Phuket improves on ‘worst in Thailand’ for road accidents

[rooster59]

Phuket improves on ‘worst in Thailand’ for road accidents 

By Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

A pickup truck bursts into flmes after slamming into a power pole on Thepkrasattri Rd earlier this year. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub
 

PHUKET: Phuket has improved on its status as the worst province in the country for deaths and injuries in road accidents just three years ago, and is now ranked “26th worst”, according to the leading road safety figure on the island.

 

The new ranking still means there are 51 other provinces in Thailand with better road-safety records, but the jump is a marked improvement, Dr Wiwat Seetamanotch, Vice President of the Phuket office of the Road Safety Policy Foundation, told The Phuket News this week.

 

“It is better than last three years ago, when Phuket was the ‘top rank’ (worst),” he said.

 

Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-improves-on-worst-in-thailand-for-road-accidents-69687.php#z3CFeblzY50UlZ40.97

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2018-12-15

[ubon farang]

Are they happy with That? Just shaking my head here because Thailand as a whole has a horrendous road fatality statistic. Next thing the cops will be getting medal and promotions to say what a wonderful job they are doing

[LivinginKata]

Sad statistic.

[bluesofa]

"Dr Wiwat attributed Phuket’s improvement to ramped up efforts by police to enforce traffic laws, improvement of the roads themselves and road-safety campaigns to raise awareness of the deadly issue.

“Well, the police have been doing their work so well,” Dr Wiwat said."

[Vacuum]

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

“It is better than last three years ago, when Phuket was the ‘top rank’ (worst),”

Less tourists this year?

[Joe Mcseismic]

Phuket didn't get any better, just that 25 provinces got even worse.

[mok199]

Aim low but shoot high,thats the attitude ''well at least we aren't the worst again''....Thailand where ''close is good enough''...

Edited December 15, 2018 by mok199

[yellowboat]

I remain unimpressed.  Aim higher Dr Vice President

[stevenl]

These rankings are based on the number of registered residents. Since many living here are registered elsewhere and with the many tourists around this is a meaningless ranking.

[marqus12]

In my opinion on Phuket can still shoot 'Die hard 8'
just by taking footage from road cameras 

[NamKangMan]

 

“It is better than last three years ago, when Phuket was the ‘top rank’ (worst),” he said." - three years ago Phuket still had some independent western tourists that would rent motorbikes.  (Tuk-Tuk. Tuk.Tuk.)

 

Today, the majority of tourists to Phuket have coach buses. 

[arithai12]

3 hours ago, stevenl said:

These rankings are based on the number of registered residents. Since many living here are registered elsewhere and with the many tourists around this is a meaningless ranking.

Indeed we do not know much about the ranking, since it is not provided. But I do not see mentioned that it is per residents, on the contrary it looks like it's based on the total numbers.

The only thing to go by (original article) is that

-2018 so far: 78 dead and 8,221 injured

-2017: 93 dead and 8,512 injured

-2016: 75 people killed and 7,243 people injured

 

Since 2018 is not quite over yet, with a few "dangerous days" whatever that means still left, I am not sure that the statistics has improved much and how it compares vis a vis with the number of tourists - which as you say represent a large fraction. Perhaps they are rejoicing at the stop of the upward trend from 2016 to 2017.

 

What we can make from this other thread is that in 2018 so far Chiang Mai province has seen 273 people dead and 15,890 injured, which is a lot more but the province also has 4-5 times more residents (and perhaps comparable tourists?) so maybe the two provinces are comparable on a per capita basis. Also comparable is the active police control on speeding and drunk driving in both provinces, close to zero.,

 

[Reigntax]

Only because they are being killed off in the water before being given the chance to die on the roads

[NamKangMan]

On 12/16/2018 at 12:22 AM, stevenl said:

These rankings are based on the number of registered residents. Since many living here are registered elsewhere and with the many tourists around this is a meaningless ranking.

 

Maybe that can work both ways.

 

Maybe, if a non-registered resident dies in a motor vehicle accident here, they should not be counted, because if they were living where they were registered to live, the accident would not have happened. 

 

Now that would make the statistics better, over night. 

 

                              ????

[Andre0720]

In other words, "The way we conduct our business now kills a bit fewer people".

Well. congratulations