Image: file photo

 

56 people have died and 729 people have been injured from 705 accidents during the first two days of Thailand’s so-called ‘7 Dangerous Days’.

 

The accidents took place on April 10 and 11 following increased traffic on the roads as people travel for the Songkran holidays.

 

Figures released on Monday cited speeding as the biggest cause of accidents, followed by people driving under the influence of alcohol.

 

A staggering 87 percent of all accidents involved a motorcycle.

 

Most accidents occurred between 4pm and 8pm and involved those aged 50 and over. 

 

Police said 1,916 checkpoints inspected 330,653 vehicles. 

 

Of the vehicles inspected 61,702 drivers face prosecution, with 15,661 found to not be wearing helmets and 17,025 did not have driving licenses.

 

Nakhon Si Thammaratt and Roi Et accounted for the most accidents, recording 16 accidents each.

 

The province with the highest deaths was Trang and Samut Prakan (3 per province).

 

The province with the highest number of injuries was Nakhon Si Thammarat (20 people).

 

Typically between 350 and 400 people are killed in road accidents in Thailand during the Songkran holidays.

 

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3 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Of the vehicles inspected 61,702 drivers face prosecution, with 15,661 found to not be wearing helmets and 17,025 did not have driving licenses.

Were they allowed to continue on with their journeys??

 

Ofcourse they were. Quick fine and all is well.  ????

 

Shambles. ????

4 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

A staggering 87 percent of all accidents involved a motorcycle.

 

Nothing at all staggering about that, it's the same every day of the year!

1 minute ago, PatOngo said:

Nothing at all staggering about that, it's the same every day of the year!

agreed; so it should not be called the seven dangerous days, it should be called the 365 dangerous days

3 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Nothing at all staggering about that, it's the same every day of the year!

But helps to fill up the news article.... 

 

3 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

agreed; so it should not be called the seven dangerous days, it should be called the 365 dangerous days

Or just "a normal day on Thailand's roads" 

24 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

A staggering 87 percent of all accidents involved a motorcycle.

 

Most accidents occurred between 4pm and 8pm and involved those aged 50 and over. 

 

So, probably nothing to do with the great exodus of travellers heading to the provinces.

54 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

15,661 found to not be wearing helmets and 17,025 did not have driving licenses.

That in itself shows the endemic and systemic problems here in Thailand.  I wish they would publish the stats for those involved in accidents that were unlicensed.  Then also publish stats for those who died while riding a motorbike without a helmet as well. In the interest of public safety I would hope that they were not allowed to continue onwards driving/riding with just a citation in their pocket. One would wonder also if the vehicles were seized and parked until a proper helmet or licensed driver was on scene and who signed a sheet indicating that they would not let the cited driver get behind the wheel and drive or the next time the vehicle would be seized and auctioned off.  Tough love is needed in order to stop the lunacy.

What I don't see recognized in this thread is that Thailand has a huge number of travelers on motorbikes. Unlike countries where both greater average wealth and climate tend to minimize the use of such vehicles. Naturally when motorcyclists and their passengers get into an accident, the consequences are more severe than for those in 4 wheeled or larger vehicles. Are there any statistical breakdown that report how many fatalities are motorcyclists vs how many are those in other vehicles?

Just Children in grown up bodies.

1 hour ago, YetAnother said:

agreed; so it should not be called the seven dangerous days, it should be called the 365 dangerous days

Lemmings on holiday

17 minutes ago, placeholder said:

What I don't see recognized in this thread is that Thailand has a huge number of travelers on motorbikes. Unlike countries where both greater average wealth and climate tend to minimize the use of such vehicles. Naturally when motorcyclists and their passengers get into an accident, the consequences are more severe than for those in 4 wheeled or larger vehicles. Are there any statistical breakdown that report how many fatalities are motorcyclists vs how many are those in other vehicles?

From the OP

 

A staggering 87 percent of all accidents involved a motorcycle.

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

From the OP

 

A staggering 87 percent of all accidents involved a motorcycle.

Thanks for your aid to the dyslexic. So only 1 in 8 accidents involves a non-motorcycle/motorbike.

6 minutes ago, placeholder said:

Thanks for your aid to the dyslexic. So only 1 in 8 accidents involves a non-motorcycle/motorbike.

No it does not say that. 87 percent of all accidents involved a motor bike was stated.  That could also mean 87% of accidents involved a car hitting a motorbike. It was not defined accurately hence false assumptions could easily be drawn. Likewise it was quoted 17,000 people were found to have no license without defining the exact number of people stopped. So the % of drivers not holding a valid license is unknown.

3 minutes ago, Excel said:

No it does not say that. 87 percent of all accidents involved a motor bike was stated.  That could also mean 87% of accidents involved a car hitting a motorbike. It was not defined accurately hence false assumptions could easily be drawn. Likewise it was quoted 17,000 people were found to have no license without defining the exact number of people stopped. So the % of drivers not holding a valid license is unknown.

"A staggering 87 percent of all accidents involved a motorcycle."

If anything the odds of a motorcylist surviving a collision with a 4 wheeled vehicle are a lot worse given the disparity in mass. The relevant point is that if a motorcylist is in an accident, they have a much worse chance of survival than do drivers or passengers in 4 wheeled vehicles. As the US statistics clearly show.

1 minute ago, placeholder said:

"A staggering 87 percent of all accidents involved a motorcycle."

If anything the odds of a motorcylist surviving a collision with a 4 wheeled vehicle are a lot worse given the disparity in mass. The relevant point is that if a motorcylist is in an accident, they have a much worse chance of survival than do drivers or passengers in 4 wheeled vehicles. As the US statistics clearly show.

I agree but I was not discussing survival rates, I was outlining statistical percentage of the involvement in accidents. As for your point outlining the US chances of survivability, then that is common sense obvious to a schoolboy.

An off topic post about the motorcycle fatality rate in the USA has been removed.  

3 hours ago, Excel said:

No it does not say that. 87 percent of all accidents involved a motor bike was stated.  That could also mean 87% of accidents involved a car hitting a motorbike. It was not defined accurately hence false assumptions could easily be drawn. Likewise it was quoted 17,000 people were found to have no license without defining the exact number of people stopped. So the % of drivers not holding a valid license is unknown.

330,653 vehicles inspected.

17,052 with no licence.

5.15 percent of those inspected had no licence.

What's new.... Same.. Same.. But a different day. 

8 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Of the vehicles inspected 61,702 drivers face prosecution

That's absolutely staggering. If they rolled that out over a year, it would mean about 25% of the Thai populace in the driving age category would be facing prosecution for 11,000,000 driving offences every year.

7 hours ago, WHansen said:

330,653 vehicles inspected.

17,052 with no licence.

5.15 percent of those inspected had no licence.

Where were those figures stated pls ? Because the report I read did not define of those  vehicles were stoppedm how many were motor vehicles  out of that total vs how many motorcycles were stopped so hence in my original post regarding the stated figure of accidents (87%), it was not possible to differentiate the potential numbers of those motorcyclist whom had no licence as opposed to those driving motor vehicles with no licence.

4 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

That's absolutely staggering. If they rolled that out over a year, it would mean about 25% of the Thai populace in the driving age category would be facing prosecution for 11,000,000 driving offences every year.

That would be called enforcement. Then we would be getting somewhere. 

 

One thing that has always puzzled me about Thailand is the authority the police have to play judge and jury. Fines should never be paid at the scene. This is a big factor in Thai people's lack of respect for the law. They're cynical, never knowing whether the "fine" is going into the cop's pocket or to genuine traffic enforcement. Mail in or pay online to admit fault, or go before a traffic court to contest the facts. They will continue to struggle with enforcement until they develop a system that the people can trust. 

Sukhumvit to me is like a death trap in and around Pattaya. Speeders, on their phones, every intersection red light runners and people making odd turns.  No area is completely safe, I ride my motorbike in the city and rarely go on Sukhumvit always take the side roads.

Unless the traffic infringements are dealt with seriously, nothing will ever change. Whether no licence, no helmet, speeding or whatever, hit them initially with a 10,000Baht fine. For more serious matters which include no licence or insurance, driving the wrong way, running red lights etc and driving whilst under the influence or drugs or alcohol,   then a more hefty fine and /or imprisonment is required plus a minimum 1 year driving ban

 

Stay within the law and nobody is punished!

6 minutes ago, prakhonchai nick said:

Unless the traffic infringements are dealt with seriously, nothing will ever change. Whether no licence, no helmet, speeding or whatever, hit them initially with a 10,000Baht fine. For more serious matters which include no licence or insurance, driving the wrong way, running red lights etc and driving whilst under the influence or drugs or alcohol,   then a more hefty fine and /or imprisonment is required plus a minimum 1 year driving ban

 

Stay within the law and nobody is punished!

Too harsh I think close to a months income for many Thais that is like a 100,000 b fine in western countries.

3,000 b would probably be enough to get their attention.

But at least the entertainment venues are shut saving people

If the insurance companies demanded to see a Valid Driving licence before insurance given, this would cut down that number 

51 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Too harsh I think close to a months income for many Thais that is like a 100,000 b fine in western countries.

3,000 b would probably be enough to get their attention.

So you think 3000baht is about right for dangerous driving, driving without insurance, causing an accident ? Amassing philosophy. Given this is a nation that neither cares about road safety, nor teaches it properly nor are the laws enforced in my view punishments should be punitive.  Bikes and cars should be crushed. Yes they are bought on "tick" mostly so the insurers own them, with these companies mostly owned/shares held by influential or government ministers, that might then put pressure on those people in government to act if they see their assets crushed. Let's face it this is a money money dominated society so losing assets due to unlawfull riders/drivers might, just might spark some action.

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Most accidents occurred between 4pm and 8pm and involved those aged 50 and over. 

You would think at age 50, common sense and self preservation would be forefront on the mind of road users! If you can't ride with some degree of safety at that age, there is little that anything will ever improve!

31 minutes ago, Paul Knight said:

If the insurance companies demanded to see a Valid Driving licence before insurance given, this would cut down that number 

You insure the vehicle, not the driver. But, yes, see the DL for the policyholder at least.