Re: "Tougher driving tests, medical check eyed in road safety push", (BP, Dec 13).
Deaths on the roads in Thailand are devastating for families and the Thai economy so I was glad to read that eyesight is going to be checked as part of ongoing improvements to the Thai driving test.
However, testing one's eyesight will not improve the numerous idiotic driving skills employed by a great percentage of road users in this country. Thailand is probably the number one country in the world for showing respect, for giving away power in a confrontation, yet all of these traits seem to disappear the moment the average Thai gets behind the wheel.
Alongside ensuring people can actually see to drive their vehicle, a number of serious amendments need to be made in order to lower the total number of deaths on the roads; changes at driver/rider level plus legislative change must occur fast.
Highways allowing U-turns straight into the opposite fast lane are massive killers so proper junctions, appropriately signposted and surfaced are necessary. For roads which have a worn-out surface the speed limit should be reduced significantly until the problem is fixed.
The police need to be seen on our roads actually making a difference rather than randomly establishing large-scale stop operations like a police state where bribes are regularly taken for minor, non-life threatening crimes such as missing number plates. I would suggest motorcycles are impounded if found being driven on pavements.
It is an uphill struggle but together we can all do our part to increase safety on our roads and reduce deaths.
DAVID JACKSON
Driven to distraction
The article the other day pertaining to the abysmal driving in Thailand struck a chord with me. I have driven in countries all over the world and I have never seen such terrible drivers.
They are not competent and they are not courteous. Drunk driving was mentioned and that is part of the problem.
I do virtually all of my driving during the day and I assume most of the drivers I see are sober. The problem is that the laws are not enforced.
If the police would give citations to these inept drivers, which would include a fine, the mortality rate would decrease. The only time I see police enforcing anything is to cite motorbike riders for not wearing a helmet.
I hope Thailand gets tough with both the automobile and the motorbike drivers and sends a message that this kind of undisciplined driving will not continue.
RAYMOND RAFFAINI
Buri Ram
Extraordinary Toon
Toon Bodyslam has become a national hero and is well on the way to raising more than a billion baht for hospitals and health care in Thailand, well over the 700 million baht that was his original target.
But in retrospect, what a pity that he had to do it on his own with very little government support, other than a photo op-with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha when he arrived in Bangkok (which did more for the prime minister than it did for Toon).
His run took him in an almost direct line from the deep South of Thailand to the far North, bypassing huge areas of Thailand where the contributions would have doubled or tripled -- even quadrupled -- four billion baht is not out of the question.
If there were coordinated runs with other stars running parts of the distance from Trat, in the far southeast of Thailand up though Chanthaburi, Rayong and Chon Buri, and another circling through the provinces of Isan, I am sure people would have lined the streets the same as we have seen on television when Toon passed through on the other side of Thailand.
To add weight and Toon's imprimatur to these supporting runs, the Royal Thai Air Force could have laid on a helicopter to whisk Toon into the major cities as the run passed through, before flying him back to his main run northwards. It would at least have given the RTAF a meaningful mission. But that is now a missed opportunity.
All of that aside, we must all stand in total and absolute awe at the courage, commitment and stamina of this extraordinary Thai man. Would that were more like him.
DAVID BROWN
Rayong
Misconstruing Brexit
Mr Dyer's column titled "Brexit blues sink in for May as deal reduced to farce", (Opinion, Dec 14), is as misleading as any politician's waffle.
Interviewers get paid to ask awkward questions, politicians get paid to follow the outcome of a democratic vote and these days it appears political commentators get paid to misinform from whichever side of the fence they sit.
It is not important what Theresa May would vote, the referendum was a "once and for all" democratic decision and it is her job to get the best deal possible from a bitter European Union (EU) who are wondering where the money they squander will come from in future.
The situation regarding the border on the island of Ireland is intrinsically entwined with the trade deal that the EU refused to negotiate on until the UK agreed the divorce bill amount.
The EU sells the UK considerably more than the reverse so the biggest loser in any "no deal" is as likely to be the EU, and if that happens there will be no settlement payment either.
A WTO situation should not be dismissed, it is a valuable negotiating tool, and the UK could rejoin the European Free Trade Association (not the European Economic Area or EEA) until the EU see their error and make a decent trade agreement.
It is abundantly clear where Mr Dyer sits and anyone aware of the finer points of Brexit will see through his erroneous rhetoric.
PETER FAIRLESS
Liberal fascist 'guilt'
Re: "Liberal fascism arrives", (PostBag, Dec 12).
My jaw dropped in disbelief when I read the second paragraph of Michael Setter's letter. What world is he living in? He writes, "Yet there are no verified ethical problems associated directly with President Trump."
I suppose boasting that his "star" status enables sexual assaults on women with impunity is not an ethical problem. He admitted making the statement originally, but now it's coming back to haunt him he's calling it "fake news". Not an ethical problem?
Mr Trump's falsehoods are numerous and well documented, far too many to list here. Some of them may be trivial or careless exaggerations intended to further inflate his own inflated ego, rather than outright lies, but they are still falsehoods, and their frequency reveals a man who has no regard for truth. Facts are rather inconvenient things that he'll ignore when it suits him.
Not an ethical problem? He prevaricated in connection with demonstrations by white supremacists and neo-Nazis, one of whom murdered a counter-protester. Not an ethical problem?
I would like to know what counts as an ethical issue for Michael Setter. I'm afraid he is the naive one (extraordinarily naive), not Kuldeep Nagi. On the basis of his past record it is wise to doubt anything that Mr Trump says and check the veracity first.
Most of the time it's Mr Trump who is the purveyor of fake news, not his accusers or the mainstream media.
As for me, if my absolute abhorrence and intolerance of the likes of President Trump make me a liberal fascist, then I plead guilty.
ANDREW STEWART
Big money evils
Dictatorship is not good. So how about the current military rule? Did it just emerge from thin air by a sudden power-greedy military -- or was it a reaction to undemocratic, dishonest and self-enriching actions by previous politicians in power?
Probably a natural reaction and Thailand got what it deserves and has to deal with reality, which is Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and the military in charge, exercising their power to establish a democracy not open to abuse -- or planning to keep power as long as possible?
The only power to counter or stop the undemocratic money influence on Thai politics is the military, by keeping full control close to the election day. So what we see, read and hear now is a power struggle between the military and big money.
The power of big money is probably so strong it will overrun military influence if the military allows full political activities now, so it will be as many say: The military will keep control up to election time, not giving in to big money.
So then, is the military the lesser evil, not democratic, but with a will to establish democracy -- or should people just welcome big money in the upcoming election, not seeing them as letting the fox into the hen coop, but as a natural part of democracy as shown in for example the democratic United States?
A JOHNSEN
Prachuap Khiri Khan
Appalled by Prayut
I am appalled and disgusted by the present day "PM". He is nothing more than an ignorant bigot and a dictator!
Thailand, Thai people and most important Thai image deserve better. In the name of democracy Thai people have to overthrow this government.
I have every right as a farang to say such a thing because I had the honour and privilege of working for the late great Colonel Prachak Sawangchit, a real Thai man!
The late colonel taught me what I need to know about Thailand, Thai people, culture and what a true leader of Thailand should represent.
Would you kindly arrange for a one-on-one situation with the present day "PM"? He does not fool me nor frighten me with his persecution tactics.
MICHAEL ZIEMBA
Surat Thani
Wong gets it wrong
Re: "Ambassadorial gripes", (PostBag, Dec 12).
Once again, David James Wong, (or should that be Wrong?) takes someone to task for their right to freedom of speech, be it vocal or written.
I am constantly reminded by Mr Wong of his right to his opinions, but he forgets that others, including the US ambassador, as well as ambassadors around the world have their own right to have opinions.
Your constant belittling of others whose own opinions may differ from yours does not make yours right, but on the same hand, it does not make others wrong.
America's brand of democracy may not be perfect, but it's still a hell of a lot better than dictatorship.
Charlie Brown
Chon Buri
UK prestige on wane
US President Donald Trump is aiming to emulate the prestige of the British Empire; Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to re-establish the hegemony of the Soviet Empire; Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is trying to resurrect the Ottoman Empire, and China is intent on dominating trade routes and the resources of underdeveloped nations.
Meanwhile, the UK, in all its current wisdom, is striving to disassociate itself from the only bloc that offers reasonable stability and civil governance.
Funny old world, innit?
BERNIE HODGES
Songkhla
Unwelcoming Pakistan
I thought I would have a somewhat different travel experience by visiting Pakistan.
I booked flights on Thai Airways International and reserved a hotel (a prerequisite), filled in a somewhat complicated tourist visa application form which complied with all of the eight requirements listed thereon, and presented these documents to the Pakistan embassy in the Sukhumvit area.
My application was instantly rejected because it did not include a letter from someone in Pakistan inviting me there and did not include the name, address and licence number of a Pakistani travel agent.
I protested, to no avail, that as a foreigner residing in Bangkok, I was unable to comply. The response was: "I don't write the rules, you must comply" and turned me away.
It is apparent, therefore, that Pakistan does not want our dollars or welcome visitors, so don't bother about applying to go there.
Instead, go to a country where tourists are welcome -- like North Korea perhaps? Or simply stay in Thailand.
MARTIN R
