After you get used to it, you find they are quite passive drivers. I win most battles at crossroads.
I drive daily in Isaan, twice a day through Korat rush hour traffic. Must admit that now I'm used to it, it's not too bad. You get used to checking you're not being undertaken when turning left, or overtaken when turning right, regardless of indicator use.
So long as you drive forcefully, lane changing is no problem and it is now second nature when turning right at traffic lights to get away fast and cut in front of the oncoming traffic. If you're not first in the queue, then just drive 3cm behind the car in front and join everyone else cutting in front of the oncoming cars.
In the UK it's common to flash your lights to let someone out of a junction, etc, in direct contrast to Thailand where it means the opposite... "I'm not stopping". I'm sure some British drivers have been caught out by that, thinking they are being let out into the traffic. When you're used to it, it's not so bad but gets taken to extremes when oncoming overtaking cars flash their lights to tell you to get out of the way because they are coming, whatever.
I find the speed of city traffic much slower than in the UK and prefer driving in Korat than back in Bristol. Much less aggressive and easier paced.
I used to try to let drivers into traffic streams but they just don’t get it.
Mind you, they don’t get it in Western Australia either.
Same here, tbh. My hometown in the UK has small, twisty roads that used to be cart horse tracks being driven on by aggressive obese people in shitty little shopping cart "cars", that get mad if you delay their miserable daily commute more than 2 seconds.
You can usually spot the dangerous-wanker drivers in Thailand. They are usually manning lowered pickups (lowered to reflect their IQ's, probably) with cheapo mag wheels, and belching black smoke out the back. Or driving Toyota Fortuners.
I nearly added to this morning's post that I've never really had a problem with the police when driving in Thailand. I went through no less than four road blocks between Korat and Jomtien on Sunday (close to Korat and in Khao Yai) and was waved through each. I've found that typical in Thailand. When I lived in Malaysia it was nothing but hassle and fine after fine.
And then I was pulled in Rayong this morning, on the way to Ban Phe.
Wankers!
Last edited by Neverna; 09-07-2019 at 05:55 PM.
I like the bit where the driver puts the hazard lights on (left and right blinkers at the same time) to indicate that they are ...
... driving straight ahead
Also, used to have to regularly drive a 6 lane road (3 lanes each direction).
The trucks and buses would start in the far left hand lane and then cross 3 lanes to complete the U-Turn.
Perfectly acceptable, once you understand what's happening.
I’ve seen three-point u-turns in a dual carriageway.
None of that silly ‘full lock and accelerate’ nonsense - they’ve paid for a reverse gear and they’re gunna use it.
Jeez what’s wrong with that ???
Still got 1.5 lanes free .....
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