Speeding, drunk driving remain biggest factors in road accidents

[webfact]

Speeding, drunk driving remain biggest factors in road accidents

By THE NATION

 

 

A TOTAL of 378 lives were lost and 3,575 people were injured in road crashes during the first six days (April 11 to 16) of the Songkran holiday period’s seven-day monitoring period.
 

Nakhon Ratchasima, the “Gateway to the Northeast”, had the highest death toll (19) and Chiang Mai had both the highest total injuries (136 people) and crashes (126), the Road Safety Centre announced yesterday. 

 

The total number of deaths and injuries in 3,418 road accidents from April 11 to 16 were slightly higher than the same period last year, when 335 people died and 3,506 were injured in 3,388 traffic accidents, the Army’s civil affairs office head Lt-General Thanes Kalapruek said. 

 

On Monday alone, 425 accidents left 49 people dead and 464 injured. Speeding and drunk driving were the most-cited factors at 28.47 per cent and 27.29 per cent respectively, while 82 per cent of accidents involved motorcycles, he said. 

 

Officers manning 2,031 checkpoints nationwide arrested 176,415 law-violating motorists, most of whom were motorcyclists and their passengers not wearing crash helmets (49,866 cases) and those not in possession of their driver’s licence (46,067 cases).

 

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and related authorities have seized a total of 13,964 vehicles (10,139 motorcycles and 3,825 cars/trucks) from drunk drivers during April 11-16, said NCPO and Army deputy spokeswoman Colonel Sirichan Ngathong. 

 

Meanwhile, Royal Thai Police deputy chief and spokesman Pol General Weerachai Songmetta said in Bangkok that from April 11 to 16, police had arrested 231,334 motorcyclists for failing to wear crash helmets and 21,829 drunk drivers – the latter number was 5,301 more than during the same period last Songkran. 

 

Noting there were generally less crimes during Songkran in comparison with previous years, Weerachai also reported that 8,213 houses nationwide had joined the police Songkran vacation home-watch scheme – a 43.7 per cent increase, or 2,489 houses – compared to 5,715 homes during the last Songkran. None of those houses were victims of theft.

 

Meanwhile, Interior Minister General Anupong Paojinda said the high fatality and casualty rate during Songkran, despite officers’ hard work to implement road safety measures, was because of ignorance among the Thai public. 

 

“Many accidents stemmed from drunk driving even while the authorities were implementing strict measures, including arrests and vehicle seizure. This shows that strict law enforcement must go hand in hand with creating public awareness. The media should also cooperate and provide the channel/stage for state agencies to talk about this,” he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30343357

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-18

[bluesofa]

54 minutes ago, webfact said:

Meanwhile, Interior Minister General Anupong Paojinda said the high fatality and casualty rate during Songkran, despite officers’ hard work to implement road safety measures, was because of ignorance among the Thai public. 

“This shows that strict law enforcement must go hand in hand with creating public awareness. The media should also cooperate and provide the channel/stage for state agencies to talk about this,” he said.

 

I'd say it's not so much ignorance, but the knowledge that they know they are very unlikely to be caught.

 

Regarding strict law enforcement: Nah, any law enforcement would be an improvement on what we have at present.

If that was to happen, the media would report on the number of drivers being caught and would therefore effectively publicise the situation automatically.

 

As everyone here knows, not one iota will change. It's just the Interior Minister's chance to get his name in the press to justify the figures.

 

[RichardColeman]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Meanwhile, Interior Minister General Anupong Paojinda said the high fatality and casualty rate during Songkran, despite officers’ hard work to implement road safety measures, was because of ignorance among the Thai public. 

...bit like the army's ignorance of the peoples right to free and fair elections and preparations thereof

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Meanwhile, Interior Minister General Anupong Paojinda said the high fatality and casualty rate during Songkran, despite officers’ hard work to implement road safety measures, was because of ignorance among the Thai public. 

takes about 20 minutes mingling in the thai public to enjoy the fruits of ignorance among the thai public

[Thaiwrath]

As "brake failure" seems to get cited everyday in TV news articles about road accidents, I am surprised that did not, at least get a mention ?

[AhFarangJa]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Officers manning 2,031 checkpoints nationwide arrested 176,415 law-violating motorists, most of whom were motorcyclists and their passengers not wearing crash helmets (49,866 cases) and those not in possession of their driver’s licence (46,067 cases).

 

What you meant to say was not in possession of A driving licence........

[mikebell]

So 60,000 police on overtime, staring at their phones has exacerbated the problem?  6000 police on motor bikes being pro-active would curb this daily carnage and save money.

[Stargeezr]

Another year,  another Songkran almost over and still number on in worst numbers

of road death. Good work Thai drivers,  you keep the country numbers up and

stay number one for another year.

Geezer

[mercman24]

sorry i have re read this many times a bit confused by these figures i got a nationwide figure then a boss in bangkok comes out with totally different figures, this cant be for just Bangkok only, ? can it ?

[Darcula]

Thailand needs to hire some Khmer road safety consultants. They actually had a reduction in fatalities and injuries this year.

 

 

[peperobi]

I'm not surprised to see a car of TOT involved in an accident, they driving usually always too fast and rude...

[peperobi]

47 minutes ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

Another year,  another Songkran almost over and still number on in worst numbers

of road death. Good work Thai drivers,  you keep the country numbers up and

stay number one for another year.

Geezer

Is look too be the target of Thailand...

[fakename]

It is not because of drunk driving, or speeding. Its because there is absolutely no drivers training!! Even someone drunk or speeding has a better chance if he knows there driving rules. You cannot just go from a buffalo to a motor bike or car. What civilized country doesnt have driver training? Ive seen monkeys that know more about road safety. There is no aspect of driving that a Thai can handle. Tailgating is one of the worst, passing just to get ahead of one car, and 100 more to go!! I see accidents or construction zones, and no one slowing down! 

[ebean001]

I think these numbers are apples and oranges...take out motorbike accidents from the Thailand and world numbers and what do you have? Probably very safe highways in Thailand.

 

[bluesofa]

10 minutes ago, Darcula said:

Thailand needs to hire some Khmer road safety consultants. They actually had a reduction in fatalities and injuries this year.

 

 

I can see the face-saving reply by the Thai government already:

"Our well-meaning neighbours just don't understand the concept of how we do things here. Thainess is what is required in Cambodia."

 

[CGW]

17 minutes ago, fakename said:

There is no aspect of driving that a Thai can handle.

That sums it up, they have no road discipline, tailgating, undertaking, speeding, lane discipline, not often mentioned is driving to slow which then holds up traffic and causes impatience behind them, not that they are aware of this or care! Lets be frank, most are unable to turn a corner correctly, without cutting it due to lack of 'skill"!

Spatial awareness? I will warrant does not translate into Thai!

Edited April 18, 2018 by CGW

[farcanell]

17 minutes ago, ebean001 said:

I think these numbers are apples and oranges...take out motorbike accidents from the Thailand and world numbers and what do you have? Probably very safe highways in Thailand.

 

Lol..... or with 90% of current vehicles (m/c) replaced by cars, you have more cars being driven by madmen (and kids who can’t see over the dash).... 

 

[spidermike007]

Although speeding and drunk driving are certainly a factor, the single biggest factor is one of the most inept police organizations on the planet. They just do not care. They absolutely refuse to engage in traffic safety. No cars ever stopped for reckless driving. Ever. Not once. There are dozens of things they could be doing to make Thailand safer, if only they cared one iota. They do not.

 

Add to that a staggering degree of indifference, apathy, incompetence, and lack of concern on the part of the entire government, and what you end up with, is the highest road fatality rate on the planet. A perfect traffic storm. 

Edited April 18, 2018 by spidermike007

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

36 minutes ago, fakename said:

Ive seen monkeys that know more about road safety

I think my dog could be included in this group as well, he looks both to the right and to the left before he crosses a road, not many Thais do that.

[mok199]

the ugly side of ''thainess''..shamlessness lawlessness and complete disregard for the real Thailand, which was once a great and noble kingdom

Edited April 18, 2018 by mok199
speliings

[Dino 308]

Sweden: Total vehicles on the road     11.35 M                Road deaths: 263 persons per year

Thailand: Total Vehicles on the road    28.5 M                 Road deaths: 26.000 persons per year

Swedish prime minister (elected) has a zero traffic death vision, Thai prime minister (not elected) has a vision that all Thais shall wear antique clothes...

 

Full speed backward guys.........................!!!

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

17 minutes ago, mok199 said:

the ugly side of ''thainess''..shamlessness lawlessness and complete disregard for the real Thailand, which was once a great and noble kingdom

You must have been here a very, very long time!

[Khun Paul]

So we now have a Minister accusing the Thai Public of IGNORANCE, well if that is true, whose fault is that . The Thai Government for not making sure people know the law. The Thai Government for NOT ensuring THERE IS A VISIBLE  Police presence on the roads. And lastly the Thai Givernment for not tackling the problem years ago with Good laws and Good enforcement .

So stop treating the Thai public, as the problem, do the job your are supposed to do, which is to govern. 

[lensta]

Do the same thing year after year and get the same result year after year.

I think that the only thing that will improve this situation is to have harsh

penalties for drink driving and speeding etc like in most civilized countries.

 

During the Christmas/New year period in Aust there used to be quite a few

deaths and injuries caused by car accidents. but in 2016 there were 34 and

last year there were 40 and the government and police are continually working

to reduce it even further. I know, I know this is Thailand.

[sawadee1947]

2 hours ago, fakename said:

from a buffalo to a motor bike or car.

Yes, you can....! 

[GreasyFingers]

3 hours ago, fakename said:

It is not because of drunk driving, or speeding. Its because there is absolutely no drivers training!

I am off topic but my experience today suggests you are right. Went into a nearby town where finding a parking spot can be a problem. Luck was in today so stopped alongside a parked car, left blinker on, reversing lights on, to do a reverse park in between two cars. A woman behind tried to nose into the spot and abused me when I continued my reverse park. She did not realise what I was doing, probably never done a reverse park in her life.

[cardinalblue]

BS to very safe highways...brings you into question have you ever gone on a road trip of any length in thailand...

 

i am sorry but when drivers totally neglect single and double lines to pass and even pass on bridges...no one with driving experience here would make that comment...

[wgdanson]

9 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

Officers manning 2,031 checkpoints nationwide

 

9 hours ago, mikebell said:

So 60,000 police on overtime,

Math (s) again.  I cannot recall having seen 29.54 officers at each checkpoint.

[Oziex1]

Drinking, speeding and more recently phone use has become a big problem.

[ostyan]

Once I was at a party and the second usual activity was drinking. As many of us came by car I asked some guys if they think they are drunk enough not to drive. I was not happy with the answers. More than 75 % said that no alcohol can affect them, especially in driving. I have no right to say 75% is the average, but 50 percent is more than enough. I travel a lot in the country, but I can count the instances on my hand when I could not see possible drunk drivers on the road.