60 deaths a day still a stain on improved Thai road toll ranking

[webfact]

60 deaths a day still a stain on improved road toll ranking

By The Nation

 

File photo

 

THAILAND has seen fewer road casualties this year but remains the world’s ninth-most dangerous nation when road accidents are in the picture, according to a report compiled by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

 

Every day road accidents have claimed an average of 60 lives in Thailand, the 2018 Global Status Report on Road Safety shows. No Asean nation has a higher road fatality rate. 

 

“Of those perishing in Thai road accidents, 74 per cent are motorcycle or tricycle users,” Daniel Kertesz, WHO representative to Thailand, said yesterday.

 

He also lamented that most victims were between 15 and 29 years old – so young to face such an untimely death, especially considering that road accidents are preventable.

 

According to statistics from Thai authorities, drunk driving, speeding and failure to wear crash helmets are among the common causes of accidents and related deaths.

 

File photo

 

Ninth worst in the world

 

In the latest report by WHO, Thailand ranks ninth among 175 nations in terms of road fatalities – down from second in the 2015 report. The 2018 report says road accidents killed 22,491 people in Thailand – putting the road traffic fatality rate at 32.7 per 100,000 people. 

 

This improves on the 2015 rate of 36.2 rate, or 24,237 recorded deaths. 

 

Road Safety Centre manager Dr Thanapong Jinvong believes the better ranking reflected public concern that led to actions that put Thailand on a good track towards the goal of curbing road accidents. 

 

“People recognise that road accidents pose big problems and demand urgent solutions from the government,” he said.

 

Dr Wittaya Chartbunchachai heads the centre for trauma and critical care, a collaboration between the WHO and Khon Kaen University. 

 

Though noting the improved ranking, he says the country needs to take notice of Thailand’s third place in world rankings when only motorcycle-related deaths are counted. 

 

“And if we remove countries with fewer than 500,000 residents, Thailand is No 1,” he said. The number of motorcycles in Thailand has surpassed 20 million.”

 

Kertesz wants to see the government, motorcycle manufacturers, road builders, law enforcers, research institutes, media and the civil sector join forces to address the problem of too many fatal road accidents. 

 

“The deaths of some 60 people a day is unacceptable,” he insisted. 

 

National Legislative Assembly vice president Surachai Liengboonlertchai expects “integrated efforts”, including campaigns for safe driving behaviour, to help significantly lower road accidents. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30360862

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-12-21

[Fex Bluse]

Maybe they should consider raising the speed limit to solve these problems 

[Puchaiyank]

It would be helpful if one has eyes located in the back and sides of one's head as vehicles come at you from every direction.

[ezzra]

If 60 death a day does not educate and wake people up, what will i wonder? tones or words and articles have been written and poured over the subject and yet, here we are, as long as people are in the frame of minds of the Mi Pen Rai attitude and "it's not going to happen to me" Thailand's roads will continue to be littered with dead and mangled bodies...

[Justgrazing]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Though noting the improved ranking, he says the country needs to take notice of Thailand’s third place in world rankings when only motorcycle-related deaths are counted

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

People recognise that road accidents pose big problems and demand urgent solutions from the government,” he said.

Uparmouring yo' motorcycle may help .. though maybe the bike maker should leave the guns off the options list ..

 

Edited December 20, 2018 by Justgrazing
Sp

[mok199]

59 minutes ago, stanleycoin said:

Should also start encouraging people to stop using crash helmets

As they are to smart to have an accident,

Crash helmets are just for stupid falangs who cant ride correctly and are pissed up all the time. 

 

yes I was stopped on my scooter yesterday ,and the day before, at check stops in Pattaya ...I counted 12 officers ....

Edited December 20, 2018 by mok199

[DavisH]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“Of those perishing in Thai road accidents, 74 per cent are motorcycle or tricycle users,” Daniel Kertesz, WHO representative to Thailand, said yesterday.

 

He also lamented that most victims were between 15 and 29 years old – so young to face such an untimely death, especially considering that road accidents are preventable.

So we have long known the problem. DO something about it....big fines and impounding or crushing or bikes for repeat offenders. The report the other day said it all. Police are not doing their job. But they will roll out the old chestnut....the offenders are poor, could not get to work without their bike....bla bla bla. I guess those won't be a problem when they are dead. 

[PatOngo]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

According to statistics from Thai authorities, drunk driving, speeding and failure to wear crash helmets are among the common causes of accidents and related deaths.

 

No mention of a total system failure. The carnage continues year after year and still they come up with hair brain schemes that don't work. I tend to think they view it as an annual cull and the authorities seem unwilling to make actual change for the better. TIT awww hawww!

[PatOngo]

11 minutes ago, Justgrazing said:

 

Uparmouring yo' motorcycle may help .. though maybe the bike maker should leave the guns off the options list ..

 

The bike maker doesn't need to provide the guns, everyone has a gun of his own anyway!

[Youlike]

I have never seen Thai police driving around and handing out fines to offenders...maybe that has to do with it?

[ChipButty]

Nothing will ever change and we all know it, everybody knows where and when the police setup road blocks so people just avoid them, I think they should be out at night

[toenail]

As I sit here ( outside) sipping on my morning coffee reading this article people on motorbikes are zooming down the street without helmets, tour buses are ignoring the speed limit along with the “privilege”( that know better) speeding in their vehicles... and where are the police to give out tickets? ( never happens so do what you please.)

[jlwilliamsjr18]

What does Thailand look like on a global view of daily traffic deaths?  

[jlwilliamsjr18]

Imagine....Real Police doing Police Work... not just setting up road blocks and sitting in AC Boxes. 

[MrMo]

It may be disappointing that Thailand lost its top spot on this infamous global table.   But you must give them credit for effort.   They did manage to kill off even more each day than when they did hold the crown.

There is, however, even room for improvement as the motorcyclists were award 6 stars out of 10 for wearing crash-helmets.

[Classic Ray]

Remember that road deaths on motorcycles is purely a poor people’s problem (especially if you are Red Bull connected) and therefore not worthy of real action by the élite who drive cars.

[kannot]

2 hours ago, Fex Bluse said:

Maybe they should consider raising the speed limit to solve these problems 

maybe  they  should  just  enforce and  teach  them,  speeding isnt  the  real  issue at all its  total  lack of  attention

[kannot]

36 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Nothing will ever change and we all know it, everybody knows where and when the police setup road blocks so people just avoid them, I think they should be out at night

police are  out  at  night regularly.............do you  ever  drive at  night? i  often  get  stopped  driving  bkk  to  hua  hin at 1-2-3 am

[sammieuk1]

Very reassuring the figures are down as we enter the pinnacle that is the new year killing season????

[tagalong]

1 hour ago, Justgrazing said:

 

Uparmouring yo' motorcycle may help .. though maybe the bike maker should leave the guns off the options list ..

 

Justgrazing.....Thanks for making my day.....A screamer....????

[Lungstib]

Considering that schools have been wasting their time teaching Mr Prayuths 12 commandments (and during this time thousands have died in road accidents) wouldn't it be better if the teachers concentrated on keeping their students alive. Its quite obvious that whats needed is a booklet, similar to The Highway Code in Britain, which explains simply and with diagrams where to position your vehicle and how to negotiate everyday situations. Every school should insist on all kids with m'bikes using helmets, no bike with more than 2 people and licensed riders only. Two hours every week given over to practical and theoretic lessons. Whats the point of school if its not going to teach useful lessons?

[phetpeter]

It would simple the test station idea that driving around a simple course then over a plank to prove they can handle a motorbike is not intense enough. The funny thing at Phetchabun's test centre is that those taking the test turn up drive the bike! next when leaving, they then travel down a steep ramp, to the dual carriageway at a junction with traffic lights, but, with no light to control them, so, to turn right they are offset and have to turn into right turning traffic on the wrong side, and decide when its safe to do so as they have no light to control their access. There should be a half day course showing and testing then of all situations including a wet road and obstructions and turning positions etc. Still, what do I know?

[Phuketshrew]

I am sure that Thailand would still be top of the charts if all fatalities were recorded and not just those that die at the scene of the incident (I nearly wrote "accident", but most of them aren't).

[bluesea]

Maybe it the Foreigners again Causing accidents,  I really Dont Know ask the General he knows everything!! who made the stupid statement Foreigners ripping off Thais.

[Borzandy]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“People recognise that road accidents pose big problems and demand urgent solutions from the government,” he said.

Which government where is government? Trying to help soi dogs.

[wilcopops]

"“People recognise that road accidents pose big problems and demand urgent solutions from the government,” he said."

 

The problems and the science are internationally recognized, but no-one in this or previous governments seem prepared to let go of their prejudices and address the problem in a scientific manner.

meanwhile TV members display their own lack of understanding of the complexities of this problem with single issue soundbites which are in a similar banal vein to that of the authorities.

 

Road deaths can be reduced - it will take years or even decades and their is no simple single solution. It requires a holistic approach and investment - the authorities have repeatedly failed to grasp this and the fact that in the long run, it will save the country trillions of baht.

[wilcopops]

1 hour ago, Justgrazing said:

 

Uparmouring yo' motorcycle may help .. though maybe the bike maker should leave the guns off the options list ..

 

clearly don't understand how protection in collisions is down to shock absorption

[Ron19]

A number of posts flaming Thailand as well as troll posts have been removed.

Remember Xmas is almost here that means holidays doesn't it, be careful.

[johnarth]

I hate the craziness of the Australian government making us travel to Bangkok every time we need the smallest thing done in Australia, I often have asked why can't we get a Thai official in the place we live in to stamp and sign, funny never get an answer so have to put life on the line for the simplest things, yes the traffic coming at you from all directions is a shocker that happens all over Thai. I always wanted to be a fighter pilot well I got my wish but I am not armed yet LOL

[TKDfella]

4 hours ago, Fex Bluse said:

Maybe they should consider raising the speed limit to solve these problems 

Wasn't that TV yesterday?