Traffic police? What traffic police?
Play
Re: "Reform the Royal Thai Traffic Police", Opinion/Features, May 28.
Cyclists are definitely in danger in Thailand since there are no bicycle lanes and apparently no rules for motorcyclists. I fear that if the government did make lanes for bicycles, they would become highways for motorcycles. There seem to be no police to enforce the law against the legions of motorcyclists who drive on the wrong side of the road, make turns from the wrong lane, overtake on the wrong side, etc.
I have driven in Thailand for the last 10 years and I am still amazed at what goes on. Buses travelling 100 metres between stops will move out to the right lane, blocking traffic, before moving left again and blocking more traffic. Mini-vans in heavy traffic swerve in and out of lanes with impunity and with no regard for other road users.
But the main cause of most accidents is drivers making U-turns. I have driven all over the world and have never seen anything like this in any other country. Travel along any main highway and you will witness frustrated drivers of trucks and buses making U-turns against traffic that is moving at 100 kilometres per hour or more, making for a very dangerous situation. And yet I have never seen police apprehend any motorist for this violation or for other reckless driving habits, such as running red lights and tailgating.
Steve Berlin
