Parking problems

But after 1990, the Thai government started to promote the industrial sector and set a target for the Kingdom to become an new industrial country, or an industrial centre for the region.

The people in the farming sector did not have a steady income because they could not set the prices of crops, and had to depend on the weather. The government was unable to manage water effectively and a large number of farmers decided to move into the cities to sell their labour to the industrial sector.

They did this because they knew exactly how much they would earn per day without worrying whether there would be rain or shine. They also had accommodation provided by the factory owners. Thus the industrial sector, especially the Thai automotive industry, grew rapidly.

But at the same time, there were problems that came with the growth in the auto industry. For example, the country had to spend much money to purchase oil from overseas while traffic congestion increased in Bangkok and many other cities, as well as on the highways during the festive season. More road accidents also led to a higher death rate for motorists in Thailand.

One of the problems that came with industrial growth is that people don’t usually think about the lack of parking space at homes as well as public places. This has led to many other problems such as auto theft and burglary. There are even fights that originate from scrambling for parking space or double parking.

The auto industry grew alongside the real-estate sector because automobiles and houses have become an important factor. However, the two sectors shared very little information and cooperation, and we often see imbalance in each sector.

This includes the building of townhouses with parking space in front of the building. In reality, the parking space provided is useless as when the gate is opened, there is not enough space for the vehicles. The construction companies did not have the average dimensions of the automobiles and in many cases, the narrow space made it difficult for drivers to park the car in the house compound without scraping the pillars. In many cases, once the vehicle is parked, the occupants could not get out easily as the doors could not be fully opened. And there was no space to park a second vehicle for the family either.

This week I have a few questions concerning parking sent to my e-mail [email protected]. They may be small questions, but they are quite interesting and benefit many people.

Q: I have purchased a new car but I don’t have parking space in the house so I must park outside, meaning the car would be under sun and rain all the time. In this case should I purchase a cover for the car?

A: There are many types of car covers and each has different qualities. But in my point of view, the quality of the paint that comes from the factory these days is high enough to withstand the heat and rain. So there is no need for covers in order to protect the paintwork.

If you want to prevent heat from damaging interior parts or other items inside the vehicles, then you can use the sun covers for the front windshield, as well as for the rear windshield. You can also try to open up a ventilation channel so that hot air that expands in the cabin can get out easily. For example, remove the small ventilation cap on the floor of the vehicle, or switch the air-conditioning system to “fresh air” You can even slightly open the rear seat backrest so that some of the hot air can be transferred into the luggage compartment.

If you have to park the car where bird droppings can fall on the paint, or under trees where the sap can also drop on the vehicles, then you may need a car cover. But make sure that the vehicle has cooled down first before covering the car, otherwise the engine heat will remain around the car and this could damage the paint.

Also make sure not to use oversized covers because when the wind blows, it will flap against the paint and scratch it. If you have to use large covers, make sure you tie the ends up properly to prevent any friction.

If you cover the car at night, remove it in the morning even if you are not using the car, to allow the moisture on the roof and engine compartment lid to escape. Otherwise, when it is heated up again it can cause spots on the paintwork.

In areas near garbage dumps or sewers, it is better to refrain from using covers because your car could become a retreat for rodents and serpents, which like to stay in dark places. They could even start nesting if you park the car for a long period of time.