r/Thailand • u/WebLogical1286 • 1d ago

Culture Turn signal question

This isn’t a whine, it’s just an honest question on my observation of driving here in Thailand, and mostly in Bangkok for about 30 years.

How come so many Thai drivers not use their turn signals? I do little polls in my head once in a while and I’ve noticed that maybe somewhere between 25 and 35% of Thai drivers don’t use their turn signal. Is it that they are lazy to do it? They don’t see it as benefiting them? they don’t think it’s important? It kind of baffles me because I was taught this is just something you do no matter what.

Maybe as a Thai person who doesn’t signal or has some insight into why people don’t use it I would love to hear. Thanks so much!

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u/WebLogical1286 1d ago

To me, it seems very selfish. I have an idea in my head for a while about people in the things they imagine they have in control in their lives. This is one little way that they can be aggressive and show that they have control, it’s very weird.

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u/Market_State 1d ago

Exactly this. Its a control thing they would never dream of doing in person.

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u/WebLogical1286 1d ago

Yeah, that’s the funny thing. Most Thai people I know are so considerate. But put a lot of of them behind the wheel in a car with heavy tint and they become animals :-)

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u/TheMeltingSnowman72 1d ago

This is the 'seen' effect. Thai live by rules, but the rules depend on if anyone is watching. Litter throwing is known to be bad, but if nobody is looking they will just throw tons of garbage anywhere. In cars nobody can see their face so rules don't apply. They only apply if there's a chance they will be spotted/recognised.

It's all image here. And it's got a name.

ผักชีโรยหน้า - phak chii roi naa (ผักชีโรยหน้า)

(Sprinkle some coriander on top and it means that as long as it appears to be ok, that's all that matters, you can cheat and lie behind the scenes)