Coronavirus? You should be more worried about Thailand’s deadly roads - 1602 killed so far in 2020

 

Picture: Daily News

 

As netizens are gripped by hysteria and paranoia following the recent coronavirus outbreak, what should be a much more pressing concern for people living in Thailand went largely unnoticed across news feeds on Wednesday. 

 

While most sites were publishing page after page of news on the coronavirus, Daily News continued to report on the appalling carnage that takes place on Thailand’s road each and every day. 

 

According to Daily News, a staggering 1,602 people have been killed on Thailand’s road so far in 2020.

 

Daily News reported that in January alone 1,385 people were killed after being involved in a road traffic accident in Thailand, while a further 217 have been killed in the first five days of February.  

 

Picture: Daily News

 

As if these stats were not shocking enough, Daily News cautioned that the figures only record the people who died at the scene of accidents and do not take into account people who die later.

 

Thaivisa notes that the reality of all deaths is likely to be closer to 2,000 per month. Even senior government officials have conceded that the annual death toll is in excess of 20,000

 

Daily News also said that many jurisdiction do not report weekend death tolls until later in the week, maybe Tuesday. 

 

A perusal of the stats this year shows that weekend death tolls are lower than other days and Mondays are often the highest, notes Thaivisa. 

 

Daily News said it reports Thailand’s road death figures daily in an effort to bring awareness to the situation.

 

By comparison, at the time of publishing, Thailand has reported 25 cases of coronavirus 

infections, with 9 of those diagnosed having already recovered and been sent home. 16 other patients remain in hospital. Thailand has so far recorded zero deaths from coronavirus.  

 

While the spread of the coronavirus in China, particularly in Wuhan and the neighbouring region is more serious, where there have been over 28,000 cases and over 500 deaths, the situation in Thailand is much less severe. 

 

Those infected both in China and in Thailand have been elderly, had pre existing health conditions and weakened immune systems. 

 

Statistics from China indicate that about 2% of people infected with the new virus have died, suggesting it may be deadlier than seasonal flu but less deadly than SARS, which killed about 10% of infected individuals. The MERS outbreak in 2012 had a fatality rate of about 35%.

 

Source: Daily News

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-02-06

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Yeah...because crossing a busy street in bangkok is about the same, as being subjected to a (probably) deadly virus!

Because we are all looking at a pandemic of stupid drivers!

(Well...we kinda are, but...you know, what I mean!)

 

Who writes such crappy articles?

 

6 minutes ago, Saint Nick said:

Yeah...because crossing a busy street in bangkok is about the same, as being subjected to a (probably) deadly virus!

Because we are all looking at a pandemic of stupid drivers!

(Well...we kinda are, but...you know, what I mean!)

 

Who writes such crappy articles?

 

There was an article yesterday from Dr. Turner, I believe, which explained that many/most Thai news outlets have completely outsourced their coverage of the virus to Xinhua. And this is part of China's news strategy. It aims to deflect coverage of the corona virus in China to questions about the regular flu in the US or, in this case, road accidents in Thailand. It's an MO to hide, deflect, and evade coverage of their immense blunder with this corona virus outbreak.

6 minutes ago, zydeco said:

There was an article yesterday from Dr. Turner, I believe, which explained that many/most Thai news outlets have completely outsourced their coverage of the virus to Xinhua. And this is part of China's news strategy. It aims to deflect coverage of the corona virus in China to questions about the regular flu in the US or, in this case, road accidents in Thailand. It's an MO to hide, deflect, and evade coverage of their immense blunder with this corona virus outbreak.

Yeah, quilty as charged, https://www.thaienquirer.com/7301/thai-media-is-outsourcing-much-of-its-coronavirus-coverage-to-beijing-and-thats-just-the-start/ . Read it now before that publication is forced to close.

 

About the roads, flu, etc: corona is in addition to that, not competition. When you add all the probabilities of how Thailand is trying to get you, it's a wonder any people survive at all. 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Coronavirus? You should be more worried about Thailand’s deadly roads

You should be worried about both, worry about Thai immigration later 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Coronavirus? You should be more worried about Thailand’s deadly roads - 1602 killed so far in 2020

At the moment, yes, you 'should' be more worried about Thailand's roads. I am worried. The only reason I worry more about the coronavirus is because I feel like I have very little control. At least when I'm driving in Bangkok, I can drive as safely as possible (and to a certain extent trick myself I'm in full control).

 

With this new virus, I worry because there's little I can do if the s*** hits the fan. The government are not helping either. It would be nice if they were doing something to look proactive. It feels like they just wanna ignore it and hope it goes away. That's very worrying. 

People are always paranoid due to what the media writes. Right now, the media focus on virus but not accidents which killed more people looking at how Thai drivers drive.

Pollution probably kills more than virus & road accidents combined ????

 

3 minutes ago, Samuel Smith said:

Pollution probably kills more than virus & road accidents combined ????

The happy thing is, tourists go back to die in their own countries before the PM2.5 gets you. Not dead in Thailand, maibpenrai.

16 minutes ago, EricTh said:

People are always paranoid due to what the media writes. Right now, the media focus on virus but not accidents which killed more people looking at how Thai drivers drive.

Eating bat soup and live baby mice are relatively harmless in comparison. They waffle on about year on year export figures, year on year tourist arrivals but year on year road fatalities are the same, any sane country would and do hammer road safety but here it's as if the high numbers are expected. In that respect I tend to think like a Thai, I no longer care! Keep killing each other! Don't blame the police, don't blame the government, blame the idiots behind the wheel or on the mocy's!

When your home country refuses travellers  from Thailand..... if, when it gets bad here, be prepared to get out damn quick.

So after promoting and prompting the hysteria and fear you're going to start poking fun and telling people not to worry?What a deceptive web the media weave for a few more clicks.Oh the shameful burden you carry!I declare the coronavirus has fizzled so it's onward and upward to the next click and such is the furious pace of "click world".

1 hour ago, Samuel Smith said:

Pollution probably kills more than virus & road accidents combined ????

 

That's a long bow you've drawn there.

Meh we already gave up hope on seeing a reduction of road fatality. Is this article supposed to reassure tourist? 

I've travelled the world and the seven seas. I thought I'd seen it all. I have never seen such idiotic driving as in Thailand. 

 

How is it possible that an ostensibly well mannered people drives in such an inconsiderate, reckless and dangerous way? I've never seen anything like it.

 

No indicating! When you change lane the car behind you actually speeds up to prevent you from doing so. Scooters driving into you. Cars driving into you at speed. Nobody giving way when you change lanes. Lanes appearing out of nowhere. Lanes disappearing out of the blue.

 

Why is nobody doing anthing? They knew I was coming!

 

4 hours ago, YetAnother said:

You should be worried about both, worry about Thai immigration later 

Not enough time to do everything, first we have to round-up hardened 61 year old ladies who are in Thailand illegally and deport them - - virus's and reducing road deaths will have to wait - priorities, priorities.... 

Try to have this kind of headline in Wuhan! Litterally, thousands of people are dying there. The problem of people dying from road accidents is not a joke either, but comparing to corona virus is not right. The world doesn't know what to expect from this virus and the things are getting worse in China, especially Wuhan.

Most civilised westerns residing in a Thailand do worry about the roads. When I am on public transport I am generally the only one to wear a seat belt. I avoid minivans and my life literally flashes before my eyes on most trips. 

 

But what can a foreigner do? Thais don’t listen to us, they enforce no laws and have a driving test a 10 year old could pass. They simply don’t care. 

 

Thailand has been on the accident black spot of the world list for many years and nothing has been done. 

 

Hence, this headline is ridiculous as this is now another threat to think about, along with the smog and general lack of health & saftey that occurs here. 

15 hours ago, webfact said:

Coronavirus? You should be more worried about Thailand’s deadly roads

Roads very rarely if ever kill people, it's the idiots in the vehicles 

do not quite agree with this view about worrying about road deaths. yes that is important but with little known about the corona virus and its possible modes of transmission this is something to worry about. you do not know what an unknown enemy can do and corona virus, at this juncture, is an unknown enemy.

On the BBC world news a doctor who leads a team that work on how disease and viruses are spread have named Bangkok as the place that is most likely to have the most person to person infections out side China.

I am only passing on the message.

14 hours ago, zydeco said:

There was an article yesterday from Dr. Turner, I believe, which explained that many/most Thai news outlets have completely outsourced their coverage of the virus to Xinhua. And this is part of China's news strategy. It aims to deflect coverage of the corona virus in China to questions about the regular flu in the US or, in this case, road accidents in Thailand. It's an MO to hide, deflect, and evade coverage of their immense blunder with this corona virus outbreak.

I tend to agree with your comment. China has stated they want the bad press to stop. Telling news services to focus on the good side of it. Rescues, cured, etc... Thailands news and other countries are trying to deflect the seriousness of this virus by comparing it to other things and stating it is inconsequential and not all that bad. Yet, if you compare it as this articles writer has chosen to do. Remember that we choose to drive and take a risk. The virus doesn't give us that choice. The fly may kill hundreds of thousands worldwide yearly. But we have not yet seen this viruses extend on a global scale yet. It could end up killing millions and infecting billions. I would much tather take my chances on a Thai road driving or walking, than risk walking around people who may have this virus. 

I drive a tank so I'm not worried. Stupid comparison. 

15 hours ago, webfact said:

According to Daily News, a staggering 1,602 people have been killed on Thailand’s road so far in 2020.

 

Daily News reported that in January alone 1,385 people were killed after being involved in a road traffic accident in Thailand, while a further 217 have been killed in the first five days of February.  

These figures should not be used as a comparison as it only goes to show what a social problem has with the standard of road safety or should I say the lack of it, plus this only normally affects road users although some bystanders do occasionally get caught up in the mayhem. The Coronavirus on the other hand has the possibility to affect or infect everyone who comes to Thailand or other high risk country which is the main point....!!!

What a ridiculous comparison. The virus infection rate is doubling every 5 days. It will be 800 million by early April. 2.2% of those will be fatal.... could be 17.5 million by then and Thailand is still letting in people from the epi centre.

Excellent point. This country overall is very dangerous.

"Those infected both in China and in Thailand have been elderly, had pre existing health conditions and weakened immune systems". ... BS.. so this applies to the young doctor who was one of the first to raise the alarm, the one who recently died. Whilst there are elements of hysteria, there is a lot of propaganda swilling around as well. If there really is no problem, the authorities in Thailand need to tell the Chinese leadership that they have it all wrong, and that they should close all the extra facilities for the sick people... because cars are more dangerous.. but hey, why expect anything different from the Thai authorities ???? Oh, and why worry about people being murdered in Thailand.. because a lot more get killed in cars... such is Thai logic..

16 hours ago, webfact said:

 

According to Daily News, a staggering 1,602 people have been killed on Thailand’s road so far in 2020.

Don't forget to count all those who died in hospital from injuries sustained in a road accident!

Incubation time is 2 weeks for Corona virus. And during the incubation time it can transfer. So just chill and wait 1 week more and you will see <deleted> happening 

1 hour ago, sahibji said:

do not quite agree with this view about worrying about road deaths. yes that is important but with little known about the corona virus and its possible modes of transmission this is something to worry about. you do not know what an unknown enemy can do and corona virus, at this juncture, is an unknown enemy.

Do not worry, our leader has it 100% under his personal control along with everything else that ails thailand.