Thais urged not to drink drive this New Year

[webfact]

Picture: Daily News

 

Deputy interior minister Niphon Bunyamanee said that he and the Thai government cares about the welfare of the people on the roads.

 

He called his compatriots his brothers and sisters and urged the authorities to help them as he visited an assistance tent in Songkhla in the far south.

 

Thailand has a reported 25,000 road deaths a year but special attention to the issue is only made at New Year and Songkran, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

Niphon called for the people to follow the rules, and the authorities to do their duty in accordance with Covid-19 protocols.

 

He specifically told the people not to drive if they had been drinking alcohol or were sleepy.

 

"The government is concerned about accidents involving people and damage to property", he said. 

 

He thanked officials at the checkpoint in coastal Singhanakhon district for their sacrifice in the New Year holidays. 

 

Daily News - a media who highlights the death toll on the roads in daily reports often translated by ASEAN NOW - reported that the country would have a campaign to limit accidents for the "Seven Deadly Days" from December 29th to January 4th.

 

Disappointingly their reporter did not ask the salient questions to the minister related to road death and injury in Thailand.

 

"Why don't you properly address the issue 365 days a year?"

 

"Why is it just a vital issue at New Year and Songkran?"

 

It appears they didn't want to spoil the buoyant mood of the deputy minister's visit as he handed out presents to officials at the tent. 

 

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[RandiRona]

Thai politicians may be many thing but lacking humor is not. Everyone is full of it....

Thai government cares about the welfare of the people on the roads

 

This Statement made my day!!!

[RubbaJohnny]

You could ban booze, driving and foolishness but those who misbehave are deaf and their leaders are are immune from responsibility, accountability and redress.

 

My sincere advice is enjoy a glass at home if you must but keep off the roads. We'll inevitably see the Truck/Bus roll onto  an overcrowded pickup rear full of unstrapped drunks who then wipe out a few motorbikes, not just holidays every single day.

 

Considering its more lethal than the pandemic if only the same effort were put in to very basic road safety (crash helmets, no riding tray of pick up trucks on highways), but then  there's no juice from contract padding or hotels gouging trapping guests at inflated prices.

[Cake Monster]

Until there is a total and complete reforming of the RTP, the situation is never going to change.

Thailand has all the Laws in place to prevent some of these lives being wasted every Year.

The problem is the enforcement of the the existing Laws.

[Henryford]

The Government cares about the welfare of people on the roads, but are happy with 25,000 road deaths a year.

[Dmaxdan]

I think the days for urging Thais to not drink and drive are long passed.

It is time to stop pussyfooting around and start getting tough!

They have shown time and time again that they just cannot be trusted not to drive or ride whilst intoxicated.

They should be threatened with massive fines, having their vehicles crushed and lengthy jail sentences.

This should be done publicly as a warning to others.

 

 

 

[DLock]

One missing comma changes everything.

 

"Thais urged not to drink drive this year".

 

Yeah, because it tastes terrible...sorry, I couldn't help myself.

[richard_smith237]

9 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

I think the days for urging Thais to not drink and drive are long passed.

It is time to stop pussyfooting around and start getting tough!

They have shown time and time again that they just cannot be trusted not to drive or ride whilst intoxicated.

They should be threatened with massive fines, having their vehicles crushed and lengthy jail sentences.

This should be done publicly as a warning to others.

 

There is no need to ‘threaten’ they / us  [every driver in Thailand]..... 

 

As Cake Monster accurately pointed out, the existing laws and fines are already in place and sufficient. 

 

The issue is ineffective policing which has its own underlying reasons starting with a basic culture of apathy.

 

IF the roads were policed effectively there would be lot less carnage.

 

People drive the way they do and behave the way they do because they know they can get away with it. 

 

People drink and drive because they know they can get away with it.

 

People also know drinking and driving is against the law - there is no need for threats. IF the police simply started enforcing the law effectively and consistently all year round a lot would change very quickly.

 

[Quickmill]

Seems fair...so all the others days of the year there are not any law restriction in drink and drive????? 

[vandeventer]

30 minutes ago, Quickmill said:

Seems fair...so all the others days of the year there are not any law restriction in drink and drive????? 

Now let me see, drink and drive or let the GF drive? Better stay at home!

[RedRoadRunner]

Yeah right …. Works every year !!! ????????????

[PEE TEE]

Whatever is said it falls on deaf ears it will not make difference according to the article it only refers to Thais. I take it they don't care about foreigners.  

[Gsxrnz]

Maybe it's just me, but I'm unable to notice if they're driving drunk or not.  They don't seem to drive any differently.

[Asquith Production]

1 hour ago, Dmaxdan said:

They should be threatened with massive fines, having their vehicles crushed and lengthy jail sentences.

Fines they would not be able to pay. Vehicles being crushed is not on as most need to use their vehicle for work and a lot are on credit so the driver will not be the owner until its paid off. 

 

The Government have no wish to implement harsh punishment because it will upset the majority of Thai people and not exactly a vote winner, plus do you see Thais marching on Parliament demanding tougher action on drink drivers?, Its only foreigners who see the devastation because it would be unacceptable in their countries. I believe the accidents are accepted by the Thai government and general public as part of life.

[Ralf001]

hahahahaha an assistance tent.

 

Bet it has a card payment machine connected via hotspot !!

[Ralf001]

1 minute ago, Asquith Production said:

 a lot are on credit so the driver will not be the owner until its paid off. 

 

 

Still crush em. the driver is still on the hook for repayments.... or declares bankruptcy.

 

either way its gunna hurt their wallet.

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, Asquith Production said:

Fines they would not be able to pay. Vehicles being crushed is not on as most need to use their vehicle for work and a lot are on credit so the driver will not be the owner until its paid off. 

If that is the case, well they should treat the privilege of being permitted to drive a little more seriously. Strong punishment is the way forward...along with education. Simply because they are poor is not reason to allow them to drive around drunk killing people!

[Tarteso]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

his compatriots his brothers and sisters..

…Are going to drink and drive until until the rooster crows ????

[Asquith Production]

Just now, jacko45k said:

If that is the case, well they should treat the privilege of being permitted to drive a little more seriously. Strong punishment is the way forward...along with education. Simply because they are poor is not reason to allow them to drive around drunk killing people!

I didnt say because they are poor they should be allowed to drive drunk. I am saying that as a punishment massive fines would not work.

[Asquith Production]

6 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Still crush em. the driver is still on the hook for repayments.... or declares bankruptcy.

 

either way its gunna hurt their wallet.

They are not the owner. You lend your car to someone who gets stopped for dink drive and they crush your car. Yeah

[jacko45k]

3 minutes ago, Asquith Production said:

I didnt say because they are poor they should be allowed to drive drunk. I am saying that as a punishment massive fines would not work.

Then let us say better policing and fines or  prison sentences. Maybe time for action and not making excuses for them? In the UK I think the TV campaigns worked well, making DWI socially unacceptable. Along with harsh punishment, large fines and driving bans... and problems did not end there. 

[Asquith Production]

Just now, jacko45k said:

Then let us say better policing and fines or  prison sentences. Maybe time for action and not making excuses for them?

I am not making excuses for them I see the reality, I would love the Thai roads to be as safe as other countries but you live with what your given.

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, Asquith Production said:

I am not making excuses for them I see the reality, I would love the Thai roads to be as safe as other countries but you live with what your given.

I can only go by what I read here...... 

[Ralf001]

9 minutes ago, Asquith Production said:

They are not the owner. You lend your car to someone who gets stopped for dink drive and they crush your car. Yeah

If you lend your car to a drink driver you too should feel the full wraith of the law.

 

aiding and abetting is just as bad.

[Ralf001]

16 minutes ago, Asquith Production said:

I didnt say because they are poor they should be allowed to drive drunk. I am saying that as a punishment massive fines would not work.

Massive fines work (sorta) in other countries.

 

Why is Thailand any different ?

 

[koratkarlos]

Today was the first time I have seen road block inspections in my neighborhood (Doi Saket, east of Chiang Mai).  It looked like a show to me.  Every day I drive here in Thailand I get angry.  There are two things I hate the most; 1) how close they tailgate you when you are not driving fast enough and 2) how the people do not yield, slow down or steer towards their side of the road when the road narrows and they are coming from the opposite direction.

 

Anger every day.  I think this annoucement is rhetoric.  Enforcement and education are needed.

[Asquith Production]

Just now, Ralf001 said:

Massive fines work (sorta) in other countries.

 

Why is Thailand any different ?

 

I can only speak for the UK but if you get a large fine you are allowed to pay it off weekly and the courts can get that direct from your employer, Their is no such system in place here and if you expect some Issan farmer to go a pay a fine every month good luck with that. 

[Road Warrior]

Thai's wont change a lifetime  habit 

[Road Warrior]

6 minutes ago, koratkarlos said:

Today was the first time I have seen road block inspections in my neighborhood (Doi Saket, east of Chiang Mai).  It looked like a show to me.  Every day I drive here in Thailand I get angry.  There are two things I hate the most; 1) how close they tailgate you when you are not driving fast enough and 2) how the people do not yield, slow down or steer towards their side of the road when the road narrows and they are coming from the opposite direction.

 

Anger every day.  I think this annoucement is rhetoric.  Enforcement and education are needed.

agree enforcement and education --  but will never happen  !!!!!  

[Asquith Production]

Just now, Road Warrior said:

Thai's wont change a lifetime  habit 

Exactly. If I was a politician would I get into power by announcing we are going to create massive fines and crush your vehicles if you dont comply with our rules