There was a recent thread that Thailand is set to the number 1 in road deaths and that 32% of people believe the road accidents are 'fate'.   In your opinion, do you think with the current news that the government will take positive steps toward reducing the accident rate?  

 

Please feel free to leave a comment and to let us know what you think can be done to improve road safety.  

 

Recent threads that may be of interest:

 

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1011876-a-third-of-thais-believe-road-carnage-is-fate-conference-told/

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1011148-road-deaths-rocket-by-3000-as-thailand-set-to-be-named-world-number-one-in-carnage-say-academics/

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1010840-stricter-road-safety-measures-promised-after-4-japanese-tourists-killed/

There are a lot of problems to overcome:   Poorly trained drivers, poorly designed roads, a very wide variety of vehicles, from motorcycles with sidecarts to huge trucks all vieing for the same spot on the road.   

 

Mostly, though, it is the lack of any reasonable enforcement of existing laws that is the major problem.   It's pretty much a free-for-all and a war zone combined.   

The standard of Thai driving isn't bad, it is atrocious| !!! The driving tests for both car and motorcycles is laughable that is if the Thais bother to even attempt to get a driving licence. I had to renew my licence a few months ago and had to sit through a "road safety video" for one hour, all the Thais in the room just played with their phones or went to sleep!!! no one watched the video.

The traffic laws are virtually the same as the UK but are not enforced unless "tea money" is involved, lets face it they can't take your licence off you if you don't have one to begin with.

There are many problems to overcome.  Since living in Thailand from 1996, I have heard many politicians and others say that things must/will change.  However, and sadly, I have seen virtually nothing change.  If new licencing laws were to be instituted and ALL persons be required to take tests similar to those in a western country, there would be strong resistance from Thais.  If new rules of the road were to be introduced and instigated there may be hope but with so many drivers already, that would not work.  The police and the legal system are largely to blame for the carnage and the lack of control on the roads.  The fines that are currently handed out to people with atrocious driving habits, especially those that cause collisions with multiple victims either being killed, mutilated or seriously injured, literally get away with murder.  A prime example is Red Bull "Boss."   Those who rent a motorbike, or other similar conveyance, to tourists and others are also to blame for the carnage due to there greed and lack of responsibility.  As I travel around, I see nearly all people riding on motorbikes without helmets, sometimes 3-4 on a bike, underaged, sometimes as young as 10-12, smoking, and using cell phones at the same time.  Could go on but I believe everybody is aware of the situation here, and government intervention will not stop these problems from happening until the laws are enforced.

Edited November 19, 20178 yr by wotsdermatter

Every Songkran and New Year period it is the same white noise. Short term crackdowns/ arrests/ vehicle comounding with no long term effect.

The people who could affect the daily carnage on Thai roads are the police.

 

But, they don't give a rat's ass unless it is profitable to them in some way.

 

Nuff' said

 

Edited November 19, 20178 yr by Samui Bodoh

Prevention is better than cure. 

One vast Potemkin village.

 

This applies just as equally to the Judiciary,the forces of law and order and the education system as it does to road safety.

 

Superficial changes only.

Quote

 Will the government take positive steps to reduce the number of road accidents?

No. It's karma, which is preordained and can't be thwarted. It's also the best excuse for doing nothing.

I think the problems start as they allow kids on the roads on motorbikes from about 8 , zooming up and down the road , pulling wheelies with 3 or 4 on the back of the bike. They then upgrade to cars and trucks where they basically do the same thing and think its not a problem as they have never been warned.  

Banning E-cigarettes to keep people addicted to nicotine and a higher probability of dying of lung and throat cancer. Tells you all you need to know about inaction for carnage on the road

It is a fact that although Thai may have traffic laws on the books, they simply are not enforced.  Therefore Thai roads are essentially Roads of Anarchy. 
Aggressive driving, speeding, not even attempting to maintain vehicles within lane boundaries, failure to yield the right-of-way (or a complete lack of understanding of what 'right-of-way' laws are), driving the wrong way on one-way roads, failure to stop or yield at stop lights or marked intersections, passing on blind corners or on bling hilltops, failure to signal, erratic driving - I see examples of this type of driving every time I'm on the road and easily could make compilations from my webcam after each drive.
But I put the blame squarely on the Thai government.  Road blocks are ineffective measures and do not catch those engaging in dangerous moving violations.  Thailand needs patrol cars with trained patrol officers out pulling violators over and issuing citations.  But before that happens, the fines and sanctions need to be sever enough to be a determent.  Enforcement is simply a poor joke.  And the joke becomes even more ridiculous when you see a line of 10 or 20 patrol cars escorting a VIP, but the authorities will say they don't have the budget to put patrol cars on the road. 
Then, why insurance companies don't pressure the Thai government to do something is amazing in itself.
Until Thailand adopts modern standards of policing their road, this carnage will continue unabated.  

Edited November 19, 20178 yr by connda

It will not improve for a long time to come.

 

First realize how many Thai's drive with no license at all

 

Next realize many with licenses buy them like many things in Thailand due to under the table payment tradition

 

Besides cameras mailing out tickets for infractions recorded there is very little cops can do

as they are not mobile to enforce traffic laws. Aside from silly traffic blocks for helmets check etc. (quick income for themselves)

 

Next consider  if the current crop of corrupt police did  in fact get mobilized & allowed to

pull over anyone they deem needing a ticket...If you have lived in Thailand enough years can you imagine???

 

No it is a long road to safer Thai roads & needs to start at the very beginning IMO

Real drivers ed

Real testing & licensing

Real Police department, there to serve Thailand not themselves

 

Last but not least Thai people that give a F#@$ about the value of human life other than their own.

Face it the Thai drivers have a "me first" attitude & it will not change anytime soon

Look at the latest doctor dragging the security guard into a coma

Look at the high rates of hit & run

Or even when the known killers are never prosecuted

 

It is a long road indeed to safe Thai roads

This is why Thailand is now #1 in the world as most deadly roads

 

Edited November 19, 20178 yr by mania

Wotsdermatter hits the nail on the head!  One other seemingly insignificant fact that gets repeatedly ignored, is that of

'soft lighting'  This pale yellow light is almost ineffective in some cases, as I found to my cost when trying to drive long distance at night, and one just cannot see ahead.  Those imports which have 'white light' headlights, are far safer, and this should be encouraged as soon as possible. That in itself could well save lives.

Mania has also summed up the problems facing Thailand and its traffic problems and carnage.  But a start has to be made, and NOW!

Tag line speaks volumes !

They never have taken action and they never will.

They don't care.

28 minutes ago, flyingdoc said:

Mania has also summed up the problems facing Thailand and its traffic problems and carnage.  But a start has to be made, and NOW!

Agree, but face the fact that the police and government  don't give a shit

Edited November 19, 20178 yr by Dave67

I just cannot see the majority of the population adopting safe driving laws like:

 

1 no passengers in the back of utes

2 no more than one pillion passenger on motorbikes, especially kids.

3 wearing helmets all the time, not just between 9 - 5 pm when the cops only have roadside stops.

4 speed limits

5 .05 alcohol limit

46 minutes ago, connda said:

It is a fact that although Thai may have traffic laws on the books, they simply are not enforced.  Therefore Thai roads are essentially Roads of Anarchy. 
Aggressive driving, speeding, not even attempting to maintain vehicles within lane boundaries, failure to yield the right-of-way (or a complete lack of understanding of what 'right-of-way' laws are), driving the wrong way on one-way roads, failure to stop or yield at stop lights or marked intersections, passing on blind corners or on bling hilltops, failure to signal, erratic driving - I see examples of this type of driving every time I'm on the road and easily could make compilations from my webcam after each drive.
But I put the blame squarely on the Thai government.  Road blocks are ineffective measures and do not catch those engaging in dangerous moving violations.  Thailand needs patrol cars with trained patrol officers out pulling violators over and issuing citations.  But before that happens, the fines and sanctions need to be sever enough to be a determent.  Enforcement is simply a poor joke.  And the joke becomes even more ridiculous when you see a line of 10 or 20 patrol cars escorting a VIP, but the authorities will say they don't have the budget to put patrol cars on the road. 
Then, why insurance companies don't pressure the Thai government to do something is amazing in itself.
Until Thailand adopts modern standards of policing their road, this carnage will continue unabated.  

Yes I totally agree, where are the police patrols to look for violators? Why do the police not enforce illegal parking that causes many accidents due to blind spots and having to pull out in a lane of traffic just to see around the illegal cars, buses and other vehicles. All the police do is maintain traffic lights and do motorbike shake downs. It is pathetic. It is a joy when I go back to USA and people obey the traffic laws. When I am driving in Thailand I am always on the alert/worried what is the next danger is going to come from crazy Thai drivers. They get angry at you if you are in a turn lane and they want to turn from 3 lanes out and you do not let them in. A two lane road is a 4 lane road to them. They drive too fast, too erratic, too uneducated in road rules. Their mentality is to win-beat the other driver. How many times have you passed a Thai driver who now takes it his responsibility to overtake you or he is loosing face? Come on lives are at stake but they do not care. Their mentality is shit happens and if I did wrong I will run away and try and catch me

12 minutes ago, Dave67 said:

Agree, but face the fact that the police and government  don't give a shit

Whilst I agree with you the fact is that the general population doesn't give a cloacal by product either.

 

I experienced this with my own Thai extended family and,eventually,informed them that I would not be attending their cremations or contributing to the rollicking jollity of their funeral arrangements if said death or deaths were caused by their driving..

  More zebra statues will solve what ails this country

1 hour ago, Phuket Man said:

They never have taken action and they never will.

They don't care.

I think they do care but it is hard to punish the poor since public Transport is very poor.

Drugs and Drinking is another serious problem and to be strict would take a lot of funds out of circulation. A lot of money is generated with checking for Helmets instead of checking traffic jams and fine people for speeding, if they ever get the cameras to work.

 

Been here since 93' seen it get worse. Bought myself a nice CBR 300 for enjoyment when I turned 50. Just don't want to go out on it ..

I can envision a government response to this, similar to response regarding ocean pollution: fine of 100,000 baht for throwing cigarette from vehicle. That ought to do the trick

Wow, just stop the crazy unwritten rule that if you honk the horn you can run through the red light.....geez.....???

Having spent a few decades on and off in Thailand, one thing you learn is that things rarely happen quickly, talked about a lot, yes, real action taken , no. The Thais are not idiots, they know what the problems are, there just isn't any desire to tackle it yet.

The safety awareness campaign will kick in around four days before the major holiday as it always does, roadblocks under shady roadside trees fleecing pickup loads of pilgrims returning home for the festive season. The carnage is inevitable.

Edited November 19, 20178 yr by PatOngo

Positive steps to reduce the number of road accidents will mean that many of the "law makers" will loose money. so no.

It's a 'mine field' on the roads in Thailand and each time you travel whether it be driving or riding or traveling in a bus you... you risk being seriously injured or killed!!