Slow trucks

[smoooth2]

On another thread about the new bus station, it has been suggested that the NCA coaches travel at 80 kmph all the way to BKK. I must agree with Nookie's response "dream on ..."

The only reason the NCA coach would be doing 80 is if he was ahead of schedule, or if traffic conditions dictated such a slow speed. The coaches are certainly capable of cruising at 100 all day, and comfortably do so when they can.

Which brings me to the topic of this thread. In my previous life my entire working career was in the heavy road transport game in Oz. I reckon the most dangerous aspect of highway driving in Thailand is the pathetic slow speed of heavy trucks.

All modern trucks are easily capable of 90 -100 kmph when fully loaded. Why they crawl along at 50 - 70 kmph on the open highway here is a complete mystery to me. Even the slightest incline has many trucks down to walking speed. It's incredibly dangerous, and makes motorists frustrated and do silly overtaking manoeuvers.

Yes ... far too many car drivers are suicidal, but the slow trucks really exacerbate the problem out of all proportion. IMHO

[davu]

I always assumed that the trucks were underpowered. I think that you are talking about all modern trucks in sensible countries.

[toffo]

More like overloaded and carrying to much weight

[nookiebear]

Overloaded & Underpowered..........Just look at the car transporters...........

[JasonB]

Some good points,Smooth,no one has commented about alot of these trucks,ESPECIALLY cane trucks,are older then 99% of us! And I have seen many cars buried up the trucks arses because the trucks were crawling and the car driver was half paying attention doing 120K's an hour.

[urleft]

If you haven't seen this one it is worth the watch to see what can happen when you drive too slow in Thailand:


 

 
For some reason the video I post is not coming up:  do a seach on liveleak for:
 
This happens when you block people in the fast lane
Read more at
 
Or maybe check youtube:
 

 



 

[CO-CO]

Some good points,Smooth,no one has commented about alot of these trucks,ESPECIALLY cane trucks,are older then 99% of us! And I have seen many cars buried up the trucks arses because the trucks were crawling and the car driver was half paying attention doing 120K's an hour.
[/quote


Spot on!

I doubt that 50% of these trucks are 'roadworthy' by any sensible  western standard.]

[nookiebear]

The biggest danger with those cane trucks is at night when they have no rear lights!

[Starman]

For those of you with a Facebook account, search for this page: "Bad Driving in Thailand". It's an open page so easy to join. Some eye openers.

[Admin]

Keith, That Video is amazing. How far can a person go just for sake of GUANTIN.
Some drivers are angry at other drivers and try to "Educate" them by doing stupid things on the road and put all in risk.
Be careful on the roads. There are some unwritten rules everyone knows and learn only after awhile driving on the roads in Thailand (and elsewhere..) 

[urleft]

What the Ytube link doesn't show is that the PU had been in front of the big truck going slow in the right lane holding up traffic.  The liveleak gives the whole vid.