HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Not English but Latin

Water and the lack of it

Traffic safety training should start with motorbike riders

Closing times and crime

Lack of pedestrian rights

No left turn on red

Not English but Latin

Editor;
The comments of “someone who cares” in issue 49 regarding language skills are somewhat misplaced. First, the alphabet he refers to is not English, but Latin, often described as Roman, and the numerals are based on Arabic. Many countries, certainly Italy, would object to their written language called English.

There are many languages that do not have a Romanized form; Greece, Russia, and Japan (which has three “alphabets”) being a few. No one can call them backward. Only China, to my knowledge, has an official Romanized form called Pinying.

The problem in Thailand is the education system, not the language or the people. If English were a phonetic language, then there would be different spellings from Glasgow, Yorkshire, and the South of England.

As Thai has a phonetic written form, then why replace it with one that is definitely not?
Gwyn Parfitt

Water and the lack of it

Editor;

It is increasingly obvious by the diminishing water levels at the Mabprachan reservoir that Pattaya is heading for very serious water shortages in the coming months if not years.

This situation is being made worse by dozens of water trucks arriving at the reservoir every day to surreptitiously steal water for onward sale in the city. Meanwhile, many new houses are sprouting up around the reservoir which blocks the natural drainage from rain that previously helped fill the reservoir.

It appears that all of this construction is being conducted without any control or forethought of city hall. As more and more houses are built so the chances of the reservoir ever filling again fall away and ultimately we will simply see the water disappear.

Another growing concern is the ever increasing number of trucks using the road around the reservoir as a shortcut, adding pollution and destruction of the environment in their wake.

It really is time that city hall stepped in to try and salvage the situation! The filling of the water trucks should be policed and banned, restrictions on trucks passing around the reservoir should be imposed and a unilateral ban on any further developments around the reservoir must be implemented unless they can show that attention has been given in allowing the natural run off of rain water into the reservoir has been preserved.

Finally, as the voice of the people in Pattaya, cannot the Pattaya Mail make this a key topic to raise and investigate with the Pattaya officials?

Concerned Resident

Traffic safety training should start with motorbike riders

Editor;

I am writing concerning a problem which I often see letters about, especially recommending training.

My concern is the undisciplined, rude arrogant and moronic behaviour of many of the motorbike riders. In a previous year during the long holiday season in the spring, a Bangkok paper published accident statistics released by the government which indicated that between 80 and 90 percent of accidents during the recording period involved motor bikes.

I’m sure that most drivers over here have had the basis for these statistics being brought to their attention. These statistics should indicate that the first task in reducing accidents is to concentrate most of the effort on cleaning up the motorbike mess.

Yes, there are the four plus wheeled vehicles that also run red lights make U turns in the middle of busy streets, pass on shoulders of the highways try to cut into traffic just to get a couple of cars ahead, and they should be stopped, but they only constitute 10 to 20 percent of the accidents.

The motorbike drivers of concern weave through traffic lanes, between traffic lanes, don’t wait for lights and drive on the wrong side of the road, cut across opposing traffic or even ride on sidewalk to circumvent traffic controls, pass moving vehicles on corners especially at intersections, ride on the wrong side of the road to get around traffic, drive at night without lights, particularly taillights, pull into traffic from side roads or the side of the road and change lanes without looking to see if the way is clear, they often drive on the wrong side of the road and charge head-on at larger vehicles which even in a moron is hard to understand.

The even more serious and reprehensible behaviour of putting one to three or even four young children on a motorbike at risk by driving irresponsibly is hard to understand. Of course there is the alcohol/drug problem which just makes the situation worse.

I understand the minimum age to drive a motorbike is 18 years. But I see everyday children driving motorbikes who cannot reach the ground with their feet and just barely touch the foot controls. They obviously have had no training in driving bikes.

The police have been enforcing the helmet law, but they seem to ignore most of the other blatant behaviour. When a motorbike is hit or hits a four plus wheel vehicle, often it is the vehicle driver who is penalised even when it is obvious that the motorbike driver was at fault.

Until there is a sustained campaign to rid the streets and highways of these people who are riding motorbikes irresponsibly and hold them responsible for their behaviour and accidents, things will continue as they have. Youngsters should start training in the first grade and that training should continue until they graduate from school, however far they progress. Training those who are creating the problems will probably not be very effective unless done along with strict enforcement.

My concern is especially for the innocents who are maimed or killed though the irresponsible behaviour of the motorbike drivers causing the problems.

WDT

Closing times and crime

Dear Editor;

Further to the letters on the above subjects, I have travelled to Thailand regularly for the last 10 years, before that I had too much work and too few holidays.

I can normally make it 4 times a year and spend two or three of them with Pattaya as a base. I like to dive and have to shop for my (Thai) wife. I also have friends in the area. However, I cannot believe the silly closing times, the increased crime (particularly muggings and firearms), and the general mess on Beach Road.

I enjoy Pattaya because in general the tourists are mainly seasoned travellers and this is reflected in the prices and general easygoing atmosphere. Also there are not so many families with children. As I taught in schools for a number of years, I like to avoid other people’s children when I am on holiday.

However, the above problems mean I have decided to base in Phuket and/or Samui (depending on the season) for the foreseeable future. I will put up with all the once in a lifetime tourists. Even their children. I will revert back to listening to the vendors and taxi drivers treat me like I have just got of a banana boat. I will even pay over the odds because everyone else does in both these locations.

At least I will be able to have a drink at 1 a.m. if I want. There will be less chance of mugging, it’s cleaner and the diving is better in any case.

Regards
Peter Ash
UK

Lack of pedestrian rights

Dear Sir,

A pedestrian’s lot is not a happy one in Pattaya! I am amazed at how little respect is given to Pattaya pedestrians. Pedestrians appear to be perceived as being inferior to car drivers and motorcyclists.

Pattaya road crossings are not clearly marked, and in many cases the road stripes have long since worn off. To add to pedestrian woes, many drivers view the roadside adjacent to crossings as being suitable car parking sites.

Pedestrian crossings are frequently found at traffic lights, but no delays have been built into the light sequences to permit the pedestrians to safely cross between traffic flows. Should a pedestrian be fortunate enough to locate a crossing, then he/she is then faced with the challenge of crossing without being mown down. I have even found that some drivers honk their horns at pedestrians who attempt to cross at these designated crossing places. I have attempted to capture this situation in the attached poem:

Pedestrian Rights

Pedestrian crossings are hard to find, Since often they are hidden behind Cars and trucks at roadside parked, Against red and white so clearly marked.

Pattaya road crossing signs cannot be seen, Since installed at road sides they have never been; And those black and white stripes are now so faint, They really do need a lick of paint.

When street crossers come in view, Drivers honk their horns and speed up too; Pedestrians then must be real fast, Or else their species just won’t last.

Cars and trucks go whizzing past, Belch out smoke and with horns blast; Their drivers see walkers as having few rights, And some seek instead to give them frights.

Cars must at zebra crossings should stop, And yield to pedestrians as to a cop; Remember that all may not sprinters be, They could be old, infirm, or me!

Ian Frame
Jomtien

No left turn on red

Dear Sir,

I would like to respond to Eric Hosick’s letter published in the 24th November edition.

It is not necessary to put a sign up stating ‘No Left Turn On Red’ when there is an adequate ‘Stop’ sign displayed.

The assumption that a rule in his country applies to Thailand is a bad mistake to make. In my country, there is no such rule.

Rather than putting signs up specifically for farangs who make mistaken assumption, the farang should obey the traffic laws as they stand.

If the farang is not aware of the traffic laws in Thailand, then he should not take to the road.

If Eric wishes to help prevent other farangs from making the same assumption that you made, perhaps he should inform the travel agents or offices who arrange travel for them to this fine country, that the rules of the road should be made available to those who wish to use them. It is not up to the Thais to tell them about the rules of the road, it is the responsibility of the visitor to make themselves aware.

Kindest regards,
Jim Hooker

Letters published in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail
are also on our website.