Farang fatality

[bobgod 5]

Never let the facts get in the way of a good sensational story----Sure they had probably been drinking, If they are/were both Americans--driving on the other side of the road, but what about this 'official' quote?

 

"When they reached the curve with no lights of the under-construction road, the driver who could not control his bike, reportedly slammed it into the cement pavement edge in the middle of the road. It caused both of them to be ejected over the road and the kawasaki then rolled several times before coming to a stop nearly 50 meters up the road."

 

Unlit road construction----1

 

Tourist----------------------Nil

[cannonball83204 78]

I'm using the latest beta versions of both Chrome and Firefox. Niether will open the site.

 

I am using chrome right now and it opened up for viewing without any problems. I haven't tried it with Firefox.

[tomcat76 327]

I won't call it a matter of stupidity, but rather of judgement. It seems convenient to have one's own transport, and being right & tight about it, but you've GOT to weigh the RISKS! It's a personal decision (as it should be), but to me (and I've been there, including a Pattaya emergency room, with some blood-soaked clothing, needing stitches, a slightly wrecked rental, etc.), it's pretty much not worth it. I've always thought I was lucky enough to dodge a bullet, and I guess I'm just not the type to "double-down".

[chris2004 67]

It happened just outside my condo. It's sad but these guys are crazy driving high powered bikes. At 4.30 am he was pissed for sure. Just asking for trouble.

[Gary 4,119]

Thai Visa is reporting that the American, James Crocker has died of his injuries. RIP

[biggles 509]

Been riding here for around seven years but I have noticed a disturbing trend in the last couple of years. More and more young, male tourists are tearing around pattaya at fast speeds, weaving in and out of the traffic, all to save themselves one minutes travel time.!!! Mamy of these guys are gonna end up dead or injured as traffic here is very unpredictable.

[Bushcraft 2,579]

Been riding here for around seven years but I have noticed a disturbing trend in the last couple of years. More and more young, male tourists are tearing around pattaya at fast speeds, weaving in and out of the traffic, all to save themselves one minutes travel time.!!! Mamy of these guys are gonna end up dead or injured as traffic here is very unpredictable.

 

Couldn't agree more, slow is the way to go here, and riding as defensively as possible. Nonetheless only sheer luck has saved my bacon several times while out on my scooter, as many Thais have very little 'road-sense' and will do the most crazy, unpredictable things.

Three examples:

1. Waiting at the front of the lineup, at the red light to cross Pattaya Tai from 3rd Road on the way to Jomtien. A Thai girl jabbering on her mobile is in the right-hand lane as if wanting to turn right. The light changes to green, she suddenly turns sharp left to enter Pattaya Tai, across the entire bevy of bikes just starting to move off. How everyone missed her I don't know, it frightened the daylights out of me.

2. Waiting at the end of Soi Buakhouw to turn left into Pattaya Tai. A gap appears in the traffic, so I start to move off when something - I don't know what - makes me momentarily look left rather than right before I accelerate out. A motorbike taxi guy is travelling at speed, going the wrong way on the wrong side of Pattaya Tai, right across my path. That would have been a very nasty T-bone, very possibly fatal, and I learned there and then that you have to look in every direction, not just the 'legally possible' directions.

3. Stopped in the right-hand lane on Pattaya Tai to turn right into Soi Buakhouw, indicator flashing, a policeman on a motorbike pulls up behind me. A gap appears in the oncoming traffic, I'm about to accelerate into the right turn when the copper suddenly accelerates past me from behind and turns right, though I was already starting to move. Don't know how I missed him, and I shudder to think what the consequences would have been if I hit a copper, right or wrong.

 

It's very dangerous out there.

[Feileacan 32]

Never let the facts get in the way of a good sensational story----Sure they had probably been drinking, If they are/were both Americans--driving on the other side of the road, but what about this 'official' quote?

 

"When they reached the curve with no lights of the under-construction road, the driver who could not control his bike, reportedly slammed it into the cement pavement edge in the middle of the road. It caused both of them to be ejected over the road and the kawasaki then rolled several times before coming to a stop nearly 50 meters up the road."

Unlit road construction----1

 

Tourist----------------------Nil

 

Driving on an unmarked and unlit road that has a lot of construction work going on, where a bike will travel 50 meters after hitting a kerb is a sure sign of speeding

[pattayaman 8]

a fool and his motorcycle are soon parted

[stevoman 2]

Whist standing on my balcony last month on Soi Buakaow overlooking the "S" bend, saw the most idiotic M/C rider ever.

He was driving one handed, a toddler in front of him holding the handlebars. Another schoolgirl seated behind him! NO helmets of course!

The thing that capped it all was he was using his free hand to hold his cellphone to his ear,whilst cradling a BABY in the crook of his arm!!! All this happened as he passed by about a dozen cops who were doing their pre-CHRISTMAS collections outside the R-Con!

They didn't even stop him?

[jacko 8,813]

Been riding here for around seven years but I have noticed a disturbing trend in the last couple of years. More and more young, male tourists are tearing around pattaya at fast speeds, weaving in and out of the traffic, all to save themselves one minutes travel time.!!! Mamy of these guys are gonna end up dead or injured as traffic here is very unpredictable.

You may also notice the Thais lads are buying some of the bigger bikes.

 

I believe the source of danger to me on my bike to be trucks and these huge coaches which give you little regard, and are in the habit of pulling out infront of motorbikes.

Edited December 31, 2010 by jacko

[Gary 4,119]

Just recently a pickup truck pulled out in front of a Thai motorcycle taxi. The motorcycle taxi avoided the pickup but went down and was run over by a cement truck. At least he didn't suffer long.

[volsfan 43]

Whist standing on my balcony last month on Soi Buakaow overlooking the "S" bend, saw the most idiotic M/C rider ever.

He was driving one handed, a toddler in front of him holding the handlebars. Another schoolgirl seated behind him! NO helmets of course!

The thing that capped it all was he was using his free hand to hold his cellphone to his ear,whilst cradling a BABY in the crook of his arm!!! All this happened as he passed by about a dozen cops who were doing their pre-CHRISTMAS collections outside the R-Con!

They didn't even stop him?

 

Probably their boss!!

 

Saw the coppers at Klang and Second last night having a chat with one of their un-helmeted colleagues stopped at the light, at the same time pulling over someone else for not wearing a helmet. What a bunch of hypocritical fucks!

[mrlasvegas 124]

You may also notice the Thais lads are buying some of the bigger bikes.

 

I believe the source of danger to me on my bike to be trucks and these huge coaches which give you little regard, and are in the habit of pulling out infront of motorbikes.

As someone who drives a commercial vehicle for a living (bus) currently, and trucks before that let me correct your misconception. You believe they have no regard for you. In a few cases possible, but in general it is the motorcyclists and bicyclists that are acting inappropriately and with no regard. Often they ride in a bus or truck's blind spot. Buses and big semi trucks have many blind spots. While you think you are being quite visible, from the drivers seat you come out of nowhere. If you can't clearly see the mirrors of the coach, they can't see you. Most commercial vehicles have bug eye mirrors. These are small mirrors under the main ones. If the vehicle you are encountering does not have these, then they have more blind spots than normal. So you should never attempt to go around or overtake these vehicles on any small vehicle.Large coaches have natural blind spots on both the right and left lower front corners from the drivers windshield. And that is where motos like to hide.

[wacmedia 277]

Hi,

 

RIP to the guys. I would never ride a bike in Pattaya and feel some people trade up to bigger bikes than they are used to. Drink and the buzz of being on holiday, as well as crazy driving standards, add to the danger.

[jacko 8,813]

As someone who drives a commercial vehicle for a living (bus) currently, and trucks before that let me correct your misconception. You believe they have no regard for you. In a few cases possible, but in general it is the motorcyclists and bicyclists that are acting inappropriately and with no regard. Often they ride in a bus or truck's blind spot. Buses and big semi trucks have many blind spots. While you think you are being quite visible, from the drivers seat you come out of nowhere. If you can't clearly see the mirrors of the coach, they can't see you. Most commercial vehicles have bug eye mirrors. These are small mirrors under the main ones. If the vehicle you are encountering does not have these, then they have more blind spots than normal. So you should never attempt to go around or overtake these vehicles on any small vehicle.Large coaches have natural blind spots on both the right and left lower front corners from the drivers windshield. And that is where motos like to hide.

What a crock......

Firstly pulling out infront of motorcycles is purely the fault of the bus/ truck driver.

If trucks/ busses have so many blind spots they are an unsafe vehicles and should not be on the road.

Motorcycles do not like to hide at all.... in fact it is likely they would prefer to be seen, by these blind truck drivers.

 

We are talking Thailand here and I reiterate, these bus/coach truck drivers give motorcycles little regard as they drive down little sois barely larger than their vehicle, and cross junctions without slowing or stopping. They drive on roads which are unsuitable and block junctions by occupying all lanes.

I ride a motorcycle and am not under any misconception. I am the one who will be killed by the truck, the only injury a truck driver in LOS might sustain could be a twisted ankle as he runs away!