Tollway racing

Motorcycle racing on Bangkok streets is considered a sport for the poor. Rich people race on tollways and the results can be just as deadly.

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Rescue workers from the Pohtecktung Foundation cut through the mangled wreck of a Porsche involved in an accident that killed two people, including its driver, and injured another on the tollway in the early hours of April 28. FILE PHOTO

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Tollway racing

POST REPORTERS

Police are considering tougher measures against car racing on the city's motorways after a fatal accident last month killed two people and left another person seriously injured.

Thaifah Chayaworaprapa, 54, was found dead inside his Porsche. The speed dial was stuck at 280km/hour. Thaifah owned the Buddy Village Hotel on Khao San Road. Also found dead was Pol Maj Sakdipat Pathumarak, inside his Toyota Fortuner sports utility vehicle.

The injured man was Amnart Klinyu, 30, driving a Mazda. He's recuperating at Vibhavadi Hospital.

Police now plan to install more CCTV cameras and radio frequency identification systems along popular racing routes. Speed racers are also likely to face tougher penalties under the law.

The endemic problem of speed racing on Bangkok streets is nothing new. Authorities have traditionally focused most attention on motorcycle racing by youth gangs known as dek waen.

These motorbike racers are generally from low-income families.

However, on the city's many tollways, well-to-do Bangkok youngsters also have been driving fast and furious in their own speed races, competing in expensive and often souped-up cars.

They do it for an adrenaline rush. Sometimes they wager money and even cars. They also do it to impress the girls, and have been racing for years.

"We know racers of luxury cars aren't afraid of fines. They are rich," said Pol Maj-Gen Worasak Nopsittiporn, deputy metropolitan police commissioner.

The preferred routes for luxury car racing are the Utrapimuk tollway, Burapawithi tollway and the main Bangkok tollway. Vehicles of choice for this crowd are European brands such as Porsche, Lamborghini and Ferrari, souped-up Japanese cars and American muscle cars such as Ford Thunderbirds and Chevrolet Camaros.

One racing enthusiast, the owner of a souped-up Honda Civic, said he has been racing for years and does it mainly for the fun of it.

He said racers usually know if the police are likely to arrive, as someone warns them. If not, they simply get in their cars and drive away. Police seldom chase them. And if they do get caught, the stiffest penalty they face is a fine.

"There is nothing to deter us," the driver said. "Sometimes we even get permission to race."

"We know it's dangerous, but it's what we enjoy," he said. "Normally we only race late at night. We make sure the tollway is clear. We don't want to have accidents with any innocents."

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rescue worker – a person who save someone from a dangerous or unpleasant situation ผู้ช่วยชีวิต
foundation – an organisation that provides money for things such as medical research or for a charity มูลนิธิ
mangled – badly damaged through being crushed or twisted  ซึ่งเสียโฉม, ซึ่งแหลกเหลว
wreck – the parts of a vehicle or building that remain after it has been severely damaged ซากตึกบ้านเรือนที่ถูกทำลาย
injured – hurt in an accident or attack ซึ่งได้รับบาดเจ็บ
consider – to give careful thought to something before making a decision พิจารณา
tough – demanding that particular rules be obeyed and ready to give out punishments to those who refuse ที่ลงโทษร้ายแรง เข้มงวด
measure – a firm action taken to solve a problem or stop a dangerous unpleasant situation มาตราการ
fatal – causing someone to die ถึงตาย
dial –  the face of a clock or watch, or a similar control on a machine, piece of equipment or vehicle that shows a measurement of time, amount, speed, temperature, etc หน้าปัด
stuck – unable to move, or fixed in a particular position or place ติด
recuperate – to get better after being ill or injured ฟื้นไข้
frequency – the number of times that a wave, especially a sound or radio wave, is produced within a particular period, especially one second ความถี่
identification – the process of finding out what or who someone is  การชี้ตัว การหาตัว
popular – a situation in which someone or something is liked by many people เป็นที่นิยม, เป็นที่ชื่นชอบ
route – the roads used to go from one place to another เส้นทาง
penalty – a punishment, or the usual punishment, for doing something that is against a law โทษ
endemic – regularly found in a particular place or among a particular group of people and difficult to get rid of  ประจำท้องถิ่น
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
traditionally – typically; of a way of doing things that has not changed for a long time ตามที่ปฏิบัติกันมา
attention – the interest or thought that you give to something you are doing, listening to or watching ความสนใจ, ความตั้งใจ
youth – a boy or a young man วัยรุ่น, เด็กหนุ่ม
generally – in most cases; by or to most people โดยทั่วไป, โดยปกติ, ส่วนมาก
well-to-do – wealthy ที่มั่งคั่ง ร่ำรวย
fast and furious – very fast, often in an uncontrolled or competitive way
compete – to try to be more successful or better than somebody else who is trying to do the same as you แข่งขัน
soup up – to make changes to something such as a car or computer, so that it is more powerful or exciting than before  เพิ่มกำลังและความเร็วของ (เครื่องจักร)
adrenaline – a substance produced in the body when you are excited, afraid or angry. It makes the heart beat faster and increases your energy and ability to move quickly อะดรีนาลิน, ฮอร์โมนเนื้อในต่อมหมวกไต
rush – a sudden feeling of extreme pleasure or excitement ความรู้สึกที่เกิดขึ้นรวดเร็วและแรงกล้า
wager – a bet; an agreement to win or lose an amount of money depending on the result of a competition or other event การพนัน
impress - to cause someone to admire or respect you because of something that you have done or said ประทับใจ
luxury – the best and most expensive of something ที่หรูหรา
fine – an amount of money that you have to pay because you have broken the law ค่าปรับ
deputy – a person whose rank is immediately below that of the leader of an organisation รอง
metropolitan police – the police in responsible for a city ตำรวจนครบาล
commissioner – the head of a particular police force in some countries
brand – a type of product made by a particular company ตรา, ยี่ห้อ
muscle car – a very powerful car
enthusiast – a person who is very interested in something and spends a lot of time doing it คนที่กระตือรือร้น
warn – to make someone aware of a possible problem or danger เตือน
stiff – strong รุนแรง
deter – to make someone decide not to do something ขัดขวาง, ยับยั้ง, ป้องกัน
permission – allowing someone to do something การอนุญาต,การอนุมัติ,การยินยอม
innocent – a person who has not done anything wrong ผู้บริสุทธิ์