Reducing road accidents top priority for New Year’s Festival

[webfact]

Reducing road accidents top priority for New Year’s Festival

By Jittraporn Senwong 
The Nation

 

File photo

 

Putting an emphasis on reducing the number of road accidents, security and law enforcement officials are planning to join forces to provide security and safety for people during the upcoming New Year’s Festival, said Defence spokesman Lt-General Kongcheep Tantrawanich yesterday.

He was speaking after attending a meeting of government authorities tasked with preparing for the New Year’s Festival over the holiday. Prawit Wongsuwon, deputy premier and defence minister, chaired the meeting.

 

After the meeting, the participants recommended that the government make it a national agenda to reduce road accidents over the holiday period. 

 

Kongcheep said the officials discussed the large number of lives lost in road accidents annually during the festival and year-round. About 22,000 people died and more than a million were injured in road-related accidents last year.

 

“During the past decade, a large number of people were killed on the road. Most deaths happened at night and the most common causes were recklessness, not respecting traffic laws and drunk driving,” said Kongcheep. “Many people ignored warnings for them to wear helmets and to buckle up that would help them in an accident.

 

“When there is a road accident, those involved will be tested for their alcohol level,” he warned.

 

A fund will be created to reward people who record videos or take photos of others violating laws that help lead to the arrest of offenders, he said.

 

Kongcheep said security authorities are trained and prepared to deal with any security and safety issues that arise during the festival.

 

“We agree that there is an opportunity for possible violence during the period, so we will make our best efforts to provide security for the public,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, intelligence authorities will intensify their information-gathering efforts concerning matters of security and drugs-related activities.

 

Security officials will focus on crowded transportation locations such as public bus terminals, Skytrain and railway stations and airports, he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30333972

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-12-15

[jaywalker]

It's that time again... 

 

[Samui Bodoh]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

After the meeting, the participants recommended that the government make it a national agenda to reduce road accidents over the holiday period. 

Ooooh! That'll make a difference! A "National Agenda"? Sounds deeply profound.

 

It is the same old thing, year after year.

 

Thousands will be injured or die needlessly due to lack of enforcement of traffic laws around the country. Leaders in Thailand will make some noise, but in the end people will continue to be injured or die needlessly. And after New Years, there will be further discussions around Songkran  where leaders in Thailand will make more noise, but people will continue to be injured or die needlessly.

 

Here's an idea; why not actually do something to lessen the number of people injured or dying needlessly? 

 

[Bluespunk]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“When there is a road accident, those involved will be tested for their alcohol level,” he warned.

Unless they are wealthy, famous or well connected. 

[Jeremy50]

Again and again, year after year, bleating on about 'the 7 dangerous days'. Nothing is ever really discussed or really learned, nor will it ever be, unless outside help is sought, from people with no 'Thainess'. 

[rudi49jr]

Never going to happen, at least not until some things really change. First of all, people need to learn to drive before they they get their driver's license. Which will be extremely difficult, what with everyone thinking 'me first, and screw everyone else'. On top of that, the Thai traffic police need to start doing their job, instead of collecting tea money. I've been coming to Thailand for over 30 years now and have lived there off and on, but I can't say I'm very optimistic.

[Somtamnication]

[dinsdale]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

the most common causes were recklessness, not respecting traffic laws and drunk driving,” said Kongcheep. “Many people ignored warnings for them to wear helmets and to buckle up that would help them in an accident.

Educate the populace and strictly enforce the law with heavy fines. This may well be pushing s...h..i..t uphill but it's inexpensive (without corruption) and may be effective. TV campaign + road signs. 

Problem is Thais think this is nonsense and that it's not seatbelts but these that save lives. 

Edited December 15, 2017 by dinsdale

[thhMan]

Thailand didnt get the number 1 spot for dangerous driving by accident

 

They got it by rhetoric :)

And here is a prime example

[thailand49]

I've been saying this since you hit the top ten?  GOOD LUCK!

[samsensam]

 

why only new year? and other festivals?

 

this is a bizarre place sometimes.

[cms22]

I've said it before: the Thai government is quite happy for these people to suffer. Remember, those who die are predominately the poor, the uneducated, the farmers, the labourers, the prostitute, the children, the innocent. When did this government actually give a hoot about these people?

[sammieuk1]

Coming soon to a road near you death race 2018 on your marks .

[jobwolf]

It is a good plan, but who will enforce it? Who will award the points and who will send the tickets for fines to be paid? Everybody wants to be the good guy and so nothing will happen.

[12DrinkMore]

28 minutes ago, thhMan said:

Thailand didnt get the number 1 spot for dangerous driving by accident(s)

 

Yes it did.

 

 

[tracker1]

That was a lot of talk and suggestions about nothing ! breath tests after the incident, security at bus stations and large gatherings plus other garble all this is sure to have an impact on the road carnage ?????

[NextStationBangkok]

If they fail in road safety this year, distribute BMW free of cost to save lives. Thank you Sir.

 

[Khun Paul]

So in that case, everytime I see a Police Check with various people sitting around drinking and playing with their p[hones they will not mind if I photograph them and post it nationally to show their attention to road users is ZERO .

[Lupatria]

Good morning it's 'Hub Day' again! Today: The hub of meaningless priorities.

[hansnl]

2 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Ooooh! That'll make a difference! A "National Agenda"? Sounds deeply profound.

 

It is the same old thing, year after year.

 

Thousands will be injured or die needlessly due to lack of enforcement of traffic laws around the country. Leaders in Thailand will make some noise, but in the end people will continue to be injured or die needlessly. And after New Years, there will be further discussions around Songkran  where leaders in Thailand will make more noise, but people will continue to be injured or die needlessly.

 

Here's an idea; why not actually do something to lessen the number of people injured or dying needlessly? 

 

I do think the high number of traffic accidents is coming from the general state of mind of road users.

Good policing might help to change the mindset of road users, eventually.

But to blame the lack of law enforcement is quite wrong.

The real reason is the lack of self-control and selfdiscipline.

[bristolgeoff]

will it  be more than last year or less,who knows.my guess it will be the same or near enough.whatever they try no change in the LOS

[hobobo]

3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Ooooh! That'll make a difference! A "National Agenda"? Sounds deeply profound.

 

It is the same old thing, year after year.

 

Thousands will be injured or die needlessly due to lack of enforcement of traffic laws around the country. Leaders in Thailand will make some noise, but in the end people will continue to be injured or die needlessly. And after New Years, there will be further discussions around Songkran  where leaders in Thailand will make more noise, but people will continue to be injured or die needlessly.

 

Here's an idea; why not actually do something to lessen the number of people injured or dying needlessly? 

 

What, like banning ALL traffic for a week? I guess that would make Thailand's roads the safest in the world; I am all for it.

[KeeperRik]

The only way they will do this is to order everyone to stay home for 7days ??

[kcpattaya]

Thais and traffic just don't pair.
My advice - stay home, as you can't rely on public transport either during New Year's' Eve. 

[anon467367354]

I think the number of accidents and deaths continues to rise as we know the Thai are addicted to their phones. Rather than reporting to the police motorcycles on the sidewalks, how about people on their phones while driving?

[whaleboneman]

I don't believe they can fix this problem, mainly due to the lack of enforcement out on the roads.

They maybe able to "fix" the statistics though.

[saminoz]

3 hours ago, Jeremy50 said:

Again and again, year after year, bleating on about 'the 7 dangerous days'. Nothing is ever really discussed or really learned, nor will it ever be, unless outside help is sought, from people with no 'Thainess'. 

At least this year, in an attempt to show serious intent, they have increased it to 7/7/7!

I guess this will continue until some genius in the silly little general's club government realises that it needs to be 365!

Edited December 15, 2017 by saminoz

[DM07]

...yaaaaaaaaawn....

[Humpy]

So what they really need is for a committee to set up a seminar to discuss the setting up of a forum to suggest ways of improving the attendance of future meetings before asking Milawi for ideas on how to set up a meeting to air their views and suggestions on road safety.....

[smccolley]

2 hours ago, cms22 said:

I've said it before: the Thai government is quite happy for these people to suffer. Remember, those who die are predominately the poor, the uneducated, the farmers, the labourers, the prostitute, the children, the innocent. When did this government actually give a hoot about these people?

I am not sure that is exactly true. I'd have to say the middle class is also impacted. These are people that scrounged enough to buy a car (never learned to drive though) or a bike and are out on a fast(er) road. Falling off the farm scooter on a dirt road is not fatal as often as the highway...

 

I think it is impacting all aspects of Thai society, except for the rich of course. The really rich are only what, 1%? That means the other 99% are impacted by this elephant-sized problem.