Can Thais drive well?

[greentea]

Very mixed in my experience, it's not all bad, I've been in the back of some well driven taxis. Now, I don't have a car here and a lot of that has to do with other road users. Not stopping at lights, weaving about for no logical reason, driving while wasted and poor road etiquette are all reasons I prefer to stay off the road. It's really the only thing that makes my blood boil in Thailand. Life is precious, so why do they drive like brain dead morons putting peoples lives in danger? Stupidity? No education?

[Neverna]

Some can, some can't.

[greentea]

Much the same as anywhere. There was a nasty bike on Soi 33 this weekend. Looked like the poor chap slammed into a weaving taxi, he was out for the count.

[Loy Toy]

Mostly none of them have had proper training, learned the rules nor have road sense, patience or discipline when driving.

When it comes to courtesy they lack that human trait.

[boloa]

Even with training things can go wrong !!

[baldrick]

the ability to think ahead and be aware of objects ,stationary and immobile , in the vicinity is not just lacking in the majority of Thais

everywhere is full of stupid cnuts who should not be allowed to control machinery , but population levels mean that there are more of them in Asia and coupled with inferior infrastructure and enforcement means it is more dangerous than the west

[Norton]

Can Thais drive well

Some of the worlds best. Many become professional motor sports drivers.

[terry57]

On my frequent road trips up North I have them rated at not to bad over all.

That said, one must always beware for Somchai the retard, he will always show up on any road trip.

His most dangerous trick being overtaking on blind bends and corners.

What I always notice is the driving gets worse once nearing Bangkok , once on the Freeway it's game on.

Always be ready for bad boy Somchai and all's good.

Newbie farang drivers are most at danger simply because they are not aware or ready for Somchai the insane one.

[Henrie]

It takes riding on a motorbike here to experience how bad it can be. Back home I have about one scare per year. Here it is several per week.

Just today I had someone come out of a sideroad without looking and someone in a pickup overtake me then immediately turn left. Yesterday was uneventful but on Saturday when I was doing 65 in the left lane of a dual carriageway another bike was going past me in the right lane doing about 80 when a pickup doing about 120 went between us about 6" from me. What a crazy bastard.

[terry57]

^

You bike riders take a huge risk every time you saddle up.

The holes in the road one encounters can bring you guys unstuck in a millisecond.

Be careful out there mate.

[chassamui]

The busier the traffic the worse they get. No patience or consideration for other road users at all. Once they feel they are being delayed, all normal behaviour and common sense goes out the window.
That is just the sober ones. Add in the yabba head with one wonky eye and gammy legs with family six up on a motosai, while carrying a helmet and it's like driving a loose horse.
Apart from that they are fine.

[thaimeme]

Some can, some can't.

Yep...
Just like any other population in the world.

[Henrie]

Fuck off out and do something fun on your birthday night Jeff.

[Dragonfly94]

Much the same as anywhere. There was a nasty bike on Soi 33 this weekend. Looked like the poor chap slammed into a weaving taxi, he was out for the count.

Not the same as anywhere, only Namibia is worse for road deaths, most Thais drive very selfishly and seem to think they are the only ones on the road, either that or they drive like they are trying to commit suicide.

[rickschoppers]

It all pretty much percolates down to the lack of enforcement by the BIB. Start charging heavy fines for breaking the rules of the road and the word would get out very quickly. That would mean stoping drivers while actually patrolling the roads, which is unheard of in Thailand.

If the polkce would actually start doing their jobs to protect and serve instead of collecting tea money at road blocks, there would be fewer fatal accidents and much less crazziness on the roads.

[Hans Mann]

Can Thais drive well?

They sure can......except during the 7 dangerous days........of the week.

[Fondles]

I get out to Bira often and can confirm there is some real talented Thai drivers.

[Fondles]

Can Thais drive well?

They sure can......except during the 7 dangerous days........of the week.

less people die per day during that time so I can only assume they drive better when pissed up.

[Dragonfly94]

I don't drive here but can somebody confirm this. At a crossroads when the lights are red can a vehicle still turn left? Mrs says it's yes and in the highway code, I say no.

[Fondles]

I don't drive here but can somebody confirm this. At a crossroads when the lights are red can a vehicle still turn left? Mrs says it's yes and in the highway code, I say no.

What does the sign say ?

Some you can, some you cannot...

[Seekingasylum]

In the UK, the average learner driver has about 40 lessons of up to an hour each and is required to pass both a theoretical test and one in which their proficiency on the road is assessed during an hour long examination on the highway by an independent scrutineer according to guidelines laid down by a government agency charged with maintaining uniform standards nationwide.

In this country they spend a day at an assessment centre during which they receive instruction, listen to lectures and take a rudimentary theory test, following which they then return the next day and have their proficiency tested by driving around an enclosed space for 30 minutes in which basic manoeuvres are executed.

Last year in the UK there were 1,750 road deaths, in Thailand about 26,000.

I think this may answer the OP's enquiry.

[Dragonfly94]

I don't drive here but can somebody confirm this. At a crossroads when the lights are red can a vehicle still turn left? Mrs says it's yes and in the highway code, I say no.

What does the sign say ?

Some you can, some you cannot...

No sign, I once asked why on Rhamkenheng cars were going against a red light -no problem nothing coming the other way

[Dragonfly94]

In the UK, the average learner driver has about 40 lessons of up to an hour each and is required to pass both a theoretical test and one in which their proficiency on the road is assessed during an hour long examination on the highway by an independent scrutineer according to guidelines laid down by a government agency charged with maintaining uniform standards nationwide.

In this country they spend a day at an assessment centre during which they receive instruction, listen to lectures and take a rudimentary theory test, following which they then return the next day and have their proficiency tested by driving around an enclosed space for 30 minutes in which basic manoeuvres are executed.

Last year in the UK there were 1,750 road deaths, in Thailand about 26,000.

I think this may answer the OP's enquiry.

It's worse than this as they nod off or play on the phone during the video, then if they fail any of the 3 simple maneuvers can come back for several weeks to have another go. Usually it's the reversing into a box and out that catches them out, if still cannot do they usually offer you a pass for a consideration anyway. You can get a licence without ever have driven on a road at all and we can all see the results of that. You would think test reform would be a priority of a government, but no. In reality it is not a driving test at all.

[Pragmatic]

I find that they have this infuriating habit of overtaking only then to slam on their anchors and turn left.

[rickschoppers]

Even though there are road laws on the books, they are not enforced and very few know what they are. In other words you can do anything as long as there are no police around, or even if they are around. It is a free for all out there.