Rants and rages

Post by **Aardvark** » August 8, 2008, 10:45 am

Like many others on this forum I've been riding on and off the road since I was a kid, and if there is one thing I have learned its that you have to watch out for cars. In the last 12 months here in Perth we have lost 17 motorcyclists to accidents with cars (not a lot compared to Thailand) The Royal Auto Club did a survey and reported that 95% of drivers they spoke to said they did not see the M/C. There is a push on now to make it compulsory to wear reflective safety jackets when riding.

Post by **cali4995** » August 8, 2008, 11:10 am

There are a strange set of unwritten road rules in Thailand. I used to really
enjoy riding about on motorbikes but I no longer drive here. Hit-and-run
accidents, usually by some drunk in a pick-up who then immediately flees
the scene are so commonplace it's almost cliche. I dare say requiring folks
to actually wear their helmets would help. I absolutely cringe everytime I
see an infant straddling the handlebars. Another tragic example below.

http://www.pattayaone.net/news_06_08_51_2.html

Post by **aznyron** » August 8, 2008, 11:13 am

Aard good advice to cyclist I also saw on fox news they have air bags when a rider falls off the bike he pulls cord which in flates his air bag that he/she is wearing it protects him from getting more serious injuries. of course this would be a pain in the azz getting on & off the bike you have to remember to disconnect it. riders have to protect them selfs and some disregard rules of safety
like riding with your lights off at night time or 3 or 4 on a bike no helmet just to name a few
but here in thailand we the expat get screwed if we injure or kill one of them when they do stupid
things I am a victim of azz hole rider so I am very bitter now

Post by **38nholding** » August 8, 2008, 11:17 am

Someone posted "thai air bags" as the child on the front of the bike,now everytime i see a toddler on the front of a bike....
"Compulsory to wear reflective safety jackets " That should be easy enough to enforce here !

Post by **38nholding** » August 8, 2008, 11:22 am

Compulsory reflective jackets ,and motorcycle air bags . I just think that is overkill. The wifes' mom and niece came for a visit last night. stayed till after dark as they headed down the dark and lonely lane I quickly noticed that No rear bulb ,and NO front headlight aarrrgg.Last time I bought a bulb it was 10 bhat ...installed.? I love it here

Post by **Aardvark** » August 8, 2008, 11:28 am

cali4995 wrote:There are a strange set of unwritten road rules in Thailand. I used to really
enjoy riding about on motorbikes but I no longer drive here. Hit-and-run
accidents, usually by some drunk in a pick-up who then immediately flees
the scene are so commonplace it's almost cliche. I dare say requiring folks
to actually wear their helmets would help. I absolutely cringe everytime I
see an infant straddling the handlebars. Another tragic example below.

http://www.pattayaone.net/news_06_08_51_2.html

Assuming the owner of the vehicle admits to being the driver.......they've got two chances of that, Buckleys and F/A.

Post by **cali4995** » August 8, 2008, 11:30 am

I'm only a pedestrian and strongly considering a reflective vest/airbag.
what I really need is a complete set of body-armor along with knee
and elbow pads. .I'll buy a skateboard. I'd live maybe 10 minutes.

Post by **aznyron** » August 8, 2008, 11:34 am

what bib should do is start evening check on M/B no light no bike until you fix it amen

Post by **Aardvark** » August 8, 2008, 12:13 pm

38nholding wrote:Compulsory reflective jackets ,and motorcycle air bags . I just think that is overkill. The wifes' mom and niece came for a visit last night. stayed till after dark as they headed down the dark and lonely lane I quickly noticed that No rear bulb ,and NO front headlight aarrrgg.Last time I bought a bulb it was 10 bhat ...installed.? I love it here

Lets just hope they were wearing thier helmets correctly....38.....Helmets..... :shock: Oh no...

laphanphon · Post by **laphanphon** » August 8, 2008, 3:05 pm

what bib should do is start evening check on M/B no light no bike until you fix it amen

too funny, the laws are already there. license, insurance, registration, must have or can confiscate bike.

Post by **38nholding** » August 9, 2008, 10:18 am

helmets ! c'mon where is one supposed to put a helmet, let alone two ,do you know how dangerous it is to ride a mc with a helmet on your elbow?Or hanging off a mirror( ir you have a mirror). The safest and most uncomplicated place to put a helmet is on top of the fridge !

Post by **BobHelm** » August 9, 2008, 10:31 am

Or, like I saw last night, in the basket on the front of the bike - so that it completely blots out your light to every other road user...

Post by **westerby** » August 9, 2008, 5:14 pm

Rants and rages:

The security guards at the Big C who insist on saluting me in that sloppy fashion.

I want to get out of the Pick Up and demonstrate a proper salute, it's right hand, up 2, 3, down in a smart snap. The palm faces outwards in the same direction of the face with the fingers lined up together. The tip of the index finger touches the temple.

I'd also like to give them an exercise in pressing uniforms.

Don't worry, the therapy is starting to work...

Post by **Pakawala** » August 9, 2008, 9:11 pm

westerby, your "proper" salute wouldn't get you through recruit training in the US Military.

Post by **Gozzo** » August 9, 2008, 9:24 pm

Westerby, when I read your post on a "proper salute", I can't help but get a visual in my head of Benny Hill and his silly grin as he salutes in front of the camera.

Sorry, it must be that English connection, or maybe it's the banter between yourself and Beer Monkey.

Made me laugh, anyway.

Post by **beer monkey** » August 9, 2008, 10:37 pm

Captain Scuttle...Mr Benny Hill.

Post by **westerby** » August 9, 2008, 11:30 pm

Thanks, BM. That picture bears an uncanny resemblance to me in my early military days before I became involved in the Middle Eastern debacle.

Pakawala, as you can see, the palm faces outwards. The American Colonials have evolved a method of palm downwards which does not let the man receiving the salute see whether you have a weapon in your hand (and that was the original reason for a salute). I can let it pass muster if you were a former member of the US Navy but there are no excuses for those chaps in the US Army or USAF.

In fact, there's no excuse for sloppiness in the Forces.

(Now where's my pills?)

Post by **beer monkey** » August 10, 2008, 4:43 am

westerby wrote:Thanks, BM. That picture bears an uncanny resemblance to me in my early military days before I became involved in the Middle Eastern debacle.

In fact, there's no excuse for sloppiness in the Forces.

(Now where's my pills?)

Well i hope that your titfer-tat was seated correctly upon your bonce, and not sideways as our man 'Cap'n Scuttle' prefers to sport.

Post by **westerby** » August 10, 2008, 4:12 pm

beer monkey wrote:Well i hope that your titfer-tat was seated correctly upon your bonce, and not sideways as our man 'Cap'n Scuttle' prefers to sport.

The cap SD was always positioned correctly on the head with a nice shiney shiney badge on the front (unlike the chaps at the Big C).

I say, your little man looks a bit sick.

Post by **wazza** » August 10, 2008, 4:25 pm

Westers

this pict above is NOT from Big C, it is in fact the logistics coordinator for the handing out of parking cards at Complex, after completing his apprenticeship at Tesco, he was fast tracked to Complex, due to his bilingual skills " Thank you "

Next week, i have been informed that he will again be singled out for training, in fact this next course doesnt have a very good pass rate. 0/54

The training tape goes like this.

"Your next assisgnment is to ensure that u only allow into Complex the number of cars that can be parked there. That is, if it holds 350 cars when packed and doubled parked, you must not allow 370 cars inside." Pls ensure that only 350 cards are available to your junior staff.

This tape will self destruct on 10 secs.