Thai roads need central barriers to minimise impact of accidents: experts

[wabothai]

7 hours ago, onera1961 said:

Who is Somchai? I read a lot about this Somchai guy (or gal). Poor fella is involved in all aspect of thai life ????

I thought it was trump

[Burma Bill]

A very good idea. Such continuous barriers between carriageways would stop motorcyclists, and some motorists, from driving on rough tracks between trees and lamp posts in the central reservation trying to get to the opposite side rather than use an official U-turn or crossroad.  

[cookieqw]

condition of roads was a major factor contributing to the seriousness of accidents in Thailand, whose roads are among the most dangerous

 

no seatbelts, overcrowded trucks etc, no lights, lack of licence and training ( admitted by thai officials ),  this is what makes the roads dangerous not the blinking roads

[trainman34014]

I haven't waded through 7 pages of comments but the obvious observation is that Central Barriers won't teach people to drive properly or stop bad driving.  Why don't they concentrate on people learning to drive properly and passing proper tests ?

[shaurene]

Wow, Bloody Wow. Who thought of that. If Government minister that will be a 2 million Baht bonus. 

I will never S cease to get a good laugh.

reminds me of the sone.

"Hear we go again, happy as can be, all good friends and more the envelopes come."

lets go to bed.

[essox essox]

9 hours ago, colinneil said:

Barriers would help, but the way forward is teach the crazy buggers to drive properly is the first step.

How many drivers here know the rules of the road?

Answer very few, how many drivers follow the rules of the road?

Answer........ NONE.

well said....driving here is very very very bad

[MickGC]

There is a common saying amongst those involved in the road design business, myself included, "you cannot design for idiots". So no matter what standard of safety the road is designed/built to, the idiots will still find a way to kill and injure themselves and other road users. There appears to be many more idiot drivers here than in a lot of other places, resulting in a higher road toll.

[0815]

9 hours ago, colinneil said:

Barriers would help, but the way forward is teach the crazy buggers to drive properly is the first step.

How many drivers here know the rules of the road?

Answer very few, how many drivers follow the rules of the road?

Answer........ NONE.

How many feel responsible or anything they do ?

[0815]

I guess one of those "experts" is selling barriers ???? 

[Sumarianson]

The most basic and annoying thing about Thai drivers is that they have no concept of lane driving. They fix themselves in a lane and be damned if they will move from it regardless of their speed, the three empty lanes to their left and cars overtaking on their left. 

They were not taught good lane manners and sense, namely that the left hand lane is for driving and any other lane is for passing out. As soon as you have passed out you get back into the driving lane. 

A TV and cinema campaign on road rules and manners would make a great impact on driving in general. More box junctions, more roundabouts ( without lights) and more tv cinema campaigns on how to use these wonderful inventions. 

Stricter driving tests that involve motorway driving and rules. Nuff said.

[PatOngo]

8 hours ago, onera1961 said:

Who is Somchai? I read a lot about this Somchai guy (or gal). Poor fella is involved in all aspect of thai life ????

He's the Joe Bloggs of Thailand.

[PatOngo]

21 minutes ago, essox essox said:

well said....driving here is very very very bad

……….....as is teaching!

[kwilco]

3 hours ago, Vacuum said:

I'd say yes they are.

QED

[Derek B]

9 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

In theory barriers would be a good idea. If they wouldn't have gaps and especially home made gaps.

An example if the Ratchadaphisek Road between Sukhumvit and Rama 4. It has a concrete barrier in between which is a good idea. And because it has this concrete barrier drivers know there won't be anybody making a U-turn.

 

So far so good except recently someone made a hole in that barrier. And now some motorcycles make a U-turn between two fast lanes on each side. 80km/h and more is a normal speed on that stretch. And now add motorcycles who brake to standstill and accelerate again to this scenario. Crazy! And totally normal for Thai streets.

 

In that way maybe barriers are not a good idea. Because we can't rely on them. If there was a barrier yesterday that doesn't mean there is still one today...

Have you or anyone else reported the break to the local roads authority?

[kwilco]

Probably the beat single road safety idea the government has had in 20 years.

 

Every single country with a good road safety record has know this for decades.

 

Quite part from any direct effect it may have (and single issue solutions are doomed to disappoint) it shows that someone, forI the first time ever is looking at RS from a scientificview point as opposed to the quasi-racist clap trap promulgated by the the bootless and unhorsed on this thread.

The amazing thing is those are the very same people who support Brexit..... yet they can't see the link in paucity of thinking.

 

[kwilco]

8 minutes ago, Derek B said:

It has a concrete barrier in between which is a good idea. And because it has this concrete barrier drivers know there won't be anybody making a U-turn.

Concrete??? Do you understand how an Armco barrier works?????

 

Have you ever wondered why concrete barriers are hardly ever used on race tracks??

 

 

II pinoted out a couple of years back that several new roads are using armco and it is also being fitted on somevildervroads.

In many places it is a case of trying to make a silk purse out of a sis ear....especially if not deployed correctly....However if set up right it can handle an 18 wheeler at speed.

[Derek B]

3 minutes ago, kwilco said:

Probably the beat single road safety idea the government has had in 20 years.

 

Every single country with a good road safety record has know this for decades.

 

Quite part from any direct effect it may have (and single issue solutions are doomed to disappoint) it shows that someone, forI the first time ever is looking at RS from a scientificview point as opposed to the quasi-racist clap trap promulgated by the the bootless and unhorsed on this thread.

The amazing thing is those are the very same people who support Brexit..... yet they can't see the link in paucity of thinking.

 

Were will they dry the rice grains then?

 

[ratcatcher]

15 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

He's the Joe Bloggs of Thailand.

Hang on Pat, what about Tom, Dick and Harry.

[PatOngo]

17 minutes ago, ratcatcher said:

Hang on Pat, what about Tom, Dick and Harry.

???? It was a toss up. Blind Freddy was also in the running.

[The Theory]

It took it long time, but they could notice that invisible solution. 

[krobert6]

Great... more central barriers and more people driving down the wrong side of the road so they don't have to go back to a u-turn

[Jonmarleesco]

What Thai roads need are more drivers who can actually drive. 

[Jonmarleesco]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

The seminar was told that the condition of roads was a major factor contributing to the seriousness of accidents 

The condition of far too many drivers is THE major factor.

[Media1]

THE THUNDER DOME vs Somchai and Pun. Thais should be in Mad Max the sequel 

[Saladin]

Definition of an "Expert" = X is an unknown factor, and a spurt is a drip under pressure.

[Chongalulu]

But... but..there are already plenty of barriers...barriers to addressing the real problems,barriers to driver training,barriers to education,barriers to enforcing road safety...add any you feel noteworthy.

[Percy P]

12 hours ago, bluesofa said:

I see the conference ends today.

What's the chance of any alleged expert standing up and saying that "the level of driving in Thailand is appalling, a large percentage of drivers don't have licences, and the police never enforce any regulations proactively to prevent accidents."

No, I don't don't think so either.

 

Enforced revelations.I read in the paper that after 5th May every body riding on a motorbike must wear a safety helmet. On observation I think Thais have read it that their is no need to wear a helmet after the 5th May.

Their is a sure way that every motor cycle rider wear a safety .helmet. 100%

[tingtong]

How about a few more U-Turn bridge?

[Jimdandy]

14 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai roads need central barriers to minimise impact of accidents: experts

Should read 'Thai roads need central barriers so drivers can crash into them until the government figures out that cosmetic changes will do nothing to decrease roadside fatalities until they increase driver education and have a dedicated Highway Patrol'.

[Fex Bluse]

6 hours ago, Sumarianson said:

The most basic and annoying thing about Thai drivers is that they have no concept of lane driving. They fix themselves in a lane and be damned if they will move from it regardless of their speed, the three empty lanes to their left and cars overtaking on their left. 

They were not taught good lane manners and sense, namely that the left hand lane is for driving and any other lane is for passing out. As soon as you have passed out you get back into the driving lane. 

A TV and cinema campaign on road rules and manners would make a great impact on driving in general. More box junctions, more roundabouts ( without lights) and more tv cinema campaigns on how to use these wonderful inventions. 

Stricter driving tests that involve motorway driving and rules. Nuff said.

Interesting observation. I find that they drive all over the place, changing lanes far too often and unnecessarily. They seem to drive the way they walk.