Re: "Cops push for licence points system", (BP, March 24)
There has been unusual interest in highway safety recently. The goal is to drop down from the world's top spot in highway deaths, which is an admirable goal, but maybe unreachable. Here are two reasons why:
First, I have seen no evidence of a real capacity to enforce the most egregious highway offences. Police stand in groups along the side of the road and wave people over for lack of a helmet, being in the wrong lane and other relatively minor offences. (Farang sometimes seem like favourite targets.) But without radio-equipped police cars, computers in those cars and other modern equipment as well as an expectation of better results, the most egregious offences, like speeding, go unchallenged. People on big bikes and the cars popular with the wealthy can just drive away without consequences -- and they know it!
Second, at a class project at my university, we learned that 78% of all deaths on the highway involve motorcycles, mostly small ones. Accidents not resulting in death must be very high too. But, in an oligarchy with a huge percentage of poor people who cannot afford a car, motorbikes are deeply entrenched in the Thai economy. These small motorcycles cannot just be outlawed and taken away from people, although that is the best solution to excessive highway deaths.
John Kane
Points system flawed
I read with mild amusement and more than a hint of cynicism about the proposed 12-point scheme for motoring offences. A successful system that is used in many countries. However, in the land of the smiles, how much will it cost to buy back a point? Will there be the usual two-tier system, ie one charge for locals and one for foreigners?
Motoguzzibob
Slow in, fast out
Re: "Roads that fail 'roughness' test to be dismantled", (BP, March 25).
Improvement of road surface is necessary, but unless the driving manner or habits of Thai drivers are corrected, accidents at curves will never reduce. "Slow in, first out" is a basic technique to manage curves by race drivers, however, most of Thai drivers never reduce their speed before getting into the curve and kick their brake hard when they notice difficulty to negotiate.
RH Suga
Condo conundrum
The xenophobic subject of foreigners owning land in Thailand reminded me of when I was buying my first condominium here nearly 30 years ago. At that time it was being debated whether foreigners should even be allowed to do so. I had taken a chance and put a deposit on a sixth-floor condominium that was under construction when the laws governing this were still being considered. I was assured by the developer that there would be no problem (and he was right), but parliament was mulling a rule that no foreigner could own such a property that was on or below the sixth floor "as it was to near Thai soil"! Xenophobia indeed.
Martin R
Nuclear future ahead
Re: "Electric dreams can come true", (PostBag, March 25).
Since electricity is mostly produced by the burning of fossil fuels, ie gas oil or coal, it will not cease pollution emissions. The EVs (electric vehicles) would only transfer the pollution from the exhaust pipes of vehicles to the chimneys of power plants.
I accept that EVs shall replace internal combustion vehicles soon. At that time, we should also accept the genuine pollution-free nuclear power plant to be our main reliable electricity generator.
James Debenture
More US meddling
More interference in Thai affairs by the US, a subtle way to influence the political scene in Thailand so it conforms to the US norm. There are a multitude of people who are a lot worthier than this woman but they will never receive an award simply because they do not fit the US agenda.
Clara Holzer
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