This is the shocking moment a pick-up truck slammed into a car that was making a quick U-turn on a highway in Thailand.

Passing driver Thana Samrarnjit, 33, was going home after transporting workers to a factory when he noticed the white Toyota Yaris trying to make a quick U-turn along the road in Chachoengsao province on December 28.

Dashcam footage shows the Toyota sedan on the leftmost lane suddenly veering across the road and driving right into Thana's path.

Police Lieutenant Thanchanok Ratchanthong of the Mueang Chachoengsao Police Station said officers received a report about the accident at 5 pm. They went to investigate the scene in front of the In Love Resort and found the Isuzu pick-up truck on the roadside with damage to its front bumper and hood.

The Toyota Yaris was blocking one lane after its axle was detached from the impact. Its driver, Wirat Chaengaum, 56, and passenger Somsri Sookklin, 52, suffered abrasions on their arms and backs and were taken to the Buddhasothorn Hospital.

Pick-up truck driver Thana was also at the scene waiting for authorities. He said: 'I had just finished driving the workers to the factory and was driving home. Suddenly, the sedan on the far left tried to make a U-turn while I was approaching. I tried to step on the brakes but couldn't stop in time so I crashed into it.

'The crash caused me to lose control and I fell into a ditch on the side of the road. Luckily, all the workers were already at the factory. Otherwise, they would probably have been injured.'

Police Lieutenant Thanchanok said Thana and Wirat will be taken to the police station for questioning.

Thailand has one of the world's worst road safety records. Ministers have set the goal of reducing fatalities from 32.7 deaths per 100,000 people to 12 per 100,000 people by the year 2027.

However, a lack of road safety education in schools along with notoriously easy driving tests, police failures to enforce road laws, and chronic under-investment in infrastructure, all appear to hamper the efforts.