Is it safe to ride On Road 105 From Mae Sot (tak) to Mae Hong Son - North East Thailand

[Salvatore]

Hi Guys Glad to be on this Forum, We planning a rad trip so I heard that Myanmar Peoples was shooting at Thai Peoples at the border ?!?! Not sure if its the case But we will like to know if Is it safe to ride On Road 105 From Mae Sot (tak) to Mae Hong Son - North East Thailand As we head to Pai from Bangkok Advised nee it
Thanks in Advance

 

[Morningrider]

No problem, I did the route again three weeks ago. and rode to several of the closed border crossings and also to one that is still busy with to local traffic (Ban Rak Thai). All quiet and friendly.

 

[DavidFL]

No problem. Your biggest threat is getting hit by another vehicle on the main highway. Not getting shot at. Don't worry. Enjoy your ride.

 

[Moped Wanderlust]

No problem. Your biggest threat is getting hit by another vehicle on the main highway. Not getting shot at. Don't worry. Enjoy your ride.

Hi guys,


I’ve got a thought/question that’s slightly off-topic but still related:





When riding in Thailand, I don’t aim for the ideal racing line like I might do back in Europe when riding through the mountains. Instead, I tend to prioritize what feels safest to me. That usually means sticking more to the outer left side or sometimes the middle of the lane, especially in corners or when going uphill.


Does this approach make sense, or am I missing something important? I’d love to hear what you experienced riders in Asia have to say or any tips you might have.

Cheers…..MWL

 

[Wayne66]

The ideal racing line! I wouldn't be doing that anywhere on corners on a road. How do you see what coming from the opposite direction. Because the racing line would be making the corner as straight as possible....therefore cutting the corner on the opposite side of the road!
Whether in Europe or Thailand I would advise that you ride so the apex of the corners you are riding around are opening up quicker so you have a faster and better visibility on exit because visibility is paramount, especially over here. So on a right hand corner keep it to the left, in the 1 third area, so the corner opens up quicker, hence more visibility. Left hand corner keep near the centre line or even over it if you can, using the 3 third area, corner opens up quicker and more visibility. This is how I was taught on my motorcycle course and it was emphasised by a police motorcycle instructor when I did a one day course with IAM using the 1 third, 2 thirds, 3 thirds rule
Of course if you have good visibility on the corners then you can straighten them up a bit more.

But, it's also up to you and it's your decision, whatever you do ride safe and enjoy the roads.

Wayne

 

[Morningrider]

Read this article, it's the best summary I have found about how Thai traffic (especially the right of way) differs from what we are used to in the west: Traffic rules in Thailand and how to avoid traffic accidents

 

[Moped Wanderlust]

First of all -- I am very sorry for the term "racing line". No racing on public roads. No matter where in the world.

Got lost in translation.

I wanted to say - as a matter of fact in Thailand I always have to expect oncoming traffic on my side of the road. Hence I would most likely try to stay on the outer side of my lane, even it's not what I would do in Germany, Austria and Italy.

Thanks again for the reading material.

MWL

 

[Moped Wanderlust]

Read this article, it's the best summary I have found about how Thai traffic (especially the right of way) differs from what we are used to in the west: Traffic rules in Thailand and how to avoid traffic accidents

Thanks for sharing this invaluable ‘survival guide’—it really puts things into perspective. I distilled from it what I actually did last time: ‘Don’t get killed.’

In Europe, I follow the techniques taught in motorcycle training, positioning myself closer to the center line for better visibility through corners. However, in Thailand, I personally avoid this approach. From my perspective, staying closer to the center line increases the risk of contact with obstacles, such as vehicles drifting into your lane.

Instead, I prefer to stay closer to the edge of the road, where I have an escape route into the green if needed. For me, it’s not just about visibility but also having a safer option to avoid potential hazards.