Dear Pattaya Mail,
I would like to refer to the letter from Isaan Nick in your (Sept 9)
edition. The situation he mentioned has also caused me many headaches and if
unsolved it will lead to a disaster.
Pattaya wants to make the streets safer? We all know the
facts by law and facts by reality.
One problem is the application and or renewal of a
driving license. This is only possible at the province where you are
registered. Sorry, (this is) not realistic.
For example: a person born in Phuket, working in Pattaya,
living in an apartment, but the owner doesn’t officially register this to
avoid taxes, has to go to Phuket yearly to do required actions... (Since
this) never happens, please change this major problem.
And there is another major problem. How should the kids
nowadays learn what is responsibility? They must be aware and understand
what happens if they do something wrong. Sometimes you only get injured,
sometimes you get killed (but only one time).
Some possible solutions could be:
1. Changing insurance coverage rules by checklist: if
there is more than two people on a motorbike, or if both motorbike riders
are not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, or the driver does not
have a valid driving license, or the driver is drunk, or the vehicle is not
in proper condition, the insurance company should say, “Sorry to inform
you that you violated the rules, and therefore we do not cover any cost.
Best regards.” This sounds hard but there is no other way to teach it.
2. What happened to the free city buses? What about
renting out these buses or other vehicles for the schools (to use) for safer
transportation? How much would this cost? Are the costs too much for the
parents? How much is the life of your child worth? Or other questions: Are
the parents acting responsibly? If not, how do you make them responsible?
Even if the decision would be negative for safer school
transportation, then what about a special driving license for kids under 15
years (any lower would be too dangerous)? BUT only under these conditions:
- Only for permission to drive to school,
- with provided motorbikes (small engines less than 100
cc),
- from the schools in special color
- special rewards if no accidents during use.
Out of this there also could be a workshop for interested
kids (to learn to) repair and maintain the motorbikes.
But all this depends on strict control of violating
common rules. No exceptions (driver (male or female, beautiful or ugly) of
all kinds of vehicles, and any age). Please institute more traffic controls,
and not only at the end of the month and on main roads.
Maybe the system of motorbike driving licenses and
permissions of changing to driving bigger motorbikes (at least 2 years
practice on small engine motorbikes without accident, then possible to drive
bigger ones), used in Germany is not a bad idea.
What about a free checkup action for motorbikes
(supported by motorbike dealers, manufacturers) where each motorbike will be
checked on its condition and repaired as good as possible? Costs? Social
clubs?
I understand that many people think that this and other
punishment from the police (is) only (done) to get money or from a non-Thai.
But actually this idea should come from higher levels (city hall) in order
to save lives and should also be seen as improvement for living.
I read many times in many places “Safety first”, so
please do something.
I hope that some good result will come out and in the
long run they will understand and see that this is only for the best for
them.
Drive carefully and jai yen yen.
Ralf Broda
