Thai roads are deathtraps to motorcyclists, says campaigner: Spend 15 billion a year to save 7,500 lives

[webfact]

Picture: Sanook

 

A leading Thai engineer and campaigner for road safety has said that three out of four Thai roads are not fit for motorcyclists.

 

Too many are designed solely with cars and four wheel transport in mind.

 

Thailand needs to get real and follow UN recommendations and spend 15 billion baht a year on upgrades.

 

Then 7,500 lives could be saved a year by 2030.

 

Dr Kasem Chujarukul is the leader of ThaiRAP - the Thai Road Assessment Programmem - part of an international drive to improve road safety.

 

The Chulalongkorn professor was speaking to Sanook who noted that Thailand was #1 in the world for motorcycle deaths.

 

He said that a survey of 1,000 kilometers of roads in Thailand revealed that three quarters (750 kms) could easily result in road accidents for bikes.

 

But it was not just a question of potholes and uneven surfaces - what car drivers might perceive to be the problem.

 

It was the geometric design of roads, poor bends and lack of visibility that contributed to the death toll.

 

Roads were simply designed for cars. Thailand has to understand that bikes and cars are two very different beasts with different braking and cornering capabilities.

 

"It's not much different in the US, France, UK and Australia," he said. "Roads are designed with cars in mind. It's just that in those countries there are far fewer motorcycles.

 

"There are a huge number on the roads in Thailand and it all adds up to more than half of road deaths being motorcyclists," he said.

 

ASEAN NOW notes that is a conservative estimate. Most statistics point to death on the Thai roads being about 70-80% of the total. Around 25,000 road users are thought to die annually with up to a million injured.

 

A further problem for motorcyclists, the professor continued, is that road rules mean they are obliged to travel on the left - the domain of six and ten wheel trucks.

 

No wonder we read so many stories of motorcyclists ending up under those much larger vehicles, he noted.

 

Other grave dangers for motorcyclists are roadside lampposts and trees that are the worst of all.

 

Safety measures exist for cars but motorcyclists need more protection from such hazards. Some countries are implementing these with barriers designed to protect bikers.

 

He said that it is time that the Thai government act on UN General Assembly aims to cut road accidents of all kinds in half by the end of this decade. 

 

He estimated that if just a fraction of GDP was spent on upgrading roads for motorcyclists each year - 15 billion baht - then 7,500 lives could be saved annually by 2030. 

 

ASEAN NOW notes that such sentiments have been expressed for years just as it has been known for decades that motorcycle death is at the forefront of Thailand's appalling road death and injury stats. 

 

The affect on GDP from the carnage in financial terms from both deaths and injuries resulting in time off work and longer term handicapped issues is staggering. 

 

But there appears little political will despite campaigners' assurances that spending money will result in savings in the future. 

 

Death among motorcyclists is also as a result of lack of helmet wearing, riding while drunk and poor riding standards, of course. Not to mention lack of enforcement by the police and riding by young, untrained teens contrary to the law.

 

A laissez-faire attitude exists especially in the Thai countryside.

 

Vehicle manufactures advertising speed and glamor over safety also plays a deadly part.

 

To be fair to the professor his brief is the design of the roads themselves hence his comments were limited to this aspect of what is a major issue in Thailand - whether you ride a motorcycle or not. 

 

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[jacko45k]

I must admit I have been feeling that way of late. Rainy weather has made a lot of potholes around where I live and many are deep enough to cause a tumble from a motorcycle.....

Been using the m/cycle much less over that last year, but traffic will return soon, making that harder. 

[Dmaxdan]

Yes, the roads are poorly designed and maintained but in many cases, the riders are not willing or capable of adapting to the conditions.

Speed, speed and more speed is the only way they know.

[keith101]

Thai dont know how to make a good road and doubt they ever will .

[mikebell]

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

spend 15 billion baht a year on

a police force.  Speed is the killer & easily deterred with CCTV & dedicated cops.

[ThailandRyan]

11 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I must admit I have been feeling that way of late. Rainy weather has made a lot of potholes around where I live and many are deep enough to cause a tumble from a motorcycle.....

Been using the m/cycle much less over that last year, but traffic will return soon, making that harder. 

Had a bike go down in front of me here in Bangkok on a side soi filled with potholes that were covered in water.  Treacherous and why I only ride the bike on good days.

[bobandyson]

9 minutes ago, keith101 said:

Thai dont know how to make a good road and doubt they ever will .

But there's no money in building a good road, just a one-time kickback.

 

As it is, kickbacks come frequently with constant repairs and re-lays.

[pseudorabies]

Two weeks ago while riding with the missus through the Chumpon area I encountered some nasty, muddy pothole ridden "roads" (actually more pothole than flat surface) detouring around construction areas.  If I hadn't found a way around the slow moving traffic and picked up a bit of speed I definitely would have dumped the bike.

 

However the threat posed by road conditions pales next to the threats from cars and especially scooters (Grab motorbikes in particular).  Increased enforcement should be a higher priority than fixing roads.  But I doubt that will happen.

[lujanit]

So all the deaths are the roads fault.  Nothing to do with riding the wrong way, cutting in front of other vehicles, speed, untrained riders and no license or insurance.

[VocalNeal]

In the picture above there is a huge strip on the left where I would ride. Agreed it is unnerving to meet a pothole in the middle of a corner when committed but on the straight one can see them coming. 

Concentration is the key. 

[HappyExpat57]

I don't think they value human life enough to spend that kind of money.

[ThailandRyan]

Just now, HappyExpat57 said:

I don't think they value human life enough to spend that kind of money.

As you say, Life is cheap here, you can be killed for owing 500 baht or looking cross-eyed at someone's lady. Wires hanging down kill many riders as well.  Not truly a rider friendly country.

[Moonlover]

25 minutes ago, keith101 said:

Thai dont know how to make a good road and doubt they ever will .

A lot has been spent on road improvements in the north east over the last 7 years that I've been here. The build standard is much higher than it used to be and I enjoy riding my motorcycle and feel quite safe on them.

 

The high death toll is due mainly to poor riding standards, lack of helmets and alcohol use. Not forgetting, of course that there are an awful lot of bikers out there.

 

[mahtin]

Not to mention the murderous attitude of large vehicle drivers (OK, some only).

[Orinoco]

Number one problem 

Is the selfish, murderous,Thai riders and drivers this country has so many of.

But sure fix the roads, but better to fix the people first.

TIT.

 

 

 

 

[ezzra]

Willy nilly constructions everywhere giant one too some encroaching on roads and footpath, way too heavy lorries plying the roads poor general maintenance of rads and paved ways, uneven road's shoulders manholes covers out of place and potholes galore, no wonder bikers are losing life and limbs by the the thousands... 

[ChipButty]

I must admit the roads around Phuket are in good condition the biggest problem we have is the way people drive and ride their bikes, lots of roads have been widened and better lighting, 

In the area we live the biggest problem we have there is no foot paths and the roads are not that wide when you get wagons flying down the road.

I do know of a guy who has been clipped a couple of times out jogging, 

[AhFarangJa]

Granted that a lot of roads here are in poor repair, and create a hazard for bikes. I think we all know the main  reason for that is there is more money to be made in repairs, so why make a good road to start with. Apart from that, there is a lack of education, and an even greater lack of law enforcement, then the "I am invincible " syndrome, ( how many people do you see now riding with no helmet but they have on a face mask). Then there is the attitude of drivers here as to the "pecking order" on the roads.........Big lorries first, because who will argue with them, High end luxury cars, because I am a very important person, ordinary, everyday vehicles because I am more important than a bike, then motorbikes, because they are more important than a pedestrian, and at the bottom of the food chain you find the pedestrian who takes their lives in their hands when simply using a crossing point.  

Unfortunately, these attributes will never be addressed by the professors or experts, because it flies in the face of, well, face. Who wants to upset the populace by pointing out their failings. As Thailand is the place a great many of us have settled in, it is up to us to be cautious, and wary of the failings of the road system because it will not be changing much in our lifetimes. 

[ikke1959]

Reduce speed , wear helmets and get educated shall save more lioves than a hole in road

[Henryford]

I think the thai kamazie drivers are a greater threat than the roads.

[KhruGin]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Death among motorcyclists is also as a result of lack of helmet wearing, riding while drunk and poor riding standards, of course. Not to mention lack of enforcement by the police and riding by young, untrained teens contrary to the law

IMO Thai roads are pretty good. Ive ridden a bike in my life in some 30 or more countries and to me its good enough here. The above statement is basically all they needed to say. Oh and lol a figure of 7500 pulled out of a hat just like the TAT do too. To add, I've read before that about a third of road users don't even have a licence and then some who just paid a brown envelope to obtain one ..hmmm so no training prior to being let loose on the roads. There's a problem really worth looking at eh.

52 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Concentration is the key.

Yup ....how many times do you see a bike pull out of a junction without even as much as a glance to whether there is oncoming traffic or not as for one daily example. 

55 minutes ago, pseudorabies said:

However the threat posed by road conditions pales next to the threats from cars and especially scooters (Grab motorbikes in particular)

Wonderful quote ...yep Grab drivers are really a pandemic since the covid pandemic ..most of them are brainless idiots ....pass me a gun please.

[Rampant Rabbit]

EVERY  new  road  done by me bar MAIN roads  are  done with minimal foundations, the tarmac is wafer thin, in as  little as a  few  months they crumble, they rarely repair, repairs  done in mismatched  products ie concrete in tarmac, its  just a joke

[ozzydon]

this government would rather spend the money on new subs rather than keeping everyone safe but they are the most impaitient drivers i have ever seen  2 speeds flat out or stop

[johng]

13 minutes ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

EVERY  new  road  done by me bar MAIN roads  are  done with minimal foundations,

Why do you continue your shody workmanship  and why only on non main roads ? ????

[toofarnorth]

Where I sit and watch the world and traffic go by it is common to see a car driver get in his car and just go , so many times a scooter/bike is about to go past but the car driver has no concern about who might be coming along and the saddest part is the bike rider expects it , no blast on the hooter ( I do ) just pulls back in behind the car.

[ChipButty]

2 minutes ago, toofarnorth said:

Where I sit and watch the world and traffic go by it is common to see a car driver get in his car and just go , so many times a scooter/bike is about to go past but the car driver has no concern about who might be coming along and the saddest part is the bike rider expects it , no blast on the hooter ( I do ) just pulls back in behind the car.

Bike riders coming up the inside of you when driving a car

[pacovl46]

Totally agree! Back in 2008 I went to Koh Samui. I rent a scooter and went about the island. Didn't keep enough distance to the car in front of me, that was my bad, and went through a pothole that I didn't see coming that was like 20 centimeters deep and about 1.5 meters long at a speed of about 100km/h. The rear rim hit the far edge and luckily for me didn't disintegrate on impact, but shortly thereafter, so I had to buy a new one before returning the bike. This easily could've ended my life. 

[Rampant Rabbit]

2 hours ago, johng said:

Why do you continue your shody workmanship  and why only on non main roads ? ????

to get u excited

[Guderian]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

A leading Thai engineer and campaigner for road safety has said that three out of four Thai roads are not fit for motorcyclists.

Maybe they could use this sudden bout of common sense and openness to also admit that most Thai pavements/sidewalks are not fit for pedestrians.

(That's in the few cases where they actually bothered to build a pavement/sidewalk in the first place, of course, lol.)

[SS1]

It's not the roads, it's the millions of idiots driving on them.