Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 32
  1. #1
    Thailand Expat
    Sumocakewalk's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    nyukville
    Posts
    3,033

    Crazy Mini-Bus Experiences In LOS

    Anybody have any exciting moments you've experienced at the hands of the ever talented mini-bus drivers in the land of smiles? The mini-busses I'm referring to are those Toyota Commuter vans that are typically white or silver.

    I'll start with one that got the pulse rate up today.

    I was returning this afternoon to Lopburi from an overnight run to Bangkok, making use of one of the 2 mini-bus operators from my town. The route mostly follows Asia Road (Highway 32) through the central provinces. For those of you who are not familiar with Asia Road, it is one of the main north/south arteries and is 3 or 4 lanes wide in both directions. In some of the busier areas, the highway has been upgraded with u-turn flyovers, but in many places there are dangerous u-turn lanes in the middle of the highway.

    On our route, nearing the turn off from Asia Road onto the highway into Lopburi, there is a point where the mini-bus makes a u-turn at one of those middle of the highway examples. Why they choose to do the u-turn there puzzles me, as only a kilometer down the road is a major highway junction with a flyover where it is much safer to get onto the highway to Lopburi and does not add to the overall distance.

    Today's driver, whom I'll refer to as Mr. 22 for the number of his mini-bus, was doing an "average" job based on my experiences - changing lanes constantly, tailgating, speeding etc. I was riding shotgun as I usually prefer, due to the added leg room and there's usually a seat belt to make use of. When we approached the area where the u-turn is made, I was hoping this driver would make an exception and take the flyover further down the highway, which they occasionally do. No such luck today. Mr. 22 (orange vehicle) swung into the u-turn lane and ducked to the inside of a pick-up truck (blue vehicle) that was patiently waiting to make its u-turn.

    Coming in the opposite direction was a steady stream of traffic across all lanes. Having made this trip dozens of times, I noted that traffic was about as heavy as I could recall. Without even trying to wait for a break, Mr. 22 got impatient and began to nose his way into the fast lane, creeping further and further into the oncoming traffic. In typical Thai driving style, many of the approaching drivers were tailgating, making for a great opportunity for a chain reaction collision as they approached at speeds around 110 kilometers per hour. Some of these drivers got annoyed at Mr. 22's incursion into their space and were flashing high beams to draw his attention. Being in the shotgun spot, I had a great view of all the vehicles bearing down on us, whizzing past just centimeters from where I was sitting.

    It seemed that Mr. 22's intentions were to play chicken with his mini-bus full of passengers and the oncoming drivers until either he got his way or triggered a momentous pile up. As he nudged the mini-bus about 2/3 of the way into the fast lane, the oncoming driver of a Toyota Hilux had no choice but to jam on the brakes or hit us, as he could not maneuver into the next lane due to other traffic. Much to my relief, Mr. 22 got his way this time without the epic disaster that could have occurred. Surprisingly, aside from the flashing lights from the oncoming vehicles, nobody blasted their horn, which is something I would not have hesitated to do.

    As result of this experience with Mr. 22 and the driver of the previous 2 trips, Mr. Smiley, I will likely change to the other mini-bus operator in town. Mr. Smiley's driving was "average", but his demeanor with non-Thai customers left a lot to be desired, hence the nickname.



  2. #2
    Thailand Expat

    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Last Online
    25-03-2021 @ 08:47 AM
    Posts
    36,437
    Yep, you have a perfect view of your impending death from the suicide seat...

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    18,022
    Quote Originally Posted by BaitongBoy View Post
    Yep, you have a perfect view of your impending death from the suicide seat...
    Alternative stimulation in our hum-drum existences...


  4. #4
    Thailand Expat

    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Last Online
    25-03-2021 @ 08:47 AM
    Posts
    36,437
    ^Yep, it does get the juices flowing...Mainly, the kind that end up in your underwear...

  5. #5
    splendid and tremendous
    somtamslap's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last Online
    27-11-2023 @ 11:59 PM
    Location
    Down on the farm
    Posts
    13,805
    Quote Originally Posted by Sumocakewalk
    As result of this experience with Mr. 22 and the driver of the previous 2 trips, Mr. Smiley, I will likely change to the other mini-bus operator in town.
    Or eschew these regular brushes with death-by-idiotic-twat and get the train instead?

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat

    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Last Online
    25-03-2021 @ 08:47 AM
    Posts
    36,437
    ^It'll end up in the klong, anyway...

  7. #7
    The Fool on the Hill bowie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    นนทบุรี
    Posts
    5,839
    Can relate to several similar experiences. Chicken at its best.

    What we falang fail to realize is they are fully protected from harm by the magic amulets around their neck and on the dashboard. Kinda like our plastic Jesus'.

  8. #8
    The Fool on the Hill bowie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    นนทบุรี
    Posts
    5,839
    Plastic Jesus


  9. #9
    Thailand Expat
    Hans Mann's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Last Online
    01-07-2016 @ 05:52 AM
    Location
    Land of Laughs
    Posts
    5,757
    I always thought the shotgun seat was for young women whom the driver needs to impress.

  10. #10
    Banned

    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last Online
    09-05-2021 @ 03:25 AM
    Posts
    33,644
    Quote Originally Posted by Hans Mann
    I always thought the shotgun seat was for young women whom the driver needs to impress
    Ive noticed that too....

    If a nice piece of flange got on that mini van after Sumocakearse, its quite understandable why the Thai introduced him to first hand motorway traffic

  11. #11
    Thailand Expat
    thailazer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 08:45 AM
    Posts
    3,102
    Quote Originally Posted by BaitongBoy View Post
    Yep, you have a perfect view of your impending death from the suicide seat...
    Quicker there than in the back when the sliding door jams during the impact and you slowly roast in the fire. Those vans really are death traps.

  12. #12
    I'm in Jail

    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Last Online
    14-12-2023 @ 11:54 AM
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    13,986
    My experiences have merely been of the driver going too fast. But I will always remember one poster here writing that his driver had his foot flat to the floor the whole time, only occasionally slowing by simultaneously putting his other foot on the brake.

  13. #13
    Member

    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Last Online
    15-11-2018 @ 11:52 AM
    Location
    Kamala on the lake
    Posts
    147
    The perfect start and end to a perfect day - like a visa run from Patong to that shithole Kawthung/Victoria Point in Myanmar.

    I flew out to KL and back after that experience - back home before 2pm (for an extra 800 baht).

  14. #14
    I'm in Jail

    Join Date
    May 2011
    Last Online
    29-04-2023 @ 08:08 AM
    Location
    Not in jail
    Posts
    7,255
    Besides the amulets, I'm guessing mr 22 was probably also sporting the large fingernail on the pinky finger that is standard for Thai drivers

  15. #15
    Thailand Expat

    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Last Online
    25-03-2021 @ 08:47 AM
    Posts
    36,437
    ^It's for picking the front-seat passenger's nose...

  16. #16
    I'm in Jail

    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Last Online
    14-12-2023 @ 11:54 AM
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    13,986
    Quote Originally Posted by Sumocakewalk View Post
    aside from the flashing lights from the oncoming vehicles, nobody blasted their horn
    Of course not ! That would have been impolite.

  17. #17
    Thailand Expat
    thailazer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Last Online
    Today @ 08:45 AM
    Posts
    3,102
    Going from Koh Chang to Bangkok once, those of us in the first row of seats had to keep shaking the driver as he fell asleep. Beyond me how we made it. Never a dull moment with a mini van.

  18. #18
    Member
    Bettyboo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Last Online
    Today @ 10:50 AM
    Location
    Bangkok
    Posts
    34,272
    Many years back, living in Saraburi, I used to do a similar trip into Bkk - a horrible horrible route...

    I very rarely do minivans, but sometimes it seems like the only option - zanax time...

  19. #19
    I'm in Jail

    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Last Online
    14-12-2023 @ 11:54 AM
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    13,986
    Schools and various other government groups often have trusted van drivers they use regularly. If anyone needs to take a van, and they have a group of people, I'd strongly suggest finding one of these.

  20. #20
    splendid and tremendous
    somtamslap's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Last Online
    27-11-2023 @ 11:59 PM
    Location
    Down on the farm
    Posts
    13,805
    Quote Originally Posted by Bettyboo
    Many years back, living in Saraburi,
    Why on Earth wasn't I informed of this?

    Indeed a certain Monsewer Slap also resided in that fucking dump circa 2006/7.

    Cheers for the call, Bets...

    I didn't want a beer anyway.

  21. #21
    Thailand Expat
    Sumocakewalk's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    nyukville
    Posts
    3,033
    Quote Originally Posted by thailazer View Post
    Going from Koh Chang to Bangkok once, those of us in the first row of seats had to keep shaking the driver as he fell asleep. Beyond me how we made it. Never a dull moment with a mini van.
    That reminded me of an incident that was humorous rather than a potential tragedy.

    Several years ago when I was living in the Ayutthaya area, we rode the motorcycle into the city to catch a mini-bus to Bangkok one morning. We were in the two seats on the right side of the front row and a fifty-ish Chinese Thai gent took the third seat next to me. The fellow may have been involved in an all night gaming adventure as he pulled out a huge wad of small bills and began assembling them into a roll. While the mini-bus sat parked, he was wobbling in his seat, swaying back and forth as if he was about to pass out at any moment.

    When we got under way for the one hour ride into Bangkok, this gent was having major difficulty keeping himself upright. It was especially noticeable when the mini-bus driver made lane changes. After a while the driver took notice of this gent's predicament. He smiled while watching the gent's reaction from the corner of this eye as he made ever more jerky lane changes.

    In the meantime, as I sat next to the gent, it was like being in a bumper car amusement park ride as he kept bouncing off my left shoulder. I hoped that I would not find out what the contents of his digestive tract were. Luck prevailed and we arrived in Bangkok without a major incident. When the sliding door was opened the gent halfway fell out but hit the ground standing, and hopefully was off to catch some sleep and sober up.

  22. #22
    RIP pseudolus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    18,083
    I despise those "drivers" with a passion. I have never needed their "services" but every day on the roads you see them driving like fricking retards on yaba, with stage 4 cancer and just starting to feel the real pain kicking in and no money for morphine, and angry at the world for him getting it. In fact the most dangerous driving actions I have seen here is by those bastards. I forbid the missus to take those buses as well.

  23. #23
    Thailand Expat
    BobR's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Last Online
    19-03-2020 @ 02:26 AM
    Posts
    7,762
    One time, 170 KPH on inbound Highway 7 (could see speedometer over monkey's shoulder) with something that looked and smelled like it slept in a field at the wheel. Never again. I don't mind going that fast with someone I trust driving.

    I've always wondered if Toyota could engineer a chip for the engine computer that would limit the top speed of those things. With company trucks, it can be set by the owner/company and the driver cannot change it. Even if it cost Toyota money, it would be a great PR move.

  24. #24
    RIP pseudolus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    18,083
    Quote Originally Posted by BobR View Post
    One time, 170 KPH on inbound Highway 7 (could see speedometer over monkey's shoulder) with something that looked and smelled like it slept in a field at the wheel. Never again. I don't mind going that fast with someone I trust driving.

    I've always wondered if Toyota could engineer a chip for the engine computer that would limit the top speed of those things. With company trucks, it can be set by the owner/company and the driver cannot change it. Even if it cost Toyota money, it would be a great PR move.
    It would take about 3 seconds for them to be removed / altered. What it needs, funnily enough, is a good police force enforcing the law.

    Ahhh never going to happen. I don't care at all that these thugs and louts get killed all the time. Its the innocents they take with them that rankles. They'd soon change their ways when people stopped getting on their dread hell mobiles. Well, no, they wouldn't, they would hike the prices up and bomb any competition such as buses an trains.

  25. #25
    Member
    Bettyboo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Last Online
    Today @ 10:50 AM
    Location
    Bangkok
    Posts
    34,272
    Quote Originally Posted by somtamslap
    Monsewer Slap also resided in that fucking dump circa 2006/7.

    Cheers for the call, Bets...
    Sorry, Mr Slaps. I was there a few years previous.

    If I'm Croydon way (which I won't be!), I'll give you a shout.

    Minivan adventures, back in the day, were always a fukin nightmare; nearly came to blows with drivers numerous times; sometimes got out, sometimes changed the return route; it's just not worth risking your life with these fukers...
    Cycling should be banned!!!

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •