Road Accidents In Pattaya

The first accident we have to talk about happened at the famous Sukhumvit / Soi Nerm Pleubwan intersection. That's the place where there is a break in the median to allow traffic to turn across a divided highway into Soi Nerm Pleubwan... but the police have decided that the spot is so dangerous, that they have put up big plastic barriers, huge bold print signs saying "no turn", and made it all but impossible to actually turn there... and yet Thai people continue to ignore the barriers, the signs, and drive across rushing traffic.

Well, this time it was a couple of Pattaya Police Volunteers (who are coming to be known as "weekend warriors and wannabes" here in Pattaya) in a pickup truck who were following a "suspicious motorcycle", and got T-boned for their efforts. They're facing charges.

The second accident occurred as yet another Thai person ignored traffic signals, and ran the red light in front of Carrefour, slamming his motorcycle into a turning car.

If you got everyone in Thailand to (a) obey the simplest of traffic laws (stopping at red lights, for example), and (b) stop drinking and driving, I am willing to bet that just those two simple measures would reduce traffic accidents in the country by 80%.

I've concluded already that just about every Thai person — by natural law — is required at least once in their lives to lie in the middle of a street with blood pouring over their face, gasping from cracked ribs, missing large patches of skin, and howling in pain. I am guessing that this is a requirement because until experiencing the pain of an accident, Thai people aren't inclined to drive safely: Kind of a cautionary experience... assuming they aren't killed. I wonder how many Thai people don't learn their lesson, and have to go through the process twice? Probably a fair number.

I had my one accident a few years back (caused by a Thai person), and now I'm as paranoid and alert and cautious when I'm driving as a person can be. Hopefully that will be enough to save me from death by the hands of the type of idiots that we have noted above.

Anyway, drive carefully folks... because you know that the Thai people won't.