad figure wise....
but its like 80mph red arrows....