If you drive safely all the time and remember that when it rains to cut your speed down a lot of drivers drive as if they had a F.! car think first????
a lot of the accidents that happen should never happen at all if people slow down-just drive with care all the time

Posted by frank on April 21, 2012 10:44

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that looks more like the remains of a Vigo truck, than a Vios saloon. Whatever, the guy's lucky to be alive.

Posted by agogohome on April 21, 2012 11:18

Has anyone ever seen the police stop cars, motorbikes, buses, trucks etc and check tyres? No did not think so, I have never a check for tyres and treads in my seven years here.
Tyres are the only things holding you onto the road. Hydroplanning has never been thought of here... if you dont see it it wont happen.
If your tyres aren't gripping you'll be nipping or dead.

Posted by Dun on April 21, 2012 12:05

What they really should inform people about is that Pick-ups are garbage vehicles and completely dangerous to drive above, say, 50 km/h in the wet. Unfortunately all advertising focuses on how easy they are to powerslide around corners with words like 'Power' and 'Turbo' being thrown around liberally. A pick-up is a vehicle for hauling stuff at slow speeds, but the average hillbilly countryside guy with a thin moustache thinks they can outrun any car on the road, (the trailer before the movie said so!) when in fact they extremely slow, high COG trucks with an ancient spring/rearaxle/suspension set up that are almost made to slide of the road or flip, ESPECIALLY in the wet.

Posted by christian on April 21, 2012 13:25

I agree with Christian on this. IT should also warn Fortuner drivers that their cars ar just a fancy body on a pick up frame. Big tyres aquaplane faster and more often than the thinner tyres that cut through the water, not ride on top of it? 'nuf said.

Posted by Dun on April 21, 2012 14:02

I have Thai driving licences (bike & car) having sat their tests (basic) & watched their road safety (highway code) movie. There is little mention of leaving safe stopping distance between you & the vehicle in front. Anyway, we all know the truth in Phuket, leave a gap & someone will jump into it. With regards to driving in rain, again very little mention, except the hilarious statement 'that should you splash a pedestrian, you should stop & go back to apologise'! If you drive slowly in rain, then someone else will simply tailgate you. Really it comes down to education & attitude.

Posted by Logic on April 21, 2012 14:43

How could this happen?!? I thought Thai-drivers were the best, they can even run above the law, for example, at high speed to overtake even though it is oncoming traffic, run red lights, etc.. It must have been something wrong with the car.

Posted by Irony on April 21, 2012 16:38

Don't blame the driver. It was the rain that caused it...

Posted by OJ on April 21, 2012 18:25

Looking at the tires from these photos and I can see that they are almost plain. In this case when it is wet with this kind of tires you will waterslide when it is raining. I dont know how much is the allowed depth left on the tires that can be used on the roads when checking the car before paying it annual tax.

Posted by Xexpat on April 21, 2012 19:12

Thai vehs have design features not found in other cars, they can travel in all conditions at a phenomenal rate including reverse, they enjoy a much shorter braking distance, they can negotiate ramps corners or any hazard at twice the speed of other vehs, the floors are shaped like ashtrays, they can be driven for miles with dashbord warning lights flashing, tyres never req changing and are designed for violent bumping in to kerbs, unusual and alarming engine noises are easily eliminated by adjusting the radio volume, no maintenance is required, by placing a medallion on the dash you are invincible and have grand prix abilities

Posted by traveller on April 22, 2012 18:26