Thai road carnage: A motorcyclist is killed every 30 minutes in Thailand

[Crusader]

Most riders / drivers seem to think it will never happen to them (accident)...and then when it does - the other person(s) is / are to blame.  What makes it worse here is the whole licence & insurance debacle - don't have one or the other and don't seem to care.  I have even met foreign drivers who did not have insurance.  All comes down to plod really. 

[ikke1959]

If the police did their job ....... look at what happens around the schools... How many kids from grade 6 or earlier drive a motorcycle??? where are the helmets and how many can you put on a motorcycle?? Just the police has to check and fine them heavily and also the parents.. Start at the roots of the problem and make people aware of the dangers...Today a girl drove a motocycle on the Phetkasem Road speeding at least 120km hr and no helmet using all the space available behind, next to between and in front of the cars and trucks... Totally nuts.. but who cares???

[richard_smith237]

For once a quoted statistic actually adds up !!!

A death every 30 minutes = 17,520 per year. 

Reports also suggest motorcyclists account for 76% of road deaths which the WHO estimates at 32,000 per year.

 

Every single person knows the answer to fixing the problem: 

 

1) Effective Policing and fines

2) Effective training 

3) Helmet wearing (part of effective policing)

 

 

I am highly critical of any education system which does not involve operating vehicles. 

Pretty much every single person operates a motor vehicle - with regards to every day skills learning to operate a motor vehicle in school should be considered a core subject. As core as Physical Education, Art, Craft, Design, History, no everyone goes on to rely on any of these skills, yet everyone does go on to need to use road skills.

 

The US is one of the few countries I know of which has Drivers Education - it should be core for 16year olds and up to learn to drive in Schools.

 

In Thailand it would be easy to ensure that all children in school are educated on road use (even if there is no option for a practical - most will ride home anyway !) - teaching a few vital skills, regulating, common sense and importantly teaching of consequences will surely go someway to reducing the outrageous statistics. 

 

Addition: Brief televised ‘instructional videos’ in the advertisement period at prime time (i.e. between the soaps) would also improve knowledge and make some difference. 

 

 

The key thing that does NOT work is a politician or member of the Police force or any other arrogant fool standing up in front of the media and announcing another crack down which will be forgotten about within a few weeks. 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 4, 2021 by richard_smith237

[klauskunkel]

Nothing will change unless fundamental attitude and behavior changes. From the laziness of the police to the obtuseness of parents for not teaching their kids how to watch for traffic crossing a road.

And the incredible stupidity and ineptitude of the government for not grasping how much money they could save if only they would get off their collective dinosaur asses and lower the number of people needing health care, physical therapy, prosthetics, care for the rest of their lives, after a traffic accident.

[jvs]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Bringing in a system where younger riders were limited in the power of their machines - Graduated Driver Licensing - until they proved in tests that they could handle bigger machines could lower accidents by 25%.  Such systems were used abroad. 

Abroad they also have a working police force,unlike Thailand i might add.

[jvs]

4 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

A death every 30 seconds = 17,520 per year. 

you mean every 30 minutes?

 

[VocalNeal]

1 hour ago, polpott said:

I once pointed out to a Thai that his rear light was out. His reply, "No problem, I don't use it".

 

I was at a Castrol Bike Point today and a guy was getting some bulbs replaced and lights all checked. 

So not all can be tarred with the same brush?

[VocalNeal]

6 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

The US is one of the few countries I know of which has Drivers Education - it should be core for 16year olds and up to learn to drive in Schools.

 

Teaches them to drive but does it make them better drivers?

Some countries teach young children the correct way to ride bicycles on roads. 

 

Of the 17,000 how many were caused by the victims and how many were caused by others and the victims being just that. Victims. Maybe the increase in car drivers not being adequately traind is also a f

 

Sadly on open forums we have people who came to a foreign country because it was different and then spend the rest of their time here complaining that it is different. I suspect many came because it was cheaper but still complain.

 

Maybe someone who follows this sort of stuff can come up with the locations of the 17,000 so we can get an idea or where?

[richard_smith237]

8 minutes ago, jvs said:

12 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

A death every 30 seconds = 17,520 per year. 

you mean every 30 minutes?

 

Erm... isn’t that what I wrote ???? ???? 

 

Perhaps a Freudian slip. Edited it - thanks for the correction. 

[Guderian]

You could also blame the national religion with its promise of reincarnation. I see many young Thai motorcyclists who seem to have a positive death wish, maybe they think that their lot will improve on the next turn of the wheel?

[richard_smith237]

Just now, VocalNeal said:

Teaches them to drive but does it make them better drivers?

Some countries teach young children the correct way to ride bicycles on roads. 

 

You would have that stopped because ’some’ don’t heed the information ???? 

I recall the ‘cycling proficiency’ in the UK - I reckon it helped with awareness. 

 

Just now, VocalNeal said:

Of the 17,000 how many were caused by the victims and how many were caused by others and the victims being just that. Victims. Maybe the increase in car drivers not being adequately traind is also a f

 

Absolutely: I would propose editing all road users, not just motorcyclists. 

 

 

Just now, VocalNeal said:

Sadly on open forums we have people who came to a foreign country because it was different and then spend the rest of their time here complaining that it is different. I suspect many came because it was cheaper but still complain.

 

What an odd response. Thai’s have exactly the same criticisms of Thailand that we do. 

 

You have criticised foreigners for wanting something ‘different’ but think they should not be critical of avoidable high road fatality statistics ???  Do you really think because someone is in a foreign country they have no right to an opinion? 

That thinking is oddly moronic. 

 

 

Just now, VocalNeal said:

Maybe someone who follows this sort of stuff can come up with the locations of the 17,000 so we can get an idea or where?

 

A heat-map would be interesting - nevertheless, the issue requires a national response, not isolated action, isolated crackdown on helmets etc..

 

[irwinfc]

too many bikers here think they can't do wrong on the roads because stupid laws protect them.

[richard_smith237]

3 minutes ago, Guderian said:

You could also blame the national religion with its promise of reincarnation. I see many young Thai motorcyclists who seem to have a positive death wish, maybe they think that their lot will improve on the next turn of the wheel?

 

The religion is commonly cited as one of the causes of the high road fatalities as Thai’s believe fatalistically that their lives are pre-ordained and they will happily move onto the next astral plane. 

 

Of course, no one wants to die and just like everyone else Thai’s are fearful of death. Go to any Thai funeral where someone has lost a loved one and you will see how upset people get. There is comfort in the belief that a loved one will live on reincarnated, however, there is still overwhelming grief.

 

Why is it that ‘some’ Thai's spend so much on amulets that the believe will protect them from death if they welcome death so much ?

 

Amulets may of course come into the carefree attitudes of indestructibility, but the reality is more simple. Many Thai’s are simply uneducated when it comes to driving / riding a motorcycle. For the most part the high road fatality statistics are a simple facet of nothing more than the total absence of thought. 

 

Its not that many people on Thailands roads don’t know the risks, but when riding or driving their mind is simply blank, nothing is going on, no thought of consequences or what if - many appear to be on a vacant auto-pilot.

This is where education plays an important role - educate people to ride and drive safely so that when they slip into the vacant mental slumber they have safer habits. 

 

 

[jaiyen]

It says that 100cc bikes can do 140 -160 kph !  In full race trim maybe, revving to 20,000  but never anything that can go on the road. Glorification in writing but never anything done out on the roads. 

[Luv4get1]

Spot checks, if no licence or insurance no crash helmet, no licence, no sence  no lights

no exhaust.

have the bike crushed

the parents must have bought the bike on fineance the parents lent them the bike

 

[natway09]

Breathalyser/Locks on the key, but they would just get around that as well

Sometimes you can't help stupid.

The new smaller bikes (just like the cheaper end of pickups) now have a lot more ability to drive faster but the brakes (normally unserviced) have not kept pace with this,

Even the engineers of the largest selling pickups in Thailand know that they have not kept up 

as more costly. New pickups still selling with drums on the back, but are capable of speeds exceeding 180 kph Crazy

 

[palace15]

The standard of driving especially by the pick-ups/UTEs is pretty horrendous, some bikers are just as bad especially Chinese riders, I got taken out whilst riding a scooter by an Italian on a blind bend on the wrong side of the road. Nevertheless unacceptable figures.

[Artisi]

Change or introduced whatever laws you want, put red flashing warning lights where ever you like, increase tyre width, jump up and down, the same problem remains:

 

You can't fix stupid. 

[Justgrazing]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

the politicians in Thailand still offer only lip service to the issue

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

A motorcyclist is killed every 30 minutes in Thailand

 

Won't alter .. there would have to be a fundamental change right across the spectrum of motoring and motorcycling and in attitudes to responsibility to put a dent in the score .. and when you can buy your way out after killing someone ( redbull scrote ) the lip service is just that ..

so carry on with the hand wringing to the wails of

" something must be done " ..

though we'll be having this conversation again in a 12 mth's time .. 

[toofarnorth]

1 hour ago, JAFO said:

Actually Ryan, its just lack of critical thinking. Thai folks ( in general) from what I have seen in all my years here are not very capable of multi tasking. Hence they seldom look around, drive the wrong way, speed on a scooter designed to go 25km near 90km in flip flops and no helmet. It is what it is.  

So agree.  My wife doesn't drive much , even her folks prefer me to drive. Once she was driving and she said ' I have an idea ' I said you are driving , you can't have an idea and drive '.  She laughed.

[vandeventer]

I have been riding big bikes in Thailand for almost 20 years now and thank God for the inventers of ABS brakes. Because no matter how good you ride there is always somebody trying to kill you. They could go to the best driving schools and be very nice people but when they get behind the wheel  a big change takes over them. Not all, but many drive like there is no tomorrow and everyone is just in their way. As this is not our country we just have to have heart and maybe in time they will change?

[toofarnorth]

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

If the police did their job ....... look at what happens around the schools... How many kids from grade 6 or earlier drive a motorcycle??? where are the helmets and how many can you put on a motorcycle?? Just the police has to check and fine them heavily and also the parents.. Start at the roots of the problem and make people aware of the dangers...Today a girl drove a motocycle on the Phetkasem Road speeding at least 120km hr and no helmet using all the space available behind, next to between and in front of the cars and trucks... Totally nuts.. but who cares???

Ah , but how many police have children that go to school on a scooter but don't wear hats ?

[tonysilly]

Soo sad, Thai people don't care about other people on the road, especially the young people who die, because their irresponsible parents never taught them how to care for other drivers!! This is what happens when you have no faith in some God.  Everyday I take my life and my kid life in the hands of all these Thai drivers.  Be safe and drive carefully everyone. 

[malibukid]

personally i will not drive in this country.  would rather walk (healthy) or use Grab.  on Bali i have Honda Click but the cops are vigilant compared to Thai cops.  they will ticket you for running a red light or for ever being one inch into the white line at a intersection.  enforcement makes a big difference.  also everyone does wear a helmet.  you do not mess with a Bali cop.

[malibukid]

Just now, tonysilly said:

Soo sad, Thai people don't care about other people on the road, especially the young people who die, because their irresponsible parents never taught them how to care for other drivers!! This is what happens when you have no faith in some God.  Everyday I take my life and my kid life in the hands of all these Thai drivers.  Be safe and drive carefully everyone. 

religion kills

[dinsdale]

Completely misses the point. It's Thai culture. Motorcycle, car whatever. Same same. Idiots.

[Ventenio]

saw policeman on motorbike today, no helmet.  I smiled, of course!!!!  

 

here are the 1000 things we can do to solve all the problems....

 

ok, thanks for reading.

 

i feel better.....did i help things?  no?   ok....   

 

ZERO people will leave Thailand because of this.......  dwell on that for a moment

[ChipButty]

We have this same conversation every 3 months, 

The other day a young guy flies past me on Honda CBR 650 he was still in his school uniform, so who lets him ride a bike like that?

[phyx1u5]

also it doesn't help if all you need to get out of an offense is a hundred baht or so... 

tightening up the police force may be a good place to start, but we all know that ain't gonna happen

[VocalNeal]

41 minutes ago, toofarnorth said:

in flip flops

 

Let us no forget the car/truck drivers in flip-lops. Just as bad. 

Hmm. I wonder why driving with bare feet is illegal in many countries.