Video: The dangers of riding in Thailand

“Limit your speed so you can stop within the distance you can see” is what many riding instructors say, and it’s sound advice. Here in the UK there could be a tractor, or maybe an escaped farm animal in the road. In Thailand? There could be an elephant.

The rider in this video rounds a left hand bend to find an elephant – equally as shocked to see the rider – in the middle of the road.

Rather than execute a quick U-turn and ride away, the rider puts the bike on the sidestand and backs away, leaving the bike at the mercy of the elephant. Although, since this footage has made its way onto the internet, we’re assuming both rider and pillion got away unharmed.