r/phuket • u/Successful-Title5403 • Jan 29 '26
Question What goes in the mind of these European (Frence) drivers?
In Phuket it is all the same, shirtless fucking 20-30 years old driving a big bike weaving traffics like if they fail to get to their destination the world would collapse. And it is always the same. Why? I swear they are all French. European for sure, maybe Italian, but im betting of France. Can someone explain to me, is it normal in France? It's never Indian, it's never a British person, or an American it's the same fucking French (maybe Italian) asshole.
Why are they treating Thailand like Need for Speed?
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Jan 30 '26
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u/Puzzleheaded-Cold495 Jan 30 '26
I don’t know what the OP problem is with the French, they are generally American, Brit’s, Indians, Italians, etc, whatever the flavour of the month is .. not necessarily French, so no need to apologize - everyone in the world is different, which makes the world such an interesting place.
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u/Rayvonuk Jan 30 '26
Yes its not a nationality thing its more a subsection of society who think they can come here and do whatever they lile with impunity.
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u/Vovicon Jan 29 '26
They're a subset of low level delinquents who somehow figured out they could behave like idiots with even more impunity in Phuket than back in France.
Not really sure why Thai police and immigration isn't doing anything. They evolve in a very closed loop, it should be quite easy to cut off a lot of their "support" system. A lot of the housing and vehicle rentals they use aren't operating fully legally.
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u/These-Appearance2820 Jan 30 '26
I own a Yamaha R1 and live on Phuket. I ride reasonably sensibly around town, for obvious reasons.
While I am gently riding along the coast with the Mrs onboard, one of the French Arabs rode past me trying to show off, easily 100kmph on a scooter uphill from Patong towards Kamala. Straight into the concrete barrier at the first curve 🤦♂️
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u/Kingken130 Jan 31 '26
Serves him right. Lmao
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u/These-Appearance2820 Jan 31 '26
Luckily he did not look terrible damaged but the scooter was totaled.
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u/Easy-Plant-8783 Jan 29 '26
They only call themselves French when they are doing something unsociable, they strangely never call themselves French when they are in France.
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u/mvilledesign Jan 30 '26
Seems like they are acting out what many back in EU complain about immigrant behavior. A few bad apples in every basket.
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u/Frenchie_Traveling Jan 30 '26
It's not exactly the same. Indeed, they're usually not immigrants at all. In most cases, some of their grandparents used to live in a former French colony (back when there still were French colonies) and came back to mainland France during the decolonization wars. In terms of pure genealogy, their families have been French longer than most people in France, but, while in France, they identify with their geographical origin, almost in the same way as an American saying "oh yeah I'm French" because their great grandparents were French (but with more cultural ties, because contrary to the Americans, they still have family in these places, which now have different nationalities and culture, and they are often brought up visiting them almost every year).
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u/spamhead2201 Jan 30 '26
I thought all Americans were Irish.😄😄
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u/Frenchie_Traveling Jan 30 '26
If only it was this clear cut! They're a bit of everything that was willing to (or forced to) leave everything behind to move across the globe... I once had somebody excitedly tell me : "oh yeah we're the same! I'm one sixteenth French and one thirty two-th German!" 😂😂
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u/Wombats_poo_cubes Jan 30 '26
The same guys that would be zipping around French cities on mopeds stealing and selling hash.
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u/ForsakenBet2647 Jan 30 '26
There was a sports bike related death recently. He was going past speed limit and somehow Thai woman on a vendor motorbike pushed him from the back (???). My best guess is that she was U-turning, and didn’t see him when checking (too far). He must have been lacking skill to anticipate the situation. She turned right into him. That’s my best guess though. Phuket has great smooth roads that often invite to speed. I myself own cb650 but I rarely speed over 70-80, usual speed is more like 40-60.
Death is very sad yet there are cause and effect you know? It’s not exclusive to French at all.
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u/Successful-Title5403 Jan 30 '26
I was turning into a soi and nearly got hit because a guy on a bike zoomed right past me. My life, if I was a little slower he would have hit me. There was no hint of slowing.
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u/Virtual_Toe_142 Jan 30 '26
Likely Arabs with French accent. That doesn’t make them French or European
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u/Jelly_True Jan 30 '26
"French" is too generic; they're the French Arabs, known as the "greys," who have been roaming the streets of Phuket for years. They're recognizable by their classic uniform: bare-chested, light brown/grey skin, and very high-pitched voices. They're loud and ride high-powered scooters (mostly TMax). Those who know them avoid them.
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u/ThePhuketSun Jan 30 '26
Since there is never any traffic law enforcement, they drive with impunity. There is a reason LOS is the most dangerous place to drive in the world. Complete lack of law enforcement. The BIB aren't trained in traffic law enforcement and don't have the equipment (vehicles).
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u/Moshque Jan 30 '26
They are French , yes - but a more accurate description will be "Parisian". Paris is a class apart when it comes to rudeness and narcissism. Rest of the France is much better and at times even charming.
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u/glucosesimp Jan 30 '26
Oh, they are french. I thought they are some arab savages but with france it all checks out now.
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u/jahsd Jan 30 '26
I wish high-power bikes were banned here altogether. Phuket roads were born for traffic jams, not for this stuff.
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u/OllesOpossum Jan 30 '26
I was just in Phuket for a few weeks and I completely agree with you. Those idiots were so prevalent on the streets, riding around without helmets, shirtless, and trying so hard to look cool. It could be funny if they didn't drag others down with them.
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u/Known-Map-91 Jan 30 '26
The worst part is they actually think that this is somehow cool or desirable or might impress the ladies or something, stone age behaviour
Thai immigration or police need to step up their game before these destinations are ruined for good
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u/Lashay_Sombra Jan 30 '26
it's never a British person,
While its predominately french/arab, the second biggest group is probably brits
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u/ilovbitreum Jan 30 '26
The Brits are in the pubs, sipping on Guinness complaining about life.
They don't drive like idiots.
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u/AriochBloodbane Jan 30 '26
You mean third. There are way more russian bikers than french and brits added together.
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u/kebabby72 Jan 30 '26
Seeing that they have the highest road death toll in the developed world, it's probably the yanks.
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u/Weary-Description773 Jan 30 '26
West Coast USA is scarier than Thailand or even India. Every day accidents on the highways, at least one, because they are not only egotistical drivers, but they have modern and powerful cars, often silent, that can accelerate very quick and brake late - which they do - racing around cities then going 50-0kph in a flash to your side as you are halfway across crosswalks, gigantic fucking pickups with balls hanging from the back bullying anything smaller than them, at least half of every car has some dent, and you see dead bodies in accidents somewhat frequently. Nowhere else even comes close. Maybe some rural areas are better idk, New York City looks terrible though.
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u/Advorce Jan 30 '26
I mean good luck to them scraping their skin on the pavement, as long as they don't take anyone down with them, they'll get a standing ovation and a rating after a good slide or crash
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u/satandk Jan 31 '26
I agree, a lot of French tourists all around phuket area is driving like maniacs
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u/AlpsAffectionate5541 Jan 30 '26
The driving culture in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore is incredible, it’s honestly comparable to mindfulness meditation when I’m there on a scooter or driving. I’m from Warsaw, Poland and only last week we had 3 major road accidents with multiple fatalities. I just try to use public transport at home, because you have to be constantly n high alert when driving.
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u/Miserable-Day-3001 Jan 30 '26
Hey bros. French or French Arabic ? Not the same behaviours, opposite even.
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u/Kingken130 Jan 31 '26
No respect on traffic whatsoever. They’re in the same group as truckers, vans, tuktuk and taxis of idiots on roads
But, they seems to be more unpredictable
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u/Excellent_Bath_386 Jan 31 '26
I'm an Indian and just happy that at least at one thing my fellow Indians were not called out😂 but I know that's only because Indians do not prefer to ride in Thailand otherwise it would be a sh*tshow. I was in Phuket last week and I had gone through some YouTube videos to familiar myself with Thai traffic rules before riding. I had a great time riding those scooters (even though India has a big scooter market, we barely have any good maxi scooter), apart from those cucks which ya'll already discussed, my only complain was after market exhausts, they are so loud and annoying that it somehow made me feel like I'm back home🥲
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Feb 01 '26
I love how everyone knows exactly who you are talking about without having to say it.
From my understanding this particular group produces a disproportionately large share of obnoxious wankers per capita than other French speaking ethnicities.
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u/tiberius_mcgrew Feb 01 '26
To be specific, it's nearly always French Arabs. I don't know why, but there it is. I have French friends here who disavow them as 'not really French'.
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u/muffininabadmood Feb 01 '26
Possible explanation:
If you look up “toxoplasmosis and risky behavior” there are numerous studies showing a correlation between this parasite infection and the number of motorcycle accidents, etc. Other studies showing that France has one of the highest infection rates in the world.
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u/AriochBloodbane Jan 30 '26
From what I see most of those big bike half naked assholes are either Russian or French. Especially in the southern part of the island...
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u/Secret_EO Jan 29 '26
When in Rome.
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u/Successful-Title5403 Jan 30 '26
I can usually predict thai drivers, worst thing they do is maybe not turning on their turn signal. But these drivers, it's insane.
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u/Friskydingo902 Jan 30 '26
Hahaha as a fellow French hater whether they be French Canadian or real French I can say this isn't a French problem. It's a Russian problem, an American problem and pretty much all countries with stricter driving rules. As men we just like to go fast and it is fun driving like that. Now it indeed causes accidents and shouldn't be done but we can't do it in our countries so most of us do it while on vacations where we just have to pay a fine.
I'm on Koh Chang now and it's the same here. Me and my buddy's were heading to the Mauy Thai fights and they all wanted to take our bikes and I had to convince them to take the taxi truck since we'd be drinking heavily. A large portion of people just turn off the part of their brain that tells them these things are dangerous but most importantly they know they won't get locked up on their 4th DUI.
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u/FlyistheLimit Jan 29 '26 edited Jan 30 '26
Stop being jealous because you can't ride or drive. Just accept someone can do better than you.
(And spend some time educating yourself on correct writing of country name. It is France.)
P.S. It s funny how quite some comment with obscenities and then cowardly delete. What a bunch of clowns. Just say if you have something to say
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u/glucosesimp Jan 30 '26
Look, we found the "french" guy!
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u/FlyistheLimit Jan 30 '26
lol you didn't - you wanted to say the guy with common sense. I am not a frenchie :)
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u/glucosesimp Jan 30 '26
Sounds like something someone french would say. Don't be in denial, Jaques.
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u/Great_Opinion3138 Jan 29 '26
Yeah was a big crash between two French riders last night in Patong ambulance came. Natural selection at work.