Road carnage: January death toll goes through the roof

 

 

The death toll from road accidents in the first month of the year has hit new heights.

 

Despite the government and other authorities saying they planned to address the carnage on the nation's roads the figures for January were up a more than half on last year.

 

A total of 1,452 people were reported killed last month at the scene of accidents. This compared to 947 in January 2017.

 

It was the highest monthly death toll on the roads in the last year, reported INN, even surpassing the "deadly" Songkran month of April last year that reached 1,382.

 

But these figures will rise significantly when those who died in hospital as a result of accidents are added. 

 

Experience shows that the figures could increase a further 50 - 70% at least. 

 

Deaths at the scene of accidents in the first half of 2016 were 5,308. In 2017 this rose to a staggering 6,712 by the end of June. 

 

But if this January's figures are anything to go by 10,000 could have perished by mid-year.

 

The figures were revealed by Thaejing Siripanich of the Anti Drink Driving Foundation. 

 

Source: https://www.innnews.co.th/crime/news_5630/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-2-2

Excellent  news, well done Junta, well done Thailand, but basically well done Thai People.

Unbelievable. Still, I expect the apologists will be out insisting black is white, and white no colour at all.

 

 

we have been predicting this for a couple years now;

all the academic studies point to a half dozen common causes; same ones;

i believe it is far more fundamental; thais are not careful, orderly people;

they do not grasp the value of order;

given them bigger,faster cars and trucks and more and more graduates from motorbikes.....;

this is what you get

Onwards and upwards. Well done Thailand, you're should be justly proud.

777 needs to escalate to 999

The way they drive I think that figure is not correct in my 10 sq kilometer radius I drive everyday 5. deaths a month 

I just drove from Pattaya to Phrae and back and encountered seriously awful driving continuously. Tailgating on the Motorways, when they can clearly see dozens of vehicles ahead of you, especially pisses me off, especially since every 30km or so, you could see 2-6 cars involved in dents and insurance claims from such stupidity. Cars overtaking the other way, not letting your lane free was pretty common.

Giving right of way? Yeah, Right!

Over a 750 Km journey, each direction, I saw the cops twice. And both times were paperwork check or search, not one out there managing traffic.

And then they wonder why the death toll is up? Hmmm! I think I know! No one is stopping idiots driving like buffaloes.

Edited February 2, 20188 yr by darksidedog

They're not going to give up that no.1 spot any time soon. What you see when you watch the dashcam and CCTV videos is amazing. I saw one guy on a motorbike pull out to overtake and he just drove straight into the front of a bus, and you think "<deleted> man? Didn't you see that coming?"

same as a jumbo jet crashing every week of the year killing all on board- mai pen rai, they seem incapable of doing the most obvious things to change it. Apart from the usual stupidity why do they feel the need to be constantly changing lanes? sometimes every few hundred yards.

Edited February 2, 20188 yr by Orton Rd

43 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Over a 750 Km journey, each direction, I saw the cops twice. And both times were paperwork check or search, not one out there managing traffic.

Please, tell us if you travel in Europe< Canada, and the USA, if you see many police "managing traffic" because when I travel in other countries it is a rare occurrence to see police unless they are hiding somewhere with their radar guns or controlling traffic at collision scenes, etc.  While Thailand has a poor record other countries do not necessarily fare better, regardless of reports from worldwide agencies.

More effort trying to catch beach smokers and vapours than any worthwhile plan to reduce road carnage RIP for tomorrows death toll.

12 minutes ago, wotsdermatter said:

Please, tell us if you travel in Europe< Canada, and the USA, if you see many police "managing traffic" because when I travel in other countries it is a rare occurrence to see police unless they are hiding somewhere with their radar guns or controlling traffic at collision scenes, etc.  While Thailand has a poor record other countries do not necessarily fare better, regardless of reports from worldwide agencies.

I have driven over much of the civilised world, on both sides of the roads. Much of it is now monitored by cameras, which penalise through the post infringements. Plus prior to this, you could regularly see traffic cops, who would nail you for speeding, check your vehicle etc. Lunatic driving in those places is now rarely seen, while here, the lack of any control by the cops, has led to a loss of control. Is the accident rate in any way related? And Thailand by official statistics fares about rock bottom, even before the latest 50% rise.

1 hour ago, YetAnother said:

we have been predicting this for a couple years now;

all the academic studies point to a half dozen common causes; same ones;

i believe it is far more fundamental; thais are not careful, orderly people;

they do not grasp the value of order;

given them bigger,faster cars and trucks and more and more graduates from motorbikes.....;

this is what you get

It's not the "graduates from motorbikes" that are the majority of victims, it's still the 2 -wheelers.

32 minutes ago, wotsdermatter said:

Please, tell us if you travel in Europe< Canada, and the USA, if you see many police "managing traffic" because when I travel in other countries it is a rare occurrence to see police unless they are hiding somewhere with their radar guns or controlling traffic at collision scenes, etc.  While Thailand has a poor record other countries do not necessarily fare better, regardless of reports from worldwide agencies.

Not sure what part of the US you drove in but any time there was an HPD cruiser in any lane on the 610 Loop or I-10 Katy Freeway in Houston, everyone slowed down. Don't even get me started on the DPS's State Troopers.

 

On the motorways here, I only ever see the Highway Patrol harassing the 18-wheelers.

Edited February 2, 20188 yr by NanLaew

1 minute ago, darksidedog said:

I have driven over much of the civilised world, on both sides of the roads. Much of it is now monitored by cameras, which penalise through the post infringements. Plus prior to this, you could regularly see traffic cops, who would nail you for speeding, check your vehicle etc. Lunatic driving in those places is now rarely seen, while here, the lack of any control by the cops, has led to a loss of control. Is the accident rate in any way related? And Thailand by official statistics fares about rock bottom, even before the latest 50% rise.

In Europe there are undercover cops in cars who also have videocams at all sides. If you drive too close to another car or stay on the fast lane when the slow lane is empty they will give you a huge fine...for speeding they have camera's littery everywhere, the ticket will come to your home. They also use cars with computerequipment who can read licenseplates and check if the car is insured or checked for safety yearly.

 

They also register the licenseplate and do it again after 50 km or so, they then calculate the travelled speed over that distance and will send a fine if necessary.

 

There's no way to do drive like a Thai in Europe, you'll get stopped by police within 10 minutes...and there's no way to bribe them at all. When they stop you for an offence they also check the whole car if all is working properly, if not more fines are written.

 

What you see on the Thai roads every day is unbelievable for the Europeans. It can be a primetime tv=show for them to watch Thai traffic.

 

I really can't understand why Thailand let this all happen, they do have police but they won't do their job...and even a big general can't fix that.

Soon the whole world will make jokes about driving like a Thai...and they totally deserve it.

 

3 minutes ago, Thian said:

Soon the whole world will make jokes about driving like a Thai...and they totally deserve it.

Then there's the, "But Prince Bira..." defence.

 

I never used to think about where to sit on a bus until I moved here, 

now luckily I have my own vehicle and feel little more in control, 

  eyes every where all the time, makes a journey of 300 km

feel like 600km by the time I arrive at destination, 

In all the journeys back and forth never has one been incident free, 

 

I tell myself every day as go outside my boundary another day in the Jungle,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile; the Ministerial Misfits and Serial Bullshitters in Bangkok will continue to do what they do best...Talk !

7 minutes ago, trainman34014 said:

Meanwhile; the Ministerial Misfits and Serial Bullshitters in Bangkok will continue to do what they do best...Talk !

Exactly.

 

Here's a video of how the Dutch police is undercover and confisticates 4 driverslicenses of racing big bikes....This is what Thailand needs...The motobikes drove more than 50 km/hr too fast which means they lost their license on the spot.

 

 

Here is another movie, undercover police arrests a hi-so in his Porsche while he's racing it at 213 km/hr....

 

 

12 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

same as a jumbo jet crashing every week of the year killing all on board- mai pen rai, they seem incapable of doing the most obvious things to change it. Apart from the usual stupidity why do they feel the need to be constantly changing lanes? sometimes every few hundred yards.

Changing lanes!!! Jesus lucky if u can get them out of the outside  lane at 3am in the morning on a dual carriageway, on a deserted stretch they do that stupid "turning right indicator bs" but never  do. Thai drivers total and utter dangerous <deleted> NONE of them should be let  loose  with any vehicle, I wouldn't let them  loose on Scalextric either

10 hours ago, gunderhill said:

Changing lanes!!! Jesus lucky if u can get them out of the outside  lane at 3am in the morning on a dual carriageway, on a deserted stretch they do that stupid "turning right indicator bs" but never  do. Thai drivers total and utter dangerous  <deleted> NONE of them should be let  loose  with any vehicle, I wouldn't let them  loose on Scalextric either

Harsh but fair I think....

 

Doesn't have to be that way though my missus has her UK licence and last time back in LoS she was cringing at the locals antics

 

The sheer stupidity, selfishness and lack of anything even remotely resembling manners is awe inspiring but all it needs is education, enforcement and training and the daily butcher's bill would shrink massively, wont hold my breath....

3 minutes ago, mark131v said:

Harsh but fair I think....

 

Doesn't have to be that way though my missus has her UK licence and last time back in LoS she was cringing at the locals antics

 

The sheer stupidity, selfishness and lack of anything even remotely resembling manners is awe inspiring but all it needs is education, enforcement and training and the daily butcher's bill would shrink massively, wont hold my breath....

Every time I get back to the UK I have to remember not to undertake and a whole load of other stuff that's become rather too blase here.

Edited February 2, 20188 yr by gunderhill

1 hour ago, wotsdermatter said:

Please, tell us if you travel in Europe< Canada, and the USA, if you see many police "managing traffic" because when I travel in other countries it is a rare occurrence to see police unless they are hiding somewhere with their radar guns or controlling traffic at collision scenes, etc.  While Thailand has a poor record other countries do not necessarily fare better, regardless of reports from worldwide agencies.

Make an appointment at specsavers if I was you. 1,452 deaths in Jan, UK for the whole year may be just 1700 and yes every day you see police on the road over last two nights while taking the wife to work we saw police pulling cars as those police cars have cameras that take a note of all car numbers as they are being driven and then run that number plate through the DVLA computers who have records of whether the car is insured, tax and MOTed and the results are sown to the police in seconds, so you get pulled and no insurance or license means you do not drive home your car is on the back of a transporter to the nick.

 

CCTV everywhere and they work and you get a ticket Average speed cameras yes loads of them and they work also, should you get too many speeding fines your driving license also gets taken by the boys at the nick.

 

So think again be4 posting rubbish.

4 minutes ago, gunderhill said:

Every time I get back to the UK I have to remember not to undertake and a whole load of other stuff that's become rather too blase here.

Every time we see an undertake we always say that must be a Thai Driver!

My Mrs has only been to the UK once for a month, we travelled extensively by road and she could not believe how much we all obeyed the rules of the road and also driver courtesy :) 

1 hour ago, wotsdermatter said:

Please, tell us if you travel in Europe< Canada, and the USA, if you see many police "managing traffic" because when I travel in other countries it is a rare occurrence to see police unless they are hiding somewhere with their radar guns or controlling traffic at collision scenes, etc.  While Thailand has a poor record other countries do not necessarily fare better, regardless of reports from worldwide agencies.

Which virtual reality are you living in?

 

Regardless of the fact that the numbers don't lie, although I would hazard a guess that the Thai numbers actually under report the true carnage, in almost every country I've driven in, police either in the form of cops in cruisers, or traffic cams are everywhere.

 

I am fully conscious of the expat wing that seems to have to deny anything that smacks of any criticism of Thailand, but come on, you must be in the holocaust denial brigade to spout this crap 

1 hour ago, wotsdermatter said:

  While Thailand has a poor record other countries do not necessarily fare better, regardless of reports from worldwide agencies.

Laughable.  and it did not take long before the Thai apologists chimed in and tried to defend the worst drivers in the world.