Prev Page 2 of 4 1 2 3 4 Next This topic is locked 78 replies to this topic

[macduff]

I drove in thailand for the first time last year. It was in udon thani and the experience of driving especially at night was quite frightening. I was on my way from ban phur along the unlit rural roads when i noticed branches in the road. What i did'nt realise is they were placed on the road for a purpose. An accident had occurred further on were a man was lying in the road. I only spotted him for a few seconds as soon as my dip beam lit him up. Not only that but he was wearing an army jacket. I swerved to avoid him, but i will never forget his face if only for that second or two. Has anybody else come across the branch warning sign?. During my commuting between the two places i also noticed when newly laid tarmac had been completed they also put branches at the beginning and at the end of the repair to warn people not to drive on it. This occurred only on the approach to the village roads not on the main highways.

[jayenram]

macduff, on 2007-10-07 22:13:00, said:

Has anybody else come across the branch warning sign?

It's standard procedure in the sticks. Predominantly for breakdowns. Very few drivers have warning triangles.

http://www.freebeerforyorky.com - "Driving in Rural Thailand"

[Yorkie]

Saw this manoever the other day. I didn't believe it either. Center of town!

 manoever.jpg   41.7K   72 downloads

Note also where the guy turning right onto the main road has positioned himself. Doh!

Edited by Yorkie, 2007-10-10 13:54:11.

[wilko]

Interesting - lot of useful info....so much is prejudice though...."they do this" "they do that", Thai drivers do this....some of the worst drivers "Thai people rarely have a formulated plan." - ....it's driving Jim, but not as we know it....

Common maneuvers - well diagrams on bad or strange driving practices are all well and good but don't expect them to be the only ones.
essentially if you drive anywhere in the world you must anticipate and be aware of your surroundings - failure to do this will result in calamity but not just here - just use common sense.

[Thaiboxer]

I'm sure driving here isn't as bad as it gets. Mexico is a nightmare and the Middle East is supposed to be A LOT worse! You have to look in all directions as you'll never know where some of these motorcyclists are coming from, not to mention other vehicles. I also think it's a good idea not to be too concerned with your paint job....particularly in BKK as there is a good possibility that somebody (probably on a motorcycle) will "customize" it for you!

[Yorkie]

wilko, on 2007-11-12 16:06:29, said:

essentially if you drive anywhere in the world you must anticipate and be aware of your surroundings - failure to do this will result in calamity but not just here - just use common sense.

Which is why the third paragraph has been included:

"Be considerate. Be careful of and considerate towards other road users. You should:

    * try to be understanding if other drivers cause problems; they may be inexperienced or not know the area well
    * be patient; remember that anyone can make a mistake
    * not allow yourself to become agitated or involved if someone is behaving badly on the road. This will only make the situation worse. Pull over, calm down and, when you feel relaxed, continue your journey
    * slow down and hold back if a vehicle pulls out into your path at a junction. Allow it to get clear. Do not over-react by driving too close behind it."

"Anticipation" of what local drivers may or may not do can only come from driving experience in the country IMO. The guide was prepared for "new" drivers to give some idea of what to expect.

[Mosha]

I saw a police car turn right as I was at the junction waiting for him to pass around the front of my car. He cut behind. My wife is well used to my caustic comments like dickhead by now.  

[tgeezer]

Yorkie, on 2007-10-10 13:43:16, said:

Saw this manoever the other day. I didn't believe it either. Center of town!

manoever.jpg

Note also where the guy turning right onto the main road has positioned himself. Doh!

I wondered what the significance of using motorcycles as examples was and now I know; most drivers have owned a m/c and now that they are driving a car the ingrained habits remain. The first and only reaction to an obstacle is to avoid it there is no thought of stopping, which leads to many amusing sights like this, if the left turn gap closes he simply has to stop blocking the side road and when the lights change make his turn. Simple, what he does not realize is that he has saved time, he didn't try to save time he was just being a m/c.

Edited by tgeezer, 2007-12-09 09:25:47.

[tgeezer]

tgeezer, on 2007-12-09 09:24:07, said:

Yorkie, on 2007-10-10 13:43:16, said:

Saw this manoever the other day. I didn't believe it either. Center of town!

manoever.jpg

Note also where the guy turning right onto the main road has positioned himself. Doh!

I wondered what the significance of using motorcycles as examples was and now I know; most drivers have owned a m/c and now that they are driving a car the ingrained habits remain. The first and only reaction to an obstacle is to avoid it there is no thought of stopping, which leads to many amusing sights like this, if the left turn gap closes he simply has to stop blocking the side road and when the lights change make his turn. Simple, what he does not realize is that he has saved time, he didn't try to save time he was just being a m/c.

looking again at the diagram I see that he is also being nice to the chap who has his lane, maybe I misjudge him, he couldn't be expected to see that only one lane was free for right turn no--one can be expected to look that far ahead! This looks like the Sena Junction.

Edited by tgeezer, 2007-12-09 09:31:17.

[tracer5050]

watch out for the cows jumping out infront of you at anytime as well.

[wilko]

Yorkie, on 2007-11-18 08:14:10, said:

wilko, on 2007-11-12 16:06:29, said:

essentially if you drive anywhere in the world you must anticipate and be aware of your surroundings - failure to do this will result in calamity but not just here - just use common sense.

Which is why the third paragraph has been included:

"Be considerate. Be careful of and considerate towards other road users. You should:

    * try to be understanding if other drivers cause problems; they may be inexperienced or not know the area well
    * be patient; remember that anyone can make a mistake
    * not allow yourself to become agitated or involved if someone is behaving badly on the road. This will only make the situation worse. Pull over, calm down and, when you feel relaxed, continue your journey
    * slow down and hold back if a vehicle pulls out into your path at a junction. Allow it to get clear. Do not over-react by driving too close behind it."

"Anticipation" of what local drivers may or may not do can only come from driving experience in the country IMO. The guide was prepared for "new" drivers to give some idea of what to expect.

I'm not referring to "manners " or state of mind in particular. Driving in Thailand is really not that different from many other countries around the world. If you anticipate the worst (and local experience can only help in this ) you will find the whole thing a lot less stressful.
Essentially though driving is down to YOUR OWN skills not the way others drive, you should be able to take this into consideration regardless of what country you are in.

The UK ran a safety ad in the 60s/70s about driving in fog and used an elephant inthe middle of the raod to underline the need to expect the unexpected - this is the attitude that you need for driving anywhere

I think it really does help in Thailand though if you bear in mind that the predominant form of transport before the car was in fact the river and boats and culturally this is permeates Thai driving culture and will help you understand a lot of the apparently strange maneuvers that are used.

[stateman]

My comments as shown in blue below.

"1. Applies to vehicles with a laden weight of over 1,200 kg or carrying passengers. Speed limit, open road, 80 km/hour.

2. Applies to vehicles with a laden weight of over 1,200 kg, towing a trailer (The rule is poorly written in Thai - ambiguous). Speed limit, open road, 60 km/hour.

3. Applies to vehicles other than stipulated in 1. and 2. (including motorcycles). Speed limit as displayed on the roadside or, generally, open road, 90 km/hour.

My vehicle is a "extended cab" 4 x 4 pick-up which weighs in at just over 1,000 kg (unladen) therefore is in category 3."

------------------------------------------------

Not meaning to nitpick, but with the difference in translation, things looks a bit different.

It seems that Yorkie’s truck “just over 1,000 kg (unladen)” conceivably at times may be “a laden weight of over 1,200 kg or carrying passengers”.  So it may then fall into rule #1 (instead of rule #3), i.e. speed limit of 80km/h rather than 90km/h.  

Not a big difference. But just to document it here, in case it saves someone from getting a ticket.

Cheers.

Yorkie, on 2007-07-12 00:48:33, said:

Monkeypants, on 2007-07-12 14:28:15, said:

AFAIK , Pick up trucks and car have different speed limits on all roads

There is no law in Thailand, as far as I am aware, that requires a pick-up to display a maximum speed symbol on the rear as is the case with larger vehicles.

This is an excerpt from the Thai "Highway Code":



If my translation is correct:

1. Applies to vehicles with an unladen  a laden weight of over 1,200 kg or carrying passengers. Speed limit, open road, 80 km/hour.

2. Applies to vehicles with an unladen  a laden weight of over 1,200 kg, towing a trailer (The rule is poorly written in Thai - ambiguous). Speed limit, open road, 60 km/hour.

3. Applies to vehicles with an unladen weight of under 1,200 kg   other than stipulated in 1. and 2.  (including motorcycles). Speed limit as displayed on the roadside or, generally, open road, 90 km/hour.

My vehicle is a "extended cab" 4 x 4 pick-up which weighs in at just over 1,000 kg (unladen) therefore is in category 3.

[jayenram]

stateman, on 2007-12-18 15:33:19, said:

1. Applies to vehicles with a laden weight of over 1,200 kg or carrying passengers. Speed limit, open road, 80 km/hour.

 fishseller_s.jpg   178.57K   12 downloads

So this pick-up would fit into category 1? There is at least 2,000 kg on the back of that truck.   

I'm not contradicting your translation but surely a 4/5 seater car would fit into category 1 unless the driver was alone. But who am I to expect the rules to make sense?

[micksterbs]

Those of us who came here from the UK have been a bit spoilt up to now. Yeah, I know that sounds nationalistic and smug but bear with me. Apparently, the UK has Europe's safest roads. I didn't know, either. An average of 8 fatalities a day compared to an average of 35 here. What intrigues me is by how much that figure would come down if

1. The police actually enforced the helmet law instead of just using it for lunch-money
2. People secured their b****y dogs and properly minded their cows.

I'm sure we have all seen police wind-up a checkpoint and pull away on their bikes, some just wearing peaked caps. I see this nearly every day on the road between Chonnabot and Ban Phai. My Thai wife teaches at the nearby vocational college and tells me pretty-much monthly of a student who has a spill, goes into a coma and dies. Yep, no helmet. hel_l, I even have to nag her to wear her helmet sometimes. "Oh, I'm only going to the market!" as if that makes much difference. I've given up now. I think the prevailing attitude is that helmets are just for long journeys, or for when you know the police are around. How many times have you seen them riding along with a helmet in the front basket whilst shielding their eyes from the sun?

[Yorkie]

I've added an English translation of the Thai vehicle insurance liabilities to the site:

Driving in Rural Thailand

Thanks to Monty for the assistance.

Y

[Yorkie]

Yorkie, on 2008-01-27 10:46:57, said:

I've added an English translation of the Thai vehicle insurance liabilities to the site:

Driving in Rural Thailand

Thanks to Monty for the assistance.

Y

And to Thaivisa Insurance for the information on CTPL liability limits.

[Yorkie]

I've today added a translation of the "vehicle registration book" to the site. I hope I've got it right but if not, I would be grateful if anyone could point out the mistakes.

Vehicle Registration Book

Cheers

Y

Edited by Yorkie, 2008-03-19 11:35:29.

[stiggy]

Yorkie

I will be using your driving tips when i am going  to the market to get some ingredients for those great looking curries you have on your site.

Tonight we will be eating yorkies veg massala ......   

Yes a free beer for Yorkie if its as good as it looks

[Yorkie]

stiggy, on 2008-03-19 12:07:52, said:

Tonight we will be eating yorkies veg massala ......

I hope you enjoy it. However, just a small tip: for a reason unknown to me, the potatoes available in Thailand appear to take much longer to cook than the Western varieties therefore I'd suggest pre-boiling them for 10 minutes before adding to the masala. Either that or increase the potato cooking time from 12 minutes to 20 minutes before adding the cauliflower.

Why am I discussing cooking in the driving forum?

Y

[Sten]

Yorkie, on 2008-03-19 11:34:53, said:

I've today added a translation of the "vehicle registration book" to the site. I hope I've got it right but if not, I would be grateful if anyone could point out the mistakes.

Vehicle Registration Book

Cheers

Y

Has anyone done a translation of the road rules ?

[twboss]

"Motorcyclists are a major concern. They appear to consider themselves invincible which is strange"
This is a classic, they comes out from alleys and never check if there is cars coming from their right

[himachal]

OP

Driving in Thailand is very simple really.

Rules? Only one: "Me first."

Signs? You'll be lucky to spot any behind all the billboards and other store signs.

Advice? Get insurance and always give way (see rules, above).

[wilko]

There's a lot of info on what others do here.....but in the end it's what YOU do that's important.
READ THE ROAD!

[lucky2103]

Yorkie, on 2007-07-12 09:03:49, said:

Monkeypants, on 2007-07-11 23:48:10, said:

jayenram, on 2007-06-26 01:32:01, said:

Mosha, on 2007-06-25 18:27:43, said:

What is the speed limit on highways? I have seen the checkpoints with spotters about a km or 2 previous to the stoppers. I've been left alone doing 95 -100, so what is the spped that would get me stopped?

On the Bangkok Tollways the speed limit is generally 120 km/hr and is indicated as such. On all other highways the limit is 90 km/hr unless otherwise advised.

What are you driving....truck or car?

Pick-up, car or small van. Trucks and buses are required to drive at a lower speed as (should be) denoted on the rear. I don't think truck or bus driving is an occupation open to farangs.

Eeeer...may I state that I owned a 15 tons truck until last year and drove it by myself in bkk and upcountry, especially the North.
Although I never had a driving licence for that type of vehicle, I never encountered any problems, even not with the metropolitan police   .

It must be that dare devil luck....

[lucky2103]

I suspect that I went through as a luk kreung. In fact, I was never starred at while encountering any checkpoints ...but my laotian slang shud hv made the cops suspecting