Health Ministry to Push for Blood Tests During Songkran to Curb Road Accidents

[Ralf001]

10 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

In sensible countries with sensible laws, refusing a breathalyser tests results in a guilty verdict. 

Does in Thailand as well.

some posters here are ignorant of this fact.

[shackleton]

Looks like a money making idea coming up but as every year can't see it making a big difference on the amount of casualties caused by bad driving alcohol  every Songkran holiday 

[herfiehandbag]

6 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

The highway patrol have decent cars. But, they only seem to use them after an accident occurs, or to find a local card game. I never see them patroling the highway. 

They do spend a lot of time escorting convoys of VIPs from Chiang Rai Airport up to the Burmese border.

 

Mind you, there are some spectacular card games on offer just across the Burmese border...

[sqwakvfr]

 

Does the Deputy Minister realize after obtaining a blood sample the BAC(Blood Alcohol Content) can only be determined after laboratory test? Oh, I forgot he will ensure mobile labs are at every checkpoint? 

 

[Grusa]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

As if their time could not be put to better use. The only people that consider the bigwigs important, are themselves and those subordinate to them. 

 

Patrol the highways. Take some responsibility. Man up and do something productive. 

Non sequitur. We are all by definition subordinate to them.

[Millcx]

How much will they cost … Will they be double for Falange and will there be a booster for 3000 THB ???? … Asking for a friend who wants to do a Blood Test Sandbox

[inThailand]

3 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

.

If the Thai people cared so much about their own road safety they should abide by the laws themselves, not wait for some ministry to come hold their hand. 

This assumes they know the law. A big assumption here? 

[kiwikeith]

14 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I have a better idea. How about getting the highway patrol to actually do their jobs, and patrol the highways, and pull over maniacs driving 200kph and other reckless drivers. That is how it works in most nations. So, why does Thailand hold traffic safety and our safety in such low regard? Why is it not a priority? Why do they drone on and on, and do nothing? 

Sprinting from accident scenes will prevail 

[Thunglom]

In UK and most other countries, the second breath tester at the station is regarded as sufficient. Blood tests are less common.

The problem is th RTP are neither trained nor equipped to effectively test and enforce DD laws. This is not just a matter of a quick policy change, it requires a full-blown reform of the police with a fully trained traffic police section.

[superal]

On 4/6/2022 at 1:48 AM, jesimps said:

None of these remedies will work until they get rid of corruption. Make a noise like money and you can get away with almost anything. 

You got it right cos in Thailand if there is no money to be made there is no interest . Not easy for non Thais to understand but it is in the Thai genes , money number one  .  

[blackshadow]

blood tests should be mandatory after any accident........

"not pushing them to be carried out"

end of story

[Thunglom]

7 hours ago, blackshadow said:

blood tests should be mandatory after any accident........

"not pushing them to be carried out"

end of story

they aren't necessary and even less so at te scene of a collision.

[Mr Meeseeks]

On 4/6/2022 at 7:10 AM, hotchilli said:

Because they don't give a damn.

Correction, because they won't earn anything from enforcing the laws properly.

[kimamey]

On 4/5/2022 at 11:47 PM, spidermike007 said:

I have a better idea. How about getting the highway patrol to actually do their jobs, and patrol the highways, and pull over maniacs driving 200kph and other reckless drivers. That is how it works in most nations. So, why does Thailand hold traffic safety and our safety in such low regard? Why is it not a priority? Why do they drone on and on, and do nothing? 

They could try patrolling off the highways as well. Try the back roads though the villages and stop the under age riders, riders without helmets, drinks etc.

[ThailandRyan]

On 4/5/2022 at 5:26 PM, snoop1130 said:

will be required to submit to blood tests conducted by officers manning checkpoints. He also warned that those who refuse to get tested will automatically be considered intoxicated.

Wait, an untrained RTP officer will be drawing blood from refusals.  Must be an easy blood draw by holding the vial under the persons nose after they smack them for refusing....my pet Cobra told me so.....

[sqwakvfr]

In the US(especially California where I worked) making an actual Driving Under the Influence arrest   is very complicated. .  Field alcohol screening machines are generally not admissible in court because they are deemed to be  highly unreliable. An actual breath test must be conducted at the jail and two valid breath samples must be obtained from the driver.  This is somewhat like an ATK test versus a PCR test.  LOS has a long way to go in order to properly enforce DUI laws.  I just can't see the RTP investing that kind of money and time on training and equipment to accomplish this.  

[Thunglom]

57 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

In the US(especially California where I worked) making an actual Driving Under the Influence arrest   is very complicated. .  Field alcohol screening machines are generally not admissible in court because they are deemed to be  highly unreliable. An actual breath test must be conducted at the jail and two valid breath samples must be obtained from the driver.  This is somewhat like an ATK test versus a PCR test.  LOS has a long way to go in order to properly enforce DUI laws.  I just can't see the RTP investing that kind of money and time on training and equipment to accomplish this.  

And in the USA about 1/3 of all road deaths are alcohol related which is the same as in Thailand.

most countries are 25% to 33% Except in the EU.

[blackshadow]

2 hours ago, Thunglom said:

they aren't necessary and even less so at te scene of a collision.

YOUR opinion 

my opinion...

end of story

[ThailandRyan]

18 minutes ago, Thunglom said:

And in the USA about 1/3 of all road deaths are alcohol related which is the same as in Thailand.

most countries are 25% to 33% Except in the EU.

Just where did you come up with the stat of 1/3rd of all US road deaths are alcohol related

 

https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html

In 2016, 10,497 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for 28% of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.¹

 

It has hovered near 30% not 1/3rd as you indicate and has decreased over the past few years as well.

 

 

https://one.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa/whatis/planning/2020Report/2020report.html

 

Thailand on the other hand sees a much higher rate of alcohol related road fatalities. In fact the WHO puts it at 45%

https://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/en/thailand.pdf

45% of deaths from traffic accidents in Thailand are due to alcohol consumption.12 A substantial proportion (44%) of traffic injury cases seeking emergency services in public hospitals had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.1% or more.13 A recent study revealed that one third of road traffic accident patients

[Thunglom]

2 hours ago, blackshadow said:

YOUR opinion 

my opinion...

end of story

It's not MY opinion it is the law in most countries where te science has shown that blood tests are not always necessary fr courts. 

You also might take into account who is going to start taking road side blood tests in Thailand or even ones in the station.

An opinion is based on reason and evidence - by that definition you don't have one.

This is the procedure in the UK

 

"Once a person has been arrested for an alcohol related road traffic offence and if for any reason(s) an evidential breath specimen cannot or should not be required or provided and unless a suspect has failed or refused to supply an evidential breath specimen for analysis without reasonable excuse (failing to provide a specimen for analysis), a blood or urine specimen will then be required."

[toss]

I'd suggest trying to find BLOOD rather than ALCOHOL...

[impulse]

On 4/7/2022 at 10:09 AM, superal said:

You got it right cos in Thailand if there is no money to be made there is no interest . Not easy for non Thais to understand but it is in the Thai genes , money number one  .  

In a country where cops are paid so little, and have to buy their own uniforms, guns and bullets, can you blame them?

 

Thai people go along with it because it keeps taxes low.  It's not as if the majority of them are rolling in dough.

 

[stoutfella]

On 4/5/2022 at 11:31 PM, Petey11 said:

Why not just have law like UK, don't consent to or provide a breath or or blood test a minimum 1year ban.

What good is a one year ban?