‘Seven days’ death toll climbs to 317

By The Nation

 

 

Three hundred and seventeen people lost their lives on Thai roads in the first six of the “seven dangerous days” of the New Year holidays and more than 3,000 were injured, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported on Thursday (January 2).

 

The department’s Road Safety Directing Centre put the figures for New Year’s Day on Wednesday at 547 accidents, 55 deaths and 577 injuries.

 

Songkhla so far is the province with the highest total for accidents at 32 and the greatest number of injuries at 35, while Ratchaburi and Udon Thani top the death toll with four fatalities each.

 

The “seven dangerous days” from December 27-January 2 are so-called because, with so many people travelling to and from family holiday gatherings, the number of road accidents spikes.

 

By Thursday, the sixth day, 317 people had been killed in 3,076 road accidents and 3,160 injured. 

 

Most of the accidents – 39.3 per cent – are blamed on drunk driving, and 28.3 per cent on speeding.

 

Most of the people killed or injured this season (21.8 per cent) have been age 50 or older. Motorcycles accounted for 79.4 per cent of the vehicles involved. 

 

A third of the accidents occurred between 1am and 4am, mainly on highways (36.8 per cent) but almost equally on district and local roads (35.8 per cent).

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30380055

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-01-02

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An average ( about 58/day ) which seems to me lower than what happens daily in Thailand apart from these so-called 7 fateful days.
in fact this nauseating publicity concerning road deaths during the western new year as well as during the typically thai one in april each year is of absolutely no use since the police never do the work for which they are paid;
there is, moreover, only to see the places with cones and neons or so-called volunteers are asleep or chatting with each other without ever worrying about what is happening on the road ...

Lower average for two very simple reasons;
the first is that there were monstrous traffic jams therefore very reduced speeds, and if clashes there was only crumpled sheet;
the second being that these statistics only cover major axes and important secondary roads;
many accidents are not listed and the victims are therefore unknown.

This is an easy problem to solve Thai style. Stop reporting the numbers and the problem will disappear. 
 

What good is a military dictatorship if they can’t curb the numbers to suit their needs?

16 hours ago, webfact said:

the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation

I'm guessing 'mitigation' translates as 'excuses'

Thais don't want change... live with the statistics.

Only death on the spot a counted. Later on hospital this number will be more. 

19 hours ago, webfact said:

The “seven dangerous days” from December 27-January 2 are so-called because, with so many people travelling to and from family holiday gatherings, the number of road accidents spikes.

Rubbish

16 hours ago, dcnx said:

This is an easy problem to solve Thai style. Stop reporting the numbers and the problem will disappear. 
 

What good is a military dictatorship if they can’t curb the numbers to suit their needs?

what numbers???? Blimey, its  working already

Edited January 3, 20206 yr by Chazar

On the 6th day of slaughter the temple ovens are very busy again all the in place "measures" have failed again????

19 hours ago, dcnx said:

This is an easy problem to solve Thai style. Stop reporting the numbers and the problem will disappear. 
 

What good is a military dictatorship if they can’t curb the numbers to suit their needs?

Best solution I have read so far, I believe that's the only way to get rid of the high death tolls. 

This are maniacs behind the wheel, they believe the blessing of the car at the local temple and Buddha images they hang up at the rear mirror view make them immortal.

I don't blame drunk driving on these sad statistics. That is merely a symptom of the problem. 

 

THE problem is attitude. Secondary to the problem is:

 

No proper training to drive.

No spatial recognition ability.

No critical thinking ability.

A complete lack of awareness, assessment and preparation to deal proactively with potential issues. 

Driving beyond your ability to control the vehicle.

Driving the vehicle beyond it's designed operational parameters.

Driving a vehicle that is not to manufacturers specifications.

Driving without a helmet.

Overloading the vehicle with passengers or other things.

Speeding. 

Zipping in and out of traffic.

Passing in an unsafe manner. 

Unawareness of everything that is happening around you.

No serious or legitimate penalties for infractions of any type. 

Being above the law for those "special VIP" types.

No sense of courteous driving whatsoever.

Crappy roads in need of repair.

Phones!

 

All things being equal, let's say person "A" is driving a motorbike that is in perfect running order. He or she is a very courteous and cognizant driver. Everything works. The mirrors are set to see behind you not stare into your own face. They are riding alone with a proper helmet that fits correctly and is buckled. The phone is in their pocket. They are driving with the flow of traffic obeying all the laws. They are positioned properly in their lane, not in another vehicle's blind spot. They are vigilant and aware of their surroundings and proactively judging potential problematic situations and have a clear plan on what to do if something happens. 

 

But they have a blood alcohol content of 0.08%. They are legally drunk. And let's face it, for the average Thai guy who has an empty stomach, this could be one beer. Less for the average female. 

 

I'd like to know the statistics for the above scenario. I bet drunk driving barely plays into it. 

 

The problem is so much more profound than simply saying "drunk driving" killed "A". 

well done Thai drivers   keep going try for the world record AGAIN !!!!

The wanton slaughter carries on unabated on the roads in Thailand.

Drink Driving is not the issue

Having no licence is not the issue

Driving faulty Vehicles is not the issue

Speeding is not the issue

Any of the other reasons that the Dep,t of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation give, are not the issue.

The issue, is a Government that are incapable of getting any kind of a grip on this terrible situation, and a complete lack of any Law enforcement

1 minute ago, Cake Monster said:

The wanton slaughter carries on unabated on the roads in Thailand.

 

Wait until the "deadly days" are over then the real slaughter begins.

 

best days on the road for deaths is during the "deadly days".