VIDEO: New hope for improving Thailand’s road safety

[webfact]

 

There is a new road safety campaign and it is a powerful tool for tackling Thailand’s road safety crisis, which is video clips of traffic violations.

 

It is expected that this new approach can help to raise traffic awareness among Thais quickly.

 

Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/new-hope-for-improving-thailands-road-safety/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-02-07

 

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[PremiumLane]

How will it work with the defamation laws? Someone rich gets put on social media for breaking the traffic rules and they will sue straight away 

[kotsak]

Words like "hope" and "Thailand’s road safety" cannot be put in the same sentence.

 

[khunjeff]

"Name and shame" only works if you're allowed to name, and if people feel any shame. Not sure either holds true here.

 

And why did the video producer bother with the idiotic interview with the so-called "traffic policeman"? "Oh, the problem is that we can't confiscate licenses" - no, the problem is that you never actually leave your air conditioned booth to stop traffic violators. EVER.

[seedy]

Heard these pronouncements at least twice a year since the 1990's

[actonion]

18 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

"Name and shame" only works if you're allowed to name, and if people feel any shame. Not sure either holds true here.

 

And why did the video producer bother with the idiotic interview with the so-called "traffic policeman"? "Oh, the problem is that we can't confiscate licenses" - no, the problem is that you never actually leave your air conditioned booth to stop traffic violators. EVER.

And you cannot confiscate   a licence that never existed

[actonion]

The only hope of ever improving Thailands road safety is to import  road saftey experts from outside Thailand, because Thai Authories do not have any idea whatsoever  about  Highway code rules,  etc etc  , but as everyone knows Thai's cannot be told,  so it will never happen

[hotchilli]

Watch this and forget in 60 seconds.... can't wait for the movie sequel.

[chalawaan]

More chance of them scrapping 90 day reports, and photocopies. ????????????????????????

[swm59nj]

The issue is lack of enforcement. Living in Bangkok for over two years I hardly see the police. 
And you have the mentality of many people that they just don’t care. They don’t care who they might injure or kill. It’s all about themselves. 

[NorthernRyland]

Nowhere in that 5 minute video did they mention that police don't actually patrol and do their jobs yet they're talking about licenses. How do they still not get this???

[mikebell]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

this new approach can help to raise traffic awareness among Thais quickly.

Do the police have to watch it?  It could be shown in the police station so they never have to leave the office.

[Gottfrid]

The problem is not the laws. If people just used half their brain capacity........oooh....uehm... sorry, just woke up to reality.

[chuang]

Fat hope..

[Tropicalevo]

I wonder how many of the 'not so young' watch social media - especially those that live outside of the cities.

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, actonion said:

The only hope of ever improving Thailands road safety is to import  road saftey experts from outside Thailand, because Thai Authories do not have any idea whatsoever  about  Highway code rules,  etc etc  , but as everyone knows Thai's cannot be told,  so it will never happen

A couple of decades ago they got in some traffic experts from the Netherlands to advise about setting up a similar traffic light system to that which exists in other countries - ie no control booths at every intersection. Their recommendations were completely ignored. It included having traffic sensors in the road to monitor and regulate traffic, as used in the real world, but that was apparently too much trouble. Thai IT 1.0 probably couldn't have handled it anyway.

[asiasurfer]

2 hours ago, seedy said:

Heard these pronouncements at least twice a year since the 1990's

It ain't gonna work before people change their mentality regards responsible driving. So, it will take at least another generation. 

[Confuscious]

Thai PBS World forget when making this video that there are DEFAMATION laws in Thailand which are more stringent than Traffic laws and can prononce heavy jail terms.

But TIT .............

[paul1804]

They need to start with some personal discipline for drivers and then properly teach basic road rules. These need to be enforced by non corrupt law enforcement unlike the current status. 

There is no discipline on Thai roads, they dont respect the painted lines on the road as lanes, they are completely clueless of roundabout rules, they dont know when to give way and when to stop or not to stop. They drive onto a main road making traffic stop to let them proceed and so it goes on. They drive out of side roads without a glance for oncoming traffic, the list just goes on & on. Even policeman do not stop at zebra crossings and are some of the biggest road rule breakers because they believe they are entitled!! 

A few weeks back I tooted my horn at a van driver because he kept wandering across into my lane, he followed me for the next 5kms flashing his lights at me, what madness!!!

[Orinoco]

Monday joke time.

 

 

 

 

 

[trainman34014]

And this is supposed to a 'Powerful New Message' ?   They are clueless; what would be a Powerful New Message is 'If you don't pay your fine we will impound and crush your Vehicle after just a second demand to pay '.

 

Most Thai Drivers need a good kick in the Butt or their heads banging against a wall in the hope that the small amount of Grey Matter they possess at one end or the other may let something useful in and make a difference to the 'attittude' problem !

[alien365]

The video is incredibly boring. I didn't even finish watching it. No chance in a million years will this change anything.

[connda]

Showing accidents doesn't do squat.  Thais see road accidents daily on their TV news.  It's nothing new.  It's passe.
If showing accidents improved driving that Thailand wouldn't have road carnage.

What they need to show is actual HOW TOs regarding the driving skills needed to safely navigate roads.

HOW TO safely merge into traffic
HOW TO use acceleration and deceleration lanes.
HOW TO gauge the speed of oncoming traffic and safely cross roads at U-Turns
HOW TO safely pass on two lane roads
HOW TO properly accelerate from a stop
The list is endless.

But-
For whatever reason teaching driving skills hasn't crossed the minds of anyone in the MOT or other governmental agencies.  They just continue to show videos of carnage, arrogance, and stupidity that Thais routinely see on TV everyday, and they are stupid enough to believe that will change Thai driving.
<enter Einstein's definition of Insanity here>

That ain't gonna change anyone's driving habits.  That video is truly worthless pablum.

Edited February 7, 2022 by connda

[RayOday]

They use to name and shame in China. Didn't work. Instead cameras at Zebras. Break the law and you receive a fine in the mail. Don't pay in X days they take it from your paycheck. No paycheck? A visit from the Public Security folks.  A visit from those folks is never pleasant.

[connda]

5 hours ago, actonion said:

The only hope of ever improving Thailands road safety is to import  road saftey experts from outside Thailand, because Thai Authories do not have any idea whatsoever  about  Highway code rules,  etc etc  , but as everyone knows Thai's cannot be told,  so it will never happen

Exactly.

[TigerandDog]

2 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

And this is supposed to a 'Powerful New Message' ?   They are clueless; what would be a Powerful New Message is 'If you don't pay your fine we will impound and crush your Vehicle after just a second demand to pay '.

 

Most Thai Drivers need a good kick in the Butt or their heads banging against a wall in the hope that the small amount of Grey Matter they possess at one end or the other may let something useful in and make a difference to the 'attittude' problem !

Not powerful enough. Cars, pick ups, motor bikes should be impounded IMMEDIATELY if the police should happen to stop someone for a traffic infringement. e.g. Plod pulls motor cyclist over for no helmet. Instead of giving a slap on the wrist, impound the motor bike immediately. Tell the motor cyclist where the bike can be collected from impound, BUT the MUST come with a helmet and pay a 5,000 baht impound fee to get the bike back. Failure to do so within 14 days will result in the registration being cancelled and the bike either being sold at auction or crushed, unless an appeal is lodged through the courts within the same time frame. Similar scenarios could be created for offences involving any kind of motor vehicle. As an incentive to plod, they get 10% of the impound fee if it gets paid.

[RobU]

It won't work.  Only money talks. Big fines, possible imprisonment and confiscation of vehicles/bikes is the only answer

[madmitch]

The biggest problem is the fact that people pass their tests without a clue how to drive on the roads.

 

If you pick up good habits during the training period they (mainly) remain with you. If you just go straight onto the road then these habits are never instilled.

[bangon04]

10 hours ago, chuang said:

Fat hope..

Luckily the devout Buddhists believe in future re-incarnation in a better life...... so no need to rush now.

[Thunglom]

15 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

A couple of decades ago they got in some traffic experts from the Netherlands to advise about setting up a similar traffic light system to that which exists in other countries - ie no control booths at every intersection. Their recommendations were completely ignored. It included having traffic sensors in the road to monitor and regulate traffic, as used in the real world, but that was apparently too much trouble. Thai IT 1.0 probably couldn't have handled it anyway.

There have been several times when "experts from abroad" have been invited to make suggestions, Netherlands, Sweden, Australia and the EU. There are also many ASEAN and Thai organisations that have offered advice.

Every time and without exception, they are ignored by successive governments who seem to think , like many posters on Thaivisa, that they know better. They stick to pointlessly picking out one aspect as if it will make a difference.

 

The solution IS out there - it requires fundamental changes and will cost "millions" - but, in the long run  it will save the economy trillions.

 

Here are a few organisations that have been ignored.

 

The World Health Organization (WHO)  - https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/thailand/roadsafety/overview-en-final-25-7-19.pdf?sfvrsn=f9d7a862_2

Save the children Thailand - https://thailand.savethechildren.net/sites/thailand.savethechildren.net/files/library/Save%20the%20Children’s%20Work%20in%20Road%20Safety%20-%20The%207%25%20Project_1.pdf

ThaiRoads Foundation - http://www.thairoads.org/en/

International Road Assessment Program (iRAP) and Chulalongkorn University - https://irap.org/2018/11/new-thai-centre-of-excellence-chulalongkorn-university/

The Embassy of Sweden is coordinating a group called “the Embassy Friends of Road Safety (EFRS) - https://scandasia.com/tag/the-embassy-friends-of-road-safety-efrs/

Thailand Road Safety Observatory, TRSO -=http://www.atransociety.com/resources/pdf/pdfResearch2013-2018/2014/Project2014-006(Dr.Paramet).pdf

Arrive Alive - Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan (2005–2010) - https://www.adb.org/publications/arrive-alive-asean-regional-road-safety-and-action-plan-2005-2010

ASEAN TRANSPORT STRATEGIC PLAN 2016-2025 - https://www.itf-oecd.org/asean-transport-strategic-plan-2016-2025-and-progress-road-safety-initiatives

EU/ASEAN - https://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/eu-and-asean-exchange-knowledge-and-best-practices-road-safety_en

Australia, Safe System Solutions  - https://www.austrade.gov.au/news/success-stories/australian-consultancy-helps-improve-road-safety-in-thailand

Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety - https://www.bloomberg.org/public-health/improving-road-safety/

Office of Transport & Traffic Policy & Planning(OTP), Ministry of Transport - https://www.mot.go.th/about.html?dsfm_lang=EN&id=12

Thai RSC. - Accident road safety Data for Thailand - http://www.thairsc.com/eng/

World Bank - https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2019/03/26/working-towards-improving-road-safety-and-saving-lives-in-thailand

 

Edited February 7, 2022 by Thunglom