Dicing with death: Thai motorists continue to play with their lives on the roads

[webfact]

 

During the Songkran festival, perhaps even more so than during other long holidays, the issue of road safety is taken seriously. The fact that we still call the Thai New Year holidays  “the 7 dangerous days” and report the daily death and injury tolls says a lot about the situation. Pandemic or not, Thailand’s roads remain the deadliest in Southeast Asia, and among the top 10 in the global hall of shame.

 

As Thais travel for vacations or to their homes during the major festival, which this year ends on Sunday, April 17, the number of road injuries and deaths increases. The pattern is repeated every year and the reasons behind the injuries of fatalities are always the same – drunk driving, speeding, and not wearing helmets. Sadly, all the causes of accidents can be prevented.

 

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Every time the road safety issue is highlighted such as during festivals or after shocking accidents, the authorities go on high alert and react. But most of the time, it is the same old Thailand where lax law enforcement, negligent police, and irresponsible drivers meet on the streets. That’s the reason why Thailand’s road fatality rate is more than double the global average of 18 per 100,000 population. In 2012, Thailand’s fatalities caused by road accidents were 36.2 per 100,000 people according to the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s report.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/dicing-with-death-thai-motorists-continue-to-play-with-their-lives-on-the-roads/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-04-15

 

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[keith101]

Nothing new TIT .

[Dmaxdan]

The problem is that they don't see it as dicing with death.

They are brought up to believe Budda will protect them and therefore they can do what they like, when they like and no harm will ever befall them....If only life was that simple.

[ThailandRyan]

Reading the article makes me think that the Title should be Dueling ....not Dicing.

[klauskunkel]

Quote

Thai motorists continue to play with their lives on the roads

I don't mind at all if they play with their lives. Let them play! 

But, if they play with innocent people's lives, health or property, then they need to be taken away.

Edited April 15, 2022 by klauskunkel

[Ralf001]

37 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

The problem is that they don't see it as dicing with death.

They are brought up to believe Budda will protect them and therefore they can do what they like, when they like and no harm will ever befall them....If only life was that simple.

I run 10 amulets, Iam safe.

 

If it does turn to kaka I will be reincarnated.

 

All is good.

[NanLaew]

58 minutes ago, webfact said:

Pandemic or not, Thailand’s roads remain the deadliest in Southeast Asia, and among the top 10 in the global hall of shame.

Since neither Myanmar or Vietnam publish any statistics, this regional or global rating is questionable. Yes, it's bad here but it's pure supposition to state categorically that Thailand's on the podium.

 

The fact that around 80% of these fatalities are on motorbikes after dark on rural roads, then the "Thailand's roads" is taking things out of context.

[2 is 1]

Thailand is only country in this planet where everybody think DUI is normal behavior! Everybody do it and mostly not get any fine or any judgement from it! Only if you crash you get fault from crash but you can buy you way out of it easily, even somebody die in that crash! 

[ThailandRyan]

9 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Since neither Myanmar or Vietnam publish any statistics, this regional or global rating is questionable. Yes, it's bad here but it's pure supposition to state categorically that Thailand's on the podium.

 

The fact that around 80% of these fatalities are on motorbikes after dark on rural roads, then the "Thailand's roads" is taking things out of context.

You better do some research before you back yourself into a corner sir.

 

https://news.sky.com/story/killer-roads-why-thailand-has-one-of-the-worst-death-rates-from-driving-in-the-world-12051841

At least 20,000 people die on Thailand's roads every year, making them the ninth most dangerous in the world, according to research by the World Health Organisation (WHO). In the UK - a country with a similar sized population - the figure is about 1,800, according to the WHO report.

 

Look at the chart below and you will see that Thailand leads all of Asia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate

 

Bangladesh	Asia	13.6	1020.6		21,316	2013
Bhutan	Asia	15.1	167.2		114	2013
Cambodia	Asia	17.4	107.2		2,635	2013
China	Asia	18.8	104.5		261,367	2016
East Timor	Asia	16.6	295.8		188	2013
Hong Kong	Asia	1.3	12.2	7.3	97	2020[12]
India	Asia	16.6	130.1		207,551	2016
Indonesia	Asia	15.3	36.7		38,279	2016
Iran	Asia	20.5	54.1		16,426	2016
Iraq	Asia	20.2	151.2		6,826	2013
Israel	Asia	4.2	10.7	5.9	345	2016
Japan	Asia	4.1	5.7	6.4	5,224	2016
Jordan	Asia	7.65[15]	49.9[15]		750[15]	2016[15]
Kazakhstan	Asia	24.2	101.4		3,983	2016
Kuwait	Asia	18.7	34.2		629	2013
Kyrgyzstan	Asia	22.0	127.3		1220	2016
Laos	Asia	14.3	67.5		971	2013
Lebanon	Asia	22.6	64.8		1088	2016
Malaysia	Asia	23.6	29.8		7,374	2016
Maldives	Asia	3.5	19.5		12	2013
Mongolia	Asia	21.0	88.4		597	2016
Myanmar	Asia	20.3	250.8		10,809	2013
Nepal	Asia	17.0	399.8		4,713	2013
Oman	Asia	25.4	85.3		924	2013
Pakistan	Asia	14.2	283.9		25,781	2013
Philippines	Asia	10.5	135		10,379	2013
Qatar	Asia	6.0	27.1		161	2021
Saudi Arabia	Asia	27.4	119.7		7,898	2013
Singapore	Asia	3.6	20.2		197	2013
South Korea	Asia	6.5	13	13.8[7]	3,349	2019[16]
Sri Lanka	Asia	17.4	70.9		3,691	2013
Taiwan	Asia	12.1[nb 3]			2,865[nb 3]	2019[nb 3][nb 2][17]
Tajikistan	Asia	18.8	374.9		1,543	2016
Thailand	Asia	32.7	60.2		22,491	2016
Turkey	Asia	12.3	46.4		9,782	2016
Turkmenistan	Asia	17.4	107.8[nb 4]		914	2016
United Arab Emirates	Asia	18.1	62.7		1,678	2013
Uzbekistan	Asia	11.5			3,617	2016
Vietnam	Asia	24.5	55		22,419	2013
Yemen	Asia	21.5	436.6		5,248	2013

[CLW]

Wearing mask but no helmet or seat belt pretty much sums up the situation here. No further comment needed....

[sawadee1947]

And your point is? ????

[TropicalGuy]

4 minutes ago, sawadee1947 said:

And your point is? ????

Low IQ

[sawadee1947]

18 minutes ago, TropicalGuy said:

Low IQ

Maybe not ????

They are all Buddhists. Maybe they chose the shortest way to paradise?

[ThailandRyan]

5 minutes ago, sawadee1947 said:

Maybe not ????

They are all Buddhists. Maybe they chose the shortest way to paradise?

No short cuts and bad driving and drunk driving sure as hell wont get them paradise, maybe reincarnated as the next bug that splatters on my windscreen...

[hotchilli]

Until they have an enforced policy to remove these people from the roads nothing will change.

At the moment it seems to be an attitude of tolerance to allow people to do what they wish.

[sawadee1947]

21 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

No short cuts and bad driving and drunk driving sure as hell wont get them paradise, maybe reincarnated as the next bug that splatters on my windscreen...

Thank you. Your comment will make my day ????

[BusyB]

2 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

I don't mind at all if they play with their lives. Let them play! 

But, if they play with innocent people's lives, health or property, then they need to be taken away.

That's the whole point - it's not just their lives they're 'playing' with.

[Ralf001]

2 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

 

The fact that around 80% of these fatalities are on motorbikes after dark on rural roads, then the "Thailand's roads" is taking things out of context.

got any links to stats to back that up ?

[RocketDog]

2 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Reading the article makes me think that the Title should be Dueling ....not Dicing.

Duels involve matched weapons.

Death has an extensive arsenal.

Thai drivers have only luck and amulets.

Not a duel but a slaughter.

 

More to the point, they are killing each other with wild abandon.

Don't blame it on Death or Buddha.

[Lucky Bones]

3 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

The problem is that they don't see it as dicing with death.

They are brought up to believe Budda will protect them and therefore they can do what they like, when they like and no harm will ever befall them....If only life was that simple.

Maybe not quite that simple.

I think they are brought up to believe that if you give BIG to Buddha, you will be OK in the NEXT life.

[TropicalGuy]

2 hours ago, sawadee1947 said:

Maybe not ????

They are all Buddhists. Maybe they chose the shortest way to paradise?

Or first they can be reborn …. Circles back to low IQ ????????????

[kevc]

Just looking the UK has about the same population as Thailand but UK roads deaths in 2020 1,490 Thailand 17,830, talk about scary.

[sawadee1947]

48 minutes ago, TropicalGuy said:

Or first they can be reborn …. Circles back to low IQ ????????????

Yeah, ashes to ashes ???? or a**** to a****

[RobU]

4 hours ago, 2 is 1 said:

Thailand is only country in this planet where everybody think DUI is normal behavior! Everybody do it and mostly not get any fine or any judgement from it! Only if you crash you get fault from crash but you can buy you way out of it easily, even somebody die in that crash! 

UK in the 1920's being drunk was accepted as a reasonable excuse and waiver from criminal prosecution if you caused death, injury or damage to property whilst driving a motor vehicle or horse drawn carriage or riding a horse. It seems that is the attitude in Thailand today

[vandeventer]

5 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

I don't mind at all if they play with their lives. Let them play! 

But, if they play with innocent people's lives, health or property, then they need to be taken away.

The shame is if they go to other countries they will drive the same as they do here, and nobody will make allowances for them there as they do for them here.

[RobU]

2 hours ago, vandeventer said:

The shame is if they go to other countries they will drive the same as they do here, and nobody will make allowances for them there as they do for them here.

Unfortunately in the UK they may get off lightly. There are many cases of foreigners being let off or getting reduced sentences/fines because they claimed they 'didn't understand our road rules'.

[mikebell]

I have no problem with Thai motorists dicing with their own deaths. It's when they dice with mine that I get concerned.  I write this almost weekly/weakly; things will never improve till Thailand gets a police force.

[Misterwhisper]

20 hours ago, webfact said:

and the reasons behind the injuries of fatalities are always the same – drunk driving, speeding, and not wearing helmets.

Ah... I see it's exactly the same reasons as during the entire rest of the year. The truth is that Thailand actually is in a perpetual state of "dangerous days" as far as road traffic is concerned. 

[actonion]

Its not only their lives they're playing  with... its everyone elses  lives who share the road with these  dumb nutters...and the  more dumb government who do nothing about it 

[actonion]

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

I have no problem with Thai motorists dicing with their own deaths. It's when they dice with mine that I get concerned.  I write this almost weekly/weakly; things will never improve till Thailand gets a police force.

And a decent government who can  make sure the police do their jobs