OPINION

Drivers pay no heed

Re: "Frenchman killed crossing road", (BP, April 4).

"CCTV footage revealed the victim, while at the zebra crossing, looked down and failed to notice the vehicle, which was speeding."

This sentence implies that the poor Frenchman is to be blamed, exactly the attitude of Thai motorists. A zebra crossing has no meaning for Thai motorists; even at those zebra crossings with traffic lights, motorists ignore the red light.

I experience it every day in Thonglor, where pedestrians are considered a nuisance by motorists.

Police ignore such incidents even when brought to their attention. The only solution would be to punish motorists with a hefty fine but it seems too much work for the police.

Re: "Jab decider", (PostBag, April 2).

"Everyone needs to consider for themselves whether to get vaccinated using relevant information," Michael Setter tells us in his letter.

However, he also hilariously informs us "every year there are more deaths after measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccinations reported in the US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), than there are documented measles fatalities".

However, a simple check with the Infection Disease Society of America, a community of over 13,000 physicians, scientists and public health experts who specialise in infectious diseases, shows the complete opposite: There have been no deaths shown to be related to the MMR vaccine in healthy people.

Vaccines are a major weapon against dangerous diseases and ignoring "advice" from overexcited conspiracy theorists should be the first thing anyone does when considering their own or their children's safety.

Re: "Manufacturing maintains downward trend", (Business, March 29).

Business news reporter Lamonphet Apisitniran says the Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) continues its downward trend, falling nearly 4% last month compared to the year before. The main reasons are the high household debt loads of Thai citizens, and consumers having low purchasing power.

As a result, banks are hesitant to loan to Thais any more, with the result that Thais are now purchasing far fewer automobiles than before, and manufacturers here are also producing fewer of them. Further, oil refinery output has also continued to decline, among other things. This is just further evidence the Thai economy is ailing right now.

Re: "Probe ordered into shocking building collapse", (BP, March 30).

My Chicago banker expressed an interesting view when I spoke to him about 10 hours after the earthquake in Bangkok late last month. He asked me pointed questions, the answers being: The earthquake was strong (around 7.7 to 7.9 on the scale), rather long in duration; Bangkok has hundreds of tall buildings; but the economy is a fraction of America's economy; to which he replied: "And you only lost one skyscraper?"

To conclude, America also had a skyscraper fall in Florida a few years ago stemming from design faults. We both suspected the damage would be worse among America's often older skyscrapers, and when you consider the huge economic disparity between Thailand and the USA, perhaps my American banker's comment might make one feel some pride amid such a tragic event?

CONTACT: BANGKOK POST BUILDING 136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110 Fax: +02 6164000 email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th

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