56 dead, 729 injured in first two days of Songkran travel - 17,000 nabbed for no licenses

[AhFarangJa]

25 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 

Apologies if I have mentioned this before. My Son took a driving course and passed his test. He is 15 years old and rides a Honda Wave 110i. His license limits him to this c.c. until he is 18. His friend of the same age rides a Click 150c.c. I mentioned to my Son his friend would not be insured. His Father contacted the insurance company brokers with the question about being covered. Answer..."don't know". they contacted head office in Bangkok, answer....."don't know". After two days we got the reply, and I quote: "As long as the Police see a license they do not bother about the age limits"

Mind boggling I know, but I would put money on the fact that we have now alerted the insurers, and god forbid, should there be an accident they will not pay out.

[dgwooster]

"Most accidents occurred between 4pm and 8pm . . "

That would be when the sun is lowest on the horizon.   Glare most likely an important contributor.  

[hotchilli]

14 hours 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.

So motor cycles impounded... yes?

Or just the usual fine and on-yer-way.

[hotchilli]

12 minutes ago, dgwooster said:

"Most accidents occurred between 4pm and 8pm . . "

That would be when the sun is lowest on the horizon.   Glare most likely an important contributor.  

Correction, that would be after a day-long drinking session.

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, Yorkshire Tea said:

 

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

More to do with the contents of a bottle.

[FitnessHealthTravel]

No news here! Thailand averages 71 deaths a day, either 'at scene' or in Hospitals (not often reported) so this figure is obviously 'at scene'. It's staggering that they cripple a country over a virus (95 total covid deaths to date, 15 months) and nothing is done about the roads.  Let the population 'cull' itself I guess is the thought process here, phew!

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, Paul Knight said:

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

How many of the older cars are insured for more than the third class insurance mandated by the government when it is re-registered every year would be a better question.  

[ThailandRyan]

28 minutes ago, dgwooster said:

"Most accidents occurred between 4pm and 8pm . . "

That would be when the sun is lowest on the horizon.   Glare most likely an important contributor.  

How many riders or drivers may also have vision problems and never get checked or wear glasses that might also assist them in seeing outside of the vehicle, and how many check the mirrors when changing lanes.  Education and medical are both important.

[Mr Meeseeks]

13 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

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.

Having a Thai license isn't going to reduce accidents as the testing system is a complete and utter joke, even when it is implemented correctly and to the letter. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

13 hours ago, KannikaP said:

From the OP

 

A staggering 87 percent of all accidents involved a motorcycle.

The vast majority due to recklessness, carelessness, inebriation, incompetence or a combination of all of the above. 

[mikebell]

14 hours ago, PatOngo said:

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

Just less than TWO deaths per MINUTE every day of every month for the last sixteen years to my knowledge.

[Chongalulu]

52 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

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!

It would normally,but when the IQ figure matches the age there is little chance of those attributes 

[Henryford]

40 minutes ago, dgwooster said:

"Most accidents occurred between 4pm and 8pm . . "

That would be when the sun is lowest on the horizon.   Glare most likely an important contributor.  

 

More likely they have been drinking all day

[Artisi]

1 minute ago, mikebell said:

Just less than TWO deaths per MINUTE every day of every month for the last sixteen years to my knowledge.

Must be time to declare a "hub" 

[Artisi]

42 minutes ago, dgwooster said:

"Most accidents occurred between 4pm and 8pm . . "

That would be when the sun is lowest on the horizon.   Glare most likely an important contributor.  

You must be Thai to come up with that idea. 

[ronaldo0]

I will take my chances with Covid in the pub thanks !! ????????

[Bangkok Barry]

14 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

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.

 

I used to make regular trips to Bali for business, and there almost everyone wears a helmet because it's the law and presumably it is enforced. In Thailand, almost no-one wears a helmet - especially outside of the towns - even though it's the law, because the law isn't enforced. Still, up to them. It's their country, their life. Most of the time they just kill themselves so why should we care?

[Miss Pickle]

It never ceases to shock me how many die in Road accidents in Thailand and yet the panic is on regarding Covid.

[wombat]

57 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

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

no licensed driver no insurance when they try to claim

[ThailandRyan]

6 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

I used to make regular trips to Bali for business, and there almost everyone wears a helmet because it's the law and presumably it is enforced. In Thailand, almost no-one wears a helmet - especially outside of the towns - even though it's the law, because the law isn't enforced. Still, up to them. It's their country, their life. Most of the time they just kill themselves so why should we care?

Yes it is their country and their lives, I just don't want the head of the rider exploding on the windshield of my car or side windows as they hit me me at high speed because they decided to swerve into my lane or drive into the side of me without stopping at a T intersection.  I saw enough of that in my early days here in Phuket. 

[4MyEgo]

17,000 nabbed for no licenses

Multiply that by 1,000 at least and you can thank the cops for their failure to do their jobs. So this is nothing more than a PR stunt, the only time they do their jobs, Songkran to show they are out there once a year, they are an utter disgrace.

Edited April 13, 2021 by 4MyEgo

[sungod]

About a 50% drop from other years.......

 

Just saying.......????

[4MyEgo]

13 hours ago, Excel said:

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.

 

Um, yes they did, here it below.

 

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

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.

 

That's about 5% according to my calculations.

Edited April 13, 2021 by 4MyEgo

[ChrisKC]

No good enforcing the law if then not enforcing the punishment.

 

Thailand Ryan is right: If you are not wearing a helmet, you are prevented from moving on until you do!

[Excel]

9 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Um, yes they did, here it below.

 

No you are wrong.  When referring to vehicles in these reports they refer to both motors cycles and cars as "vehicles". Sometimes they break out the cars from the bikes but in this report they did not.  You and I perhaps consider a car is a car and a bike is a bike but they refer to all as vehicles unless specifically defined otherwise.  That is illustrated further by earlier reports where it was claimed that 47% of bike riders do not hold a valid licence whereas I think the figure was 19% of car drivers who were nabbed didn't have one. Even so a lot of lunatics riding around on 2 or 4 wheels.

Edited April 13, 2021 by Excel

[easydoor]

And what did they do with the people without driving license or not having a helmet on? They payed the fee and could continue driving. Put they car or motorbike beside till somebody shows up with a license or  a helmet  to pick up the car or motorbike but don't let them continue driving. This will be the only thing working. Same with drunk driving: don't let them drive one meter more, take them of the road.

[tinca tinca]

1 hour ago, dgwooster said:

"Most accidents occurred between 4pm and 8pm . . "

That would be when the sun is lowest on the horizon.   Glare most likely an important contributor.  

it is dark by 7pm......most days .....!!!

[4MyEgo]

3 hours ago, LawrenceN said:

Fines should never be paid at the scene.

 

The reason they do this is because they are too lazy to chase them when they don't pay it and they don't have a demerit system yet, whereby they can cancel their licenses if they don't pay, and based on the 17,000 who don't have licenses I am sure there are tens of thousands more.

 

The system is as you say, corrupt and inept and for change to happen, they have to have a police force that is prepared to enforce the law, and system in place to punish those who break it, i.e. heavy fines, jail time and we know how Thai's are so let's not kid ourselves, it all starts at the schools, they never fail a single student and there in lay the problem. You have to be cruel to be kind and here their cruel is for students to bring the teacher a broom or a vase or paint the classroom for 2-3 days and they will pass the failing student, then they go on to be cops, government officials and in the end you have a total failure.

[bloodyholly]

What bloody chance have they got?

[prakhonchai nick]

3 hours 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.

No No NO! It is deliberately high to force the Thais to tow the line. Treat it as a warning. Nothing else works with them.  As I said.......Stay within the law and nobody is punished!