Brian Davis wrote: ↑

January 4, 2018, 3:50 am

There was a big operation on the Nong Khai to Udon highway yesterday, which I caught about lunchtime. Strange they hadn't knocked off for their food/drink at that hour, which would be the norm. Perhaps 25 cars had been pulled over, most I've seen for some time. A bit odd it was yesterday, when I thought the holiday was essentially over.

I reckon the holiday is over when most people are back where they came from. Things started picking up on the east ring-road on 2nd as the early risers headed back south. Bit of a lull right now but I reckon those that were able to afford the week off work will be hitting the roads again this weekend.

SAD!

" Bit of a lull right now but I reckon those that were able to afford the week off work will be hitting the roads again this weekend." mmmmmmmmm at best, an UNFORTUNATE choice of words tam

Back to normal around Nong Samrong. Sitting around drinking beer and lao kow and then off on the motorbike without a helmet of course. The number of people killed/injured here in Udon Thani (124 dead no 1 in the country for the 7 day holiday) means absolutely nothing to these people. They learn nothing because they read nothing (assuming they can read at all).

Just to keep things in perspective.......Of the many figures published in the Thai press, the highest for Udon were 145ish people 'injured' in 139 accidents and 13 deaths in Udon over the holiday period........or 97 accidents for 94 injuries and 14 deaths......again, depending on the source.
http://www.tnews.co.th/index.php/contents/397570
https://www.facebook.com/udontoday.news ... =1&theater
A word of caution......google translate isn't necessarily a good way to translate the numbers presented. One translated article said 113 deaths.....when, in fact, it was 113 injuries. Big difference!

Just tonight I was heading home when some moron decided to pass a whole string of cars. The moron was flashing his lights at me. Not wanting a head on crash, I ran off the side of the road. I have no idea why people do that. This is a fairly common occurrence. I'm actually surprised that there are not more deaths. It can't be lack of training, it has to be pure stupidity and/or a death wish.

The Bangkok Post reported this evening:

The highest number of road accidents over the seven days was reported in Udon Thani, with 139.

Udon Thani also had the highest number of injuries at 145.

These figures come from the Road Safety Directing center as best I can determine.

fdimike wrote: ↑

January 4, 2018, 8:10 pm

The Bangkok Post reported this evening:

The highest number of road accidents over the seven days was reported in Udon Thani, with 139.

139, is that all, I have no doubt that their were a lot more, just not reported to the authorities.

This from The Nation newspaper this morning http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/ ... l/30335418:

"Dr Thanapong Jinvong of the Road Safety Policy Foundation said authorities had progressed in the right direction to promote road safety by strictly enforcing traffic laws.

However, Thanapong said officers could further improve their performance in preventing accidents by increasing the penalty for dangerous driving, especially drunk driving.

“We have found that the arrest rate for drunk driving case has risen by 49 per cent, which made the roads safer,” he said.

However, he cited a poll finding that 74 per

cent of respondents had said they had seen drunk people driving, so the problem remained serious.

He added that officers had to strictly enforce traffic laws throughout the year to make people afraid of the consequences of drunk driving, as Thailand’s roads were still the most dangerous in the world and drunk driving remained a prominent factor in road accidents throughout the year."

Sounds like a good idea. Now lets see if the Thai police are paying attention.

"However, Thanapong said officers could further improve their performance in preventing accidents by increasing the penalty for dangerous driving, especially drunk driving"

I would have thought that the Politicians would raise the penalty for offences and not the Police Officers?

fdimike wrote: ↑

January 4, 2018, 8:10 pm

The Bangkok Post reported this evening:

The highest number of road accidents over the seven days was reported in Udon Thani, with 139.

Udon Thani also had the highest number of injuries at 145.

These figures come from the Road Safety Directing center as best I can determine.

Winning!

Sport wrote: ↑

January 4, 2018, 11:12 pm

fdimike wrote: ↑

January 4, 2018, 8:10 pm

The Bangkok Post reported this evening:

The highest number of road accidents over the seven days was reported in Udon Thani, with 139.

139, is that all, I have no doubt that their were a lot more, just not reported to the authorities.

Between 24 and 27 Dec we drove 900km around the Chiangmai/Chiangrai/Maesai area and during the new year holiday we drove another 200 or so km around Udon. Granted, there were a fair share of drivers with ants in their pants, but all said, we didn't see any accidents.
During the Udon governor's meeting yesterday covering the number of accidents, it was reported that of the 14 deaths, 8 occurred on the road บนถนน.......which I take as an indication that deaths that occur in the hospital after an accident are now included in the reported numbers. That wasn't always the case.

glalt wrote: ↑

January 4, 2018, 8:01 pm

Just tonight I was heading home when some moron decided to pass a whole string of cars. The moron was flashing his lights at me. Not wanting a head on crash, I ran off the side of the road. I have no idea why people do that. This is a fairly common occurrence. I'm actually surprised that there are not more deaths. It can't be lack of training, it has to be pure stupidity and/or a death wish.

It can get insane and dangerous out there. Yesterday my wife and I were traveling in the east bound lane on route 22 heading toward Nong Han. We were in the fast lane behind a tractor trailer. A commuter van pulled up beside us in the left lane and then started severing toward us and my wife yelled at me he is going to hit us and run us off of the road. I backed off so that he could pull in front of us in between us and the tractor trailer that I was following. The commuter van then followed the tractor trailer right on top of the tractor trailer until the tractor trailer pulled into the left lane and then the commuter van accelerated and continued down the road driving like an idiot. There is a lot of aggressive driving out there. Be careful out there. Blowing the horn and/or flashing the lights will just make the situation worse.

glalt wrote: ↑

January 4, 2018, 8:01 pm

Just tonight I was heading home when some moron decided to pass a whole string of cars. The moron was flashing his lights at me. Not wanting a head on crash, I ran off the side of the road. I have no idea why people do that. This is a fairly common occurrence. I'm actually surprised that there are not more deaths. It can't be lack of training, it has to be pure stupidity and/or a death wish.

Yep, had this last week.
Live on a heavy traffic village to village road, 2 lanes towards the village.
Had this car heading my way overtaking 3 cars and flashing I should get out of his way!!!
Which way? The rice fields?
Got on my brakes and flashed back full time, f* idiots.

Then each and every day reaching the village some motorbike man or woman hits the main road without looking towards oncoming traffic, these people have dead wishes.

From The Nation this morning:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/ ... d/30335477

Methamphetamine (yaa baa) use here in Udon Thani IMHO is responsible for much of the crazy driving here in these parts. I'm on my bicycle everyday and the number of idiots on the roads just continues to go up. If the Thai police do not wake up and begin enforcing the traffic laws things will certainly get much worse.

"Then each and every day reaching the village some motorbike man or woman hits the main road without looking towards oncoming traffic, these people have dead wishes." If one was to look then one may have to stop and wait for a few seconds. All too much trouble and absolutely zero common sense!!

I fully share the annoyance and frustration of other posters about some of the nutty Thai drivers, a fair percentage of whom, if stats based on accidents can be believed, have had a drink, are on I drugs, or are not 100% up top. Many have not a clue on driving etiquette or rules of the road. I’ve got angry on occasions, but am really trying now just to keep cool. As much as I dislike these idiots going unpunished usually for their bad driving, I’ve concluded that any reaction by me is almost certainly a waste of time for the reasons above and feel the wise option is to try and steer clear if you can. They just don’t ‘get it’ or, possibly because of the saving face issue, appear to care a hoot (no pun intended). Sorry, this will sound very uncharitable, but I don’t have much sympathy if any of the worst offenders, who really put other reasonable drivers at risk, become a statistic and hope they haven’t taken any innocents with them.

Hey Brian,

One of the most interesting statics in Thailand is, 40% of Thai drivers have a Drivers License. Enough said....

Secondly, never get involved in road rage here. You could be in a serious accident, beaten or shot. I really do respect the Thai people. I am a guest. But something weird happens when they get behind the wheel of a pickup.

colt1911 wrote: ↑

January 6, 2018, 2:03 pm

Hey Brian,
One of the most interesting statics in Thailand is, 40% of Thai drivers have a Drivers License. Enough said....
Secondly, never get involved in road rage here. You could be in a serious accident, beaten or shot. I really do respect the Thai people. I am a guest. But something weird happens when they get behind the wheel of a pickup.

Thanks Colt. I've been here quite a while and I'm aware sadly of the regular and extreme violence which takes place in Thai life everywhere, not just confined to driving. They do not mess about! One has only to watch Thai news.
The reasons for the mess driving is in here, has been talked of many times in other topics, but possession of a Thai drivers license is pretty meaningless anyway. I've witnessed the tests at the local office and obtaining a license doesn't guarantee anyone's ability to drive well, never mind if commonsense and awareness are vital skills too. A family member has a license - she bought it! Respect? -they say it has to be earned. Best not start me on that one.

Not sure if it's the roads, but in our village the local insurance man is collecting for SEVEN people this week. Never higher than 4 before.....

Besides all the drunks out and about, how much of it is caused by the YaBa heads. Seems like everywhere I go these days can see some of the locals all cranked up on something. Also wonder how much the really crappy road surfaces here are a factor. Never ceases to amaze me, can drive back roads in the North, West and the South and the surface is real nice. Come back to Issan and every road sucks. Of course none of the blame could be put on Issan auto divers and the way they disrespect moto riders.