Slip Slidin' Away

Post by **jackspratt** » January 11, 2015, 5:14 pm

There are some references on Thai Visa, although none are particularly authoritative - hence my hedged post.

The posts preceding mine were talking about car headlights, as was I.

Post by **Shado** » January 11, 2015, 5:18 pm

I've always thought that windshield wipers should be connected to headlights. If you need to turn on your windshield wipers due to weather the headlights should come on automatically when you do so. Just my opinion.

In my home state of Missouri you can get a citation for driving in the rain without your headlights on.

Post by **parrot** » January 11, 2015, 6:18 pm

There are a truckload of Thai websites asking whether daytime lights are illegal.......and from what I read, the answer is no. Unfortunately, I don't have an official website (traffic laws) that states such.

Most European imports (Benz, BMW, Audi, Volvo) have had automatic daytime lights for several years.

Before we send this question on to the experts at "Myth Busters", maybe a question to the general viewership of UM: Has anyone been stopped by the police for having lights on during the daytime?

Post by **jackspratt** » January 11, 2015, 6:25 pm

In looking at the daytime lights issue, I think we need to distinguish between headlights, and the newer daytime traveling lights.

Post by **parrot** » January 11, 2015, 7:13 pm

Over 50 accidents.....3 deaths....chalked up to the slick roads. There's concern that trucks carrying processed (or semi-processed) rubber are spilling waste on the roads that turns milky in the rain and results in extra slick roads. First time I've read of this effect.
Used to be, just a few years ago, the only rubber I saw transported was dried out sheets. Now though, I frequently see trucks carrying what looks like the insides of coconuts.....but is actually rubber. I'm not sure if the farmers have found a new way to process the rubber.....maybe one of our farmer readers can chime in on what might be leaking onto the roads.

https://www.facebook.com/udon.today.news

Post by **papaguido** » January 11, 2015, 7:17 pm

Unless there's an amendment out there, no where in the current Land traffic Act does does it state that it's an offense to drive with your headlights on during daylight hours. The only reference to head lights is...

Post by **parrot** » January 11, 2015, 7:26 pm

Looks like rubber farmers are indeed transporting unprocessed rubber (looks like straight from the cup) to factories that do the processing (such as the one just before Wat Tham Klong Phen). Apparently, if there's any residual water in those cups, it can spill out during transport, causing the roads to be extra slick (and turn white).
Not that we needed anything to make the roads more hazardous......but the more you know.........

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php? ... 0662278017

Post by **akwoodworker** » January 12, 2015, 6:41 am

I drive with my headlights on all the time. Easily more than half of the drivers here should not be on the road so it is a defensive measure.

Post by **pomps** » January 12, 2015, 6:48 am

Headlights on for those misty/foggy mornings or when strong rain,Thais do not understand the use of headlights apart from flashing when they are going way too fast

Defensive driving vs these muppets $\:D/$

Post by **thaiguzzi** » January 12, 2015, 10:48 am

parrot wrote:Looks like rubber farmers are indeed transporting unprocessed rubber (looks like straight from the cup) to factories that do the processing (such as the one just before Wat Tham Klong Phen). Apparently, if there's any residual water in those cups, it can spill out during transport, causing the roads to be extra slick (and turn white).
Not that we needed anything to make the roads more hazardous......but the more you know.........

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php? ... 0662278017

That is "wet cup" rubber, the wet being a mixture of water and a small percentage of formic acid, very similar to high strength vinegar. Has been transported like that for the last few years to local factories, and i doubt it is any more slippery than a normal wet road. It is unpopular being transported through towns as the stuff stinks, hence it's Thai name of "kee yang".

Post by **stattointhailand** » January 12, 2015, 11:12 am

Shado, the theory is good to have the headlights switch on when the wipers are working, but it would have to have some sort of overide where you could switch them off manually when not required

Post by **Bandung_Dero** » January 12, 2015, 4:00 pm

Getting back on track. We only had about 2 mm in Ban Dung Saturday evening/night. There is a BIG new (1 year old at least 1.5 Rai under cover) panel beating shop just 8 km up the road from me. Normally closed on Sundays it was heaving, there were at least 15 cars/pickups parked in front with varying degrees of damage. Many people milling around including 2 Farang that I had seen. Insurance inspectors must have been run off their feet!

Post by **parrot** » January 15, 2015, 8:05 pm

If you live in one of the villages affected by trucks dumping excess liquid from their rubber-carrying trucks, there's a phone number you (or your LHT) can call to report.
The sign in yellow says "The residue from rubber-carrying trucks is the number one cause of traffic accidents"
The sign in red says "Trucks carrying liquid rubber are forbidden from stopping in community areas. Violators can be jailed for one month or fined 2000 Baht, or both. If you see violators, report them to 042-218-213"

Post by **thaiguzzi** » January 16, 2015, 11:19 am

The number one cause of accidents.!? You gotta laugh...

Post by **parrot** » January 16, 2015, 12:38 pm

thaiguzzi wrote:The number one cause of accidents.!? You gotta laugh...

Yeah, maybe on second thought.....another way to translate the sign is to say it's "one cause of accidents"

I'm an amateur at translating......but wanted to post the signs to make people aware of the dangers of this new way of transporting unprocessed rubber.

Post by **thaiguzzi** » January 17, 2015, 11:44 am

Your translating is far superior to mine. I cannot read or write Thai, and have no intention ever to learn. However my spoken Thai, and even more so, Lao/Isaan is more than half decent, even pretty damn good if i say so myself. I have the utmost respect for people who are willing to learn to read and write the language.
Mike.

Post by **Shado** » January 17, 2015, 2:28 pm

Yeah, maybe on second thought.....another way to translate the sign is to say it's "one cause of accidents"

Yes, my wife helped me to read through the signs and she says that it means that the liquid rubber residue causes accidents but not "the #1 cause of accidents".