PM seeks Public Cooperation To Address Road Safety

[webfact]

 

By Editor

 

The government has set an ambitious goal of slashing road fatalities by almost two-thirds within five years although it admits the effort could be hampered by a lack of public cooperation.

 

The goal was confirmed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at an academic seminar in Bangkok titled “New Decade, New Normal, Safe Driving Is Priority” which he presided over yesterday (May 25).

 

At the forum, 49 awards were meted out to individuals and organisations with outstanding roles in promoting road safety.

 

Prayut said the event set the stage for different views to be exchanged on how traffic accidents could be reduced.  Road safety has been prioritised in the 20-year national strategy. The goal is to cut fatalities from traffic accidents to 12 persons per 100,000 population by 2027 and achieve the Vision Zero target by 2050.

 

Thailand has the ninth-highest rate of road fatalities in the world with 32.7 deaths per 100,000 people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).  Fifty-nine people aged 15-19 are injured from riding motorcycles daily on average. Deaths from speeding have risen by 4% in recent times while fatalities connected to drink driving during holidays are also up.

 

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Prayut said meeting the Vision Zero target by 2050 would be difficult but attainable provided everyone plays their part.  “Of course, I know the problem and how to solve it. But it won’t work 100% because of a lack of public cooperation,” he added.

 

Organisations responsible for road safety in Bangkok and other provinces play a key role in reducing risk factors leading to road accidents, Prayut noted.

 

The enforcement of laws related to public transport, private car usage, and maintaining the quality of roads and transport infrastructure are all crucial factors in contributing to traffic safety, he said.

 

The prime minister said a driver database, safety-enhancement technology and other innovations will also help scale down the number of traffic accidents.  He said a concrete plan must be drawn up to make roads safer.

 

Most accidents in Thailand involve motorcycles with riders often neglecting to wear helmets or driving while under the influence of alcohol.

 

“I ordered that the law must be strictly enforced against traffic offenders. But I would have liked to seek people’s cooperation first,” Gen Prayut said. “I can’t criticise people but I can remind them [of the need to prevent road accidents].”

 

Source: https://royalcoastreview.com/2022/05/pm-seeks-public-cooperation-to-adress-road-safety/

 

-- © Copyright Royal Coast Review 2022-05-26

 

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[kotsak]

These guys are unbelievable.. Lack of public cooperation? Where is your bloody law enforcement?

 

[Lucky Bones]

The guy is a fruit loop.

[2long]

'A benefit of bad traffic is that you're less able to drive fast enough to be killed in an accident.'

His words, not mine. ????????

[CharlieH]

The enforcement of laws related to public transport, private car usage, and maintaining the quality of roads and transport infrastructure are all crucial factors in contributing to traffic safety, he said.

 

Well heres a novel idea, how about using the Police force you already have to get off their ars* and actually do some law enforcement!

Then make the consequences adequate and meaningful.

 

Then there is the usual idea, hard to conceive, but how about TRAINING people and have a proper adequate TEST to obtain a licence.

Start with educating the people who are going to use the highways.

[HaoleBoy]

Most accidents in Thailand involve motorcycles with riders often neglecting to wear helmets  ...

 

An easy place to start would be at schools.  Do not allow any student to leave on a scooter without a helmet (whether a driver or a passenger).  Ensure all students leaving on a scooter has a valid DL too.

 

Next do data analysis of accidents.  Different areas have different needs I'm sure.   Simple data analysis would show what areas to focus on for that area.  In some areas it may be road conditions which should be easy to fix ... other areas need more enforcement ... 

 

It isn't just motorcyclists that are the cause of accidents.  

• people driving the wrong way - car, motorcyclists, trucks
• people driving with no lights at or after dusk - cars, trucks, motorcyclists
• people with no DL - cars, trucks motorcyclist
• ...

Next look at the laws pertaining to motorcyclists.  In BKK a scooter or big bike must drive in the left lane where busses are cutting people off all the time.  It is the most dangerous place to drive.

[dinsdale]

I've said this before and I'll say it again. Seatbelts are for use only when police are around and rear view mirrors are for doing your make up. As for motorcyclists I wonder how many have been killed by the sawn off exhaust pipe, pickup ##se hole drivers. You all know who I mean.

[DirtyHarry55]

Quote

has been prioritised in the 20-year national strategy

Quote

achieve the Vision Zero target by 2050.

Haha nothing done in the past 5 years but with elections coming soon lets look like we care a bit.
Does he think he really think he will last until 2050?

[thailand49]

PM clueless, 20 years program?  Awards for the Clueless then 9th by W. H. O. 

 

The honor system = Cooperation hasn't work in 20 years not going to work now you can't fix it Same as you didn't fix the traffic in Bangkok in 30 days. 

 

You can't fix using the same solution from the same waste  basket you need to hand the problem to someone who isn't Thai and that includes the leadership in W. H. O. Who are part of the problem. 

 

 

 

Edited May 26, 2022 by thailand49

[khunjeff]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“Of course, I know the problem and how to solve it. But it won’t work 100% because of a lack of public cooperation,” he added.

Just like Thaksin knew how to solve the traffic problem within six months when he was a candidate, and Aswin knew how to solve the flooding problem (but only after he was no longer governor). Everyone has a secret cunning plan when they're running for office, but somehow those plans are forgotten once they're in power.

[Tarteso]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

I know the problem and how to solve it.

 

[vandeventer]

2 hours ago, Lucky Bones said:

The guy is a fruit loop.

Well he could start by telling people to driver on the left side of the road only [no driving on the wrong side because it's easier]. Than if you could make sign's up saying slow drivers keep to your far left. And than post a min and max speed limit. Also remind people that they must have a DL as 80% in my area don't. And no kids under 7 riding scooters. This is just a few things to make us live longer.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, kotsak said:

These guys are unbelievable.. Lack of public cooperation? Where is your bloody law enforcement?

 

Taking roadside tips and allowing the perpetrators to continue.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The goal was confirmed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at an academic seminar in Bangkok titled “New Decade, New Normal, Safe Driving Is Priority” which he presided over yesterday (May 25)

Must be election time again...

hows the corruption fix going by the way?

[newnative]

   I think you need to change the headline and replace 'public' with 'police',

[Mr Meeseeks]

So what he seems to be saying is, "I'm brilliant, I have all the solutions to everything, but it's all your fault."

 

What a buffoon.  

[PETERTHEEATER]

Yawn.......????

[Surasak]

2 hours ago, Lucky Bones said:

The guy is a fruit loop.

Quite possibly, but there is a big crack in the loop.

[maddermax]

It basically comes down to education and enforcement. You need to educate the public how to drive properly then you need to enforce any legislation to penalise offenders. If the press reports the results of the enforcement the public should get the message about driving properly.

However, there appears to be no way of educating the public. Even the video shown when you renew your licence does not relate to motorcycle drivers. Need I say anything about the police enforcing the laws??!!

[spidermike007]

No. No. No. You get public cooperation by putting a deterrent in place. As usual, you have failed, Prayuth. 

 

Simple solution. You provide the budget to get the highway patrol to actually patrol the highways. DUH! 

 

Nobody, and I mean nobody takes these guys seriously. There is absolutely nothing in the way of a deterrent here, and both the local governments, the central government, and the police do not take traffic safety seriously. Not even one iota. The safety of the public means less than zero to the small men in charge here. Nothing. They show that on a daily basis.

They will not do a thing. Why? They do not care about the people one iota. Not the common people. Not the average pleb. No way. Never have cared, and may never care in the future. It is all about protecting the elite, the super wealthy, those that are connected, and those in power. The rest of the population? They do not matter. The ex-pat community does not matter. And the police will not get involved unless an accident has already occurred. There is no prevention. None. The idea of getting the police more involved, is an interesting one, and it would be an effective one. But, the issue is money. They are grossly underpaid, and until the government steps up, and spends the trillion baht on updating the police equipment, and paying each cop a living wage, it is not going to happen. Until then, they will just work the franchise.

 

The only way to survive here on the road, is to be patient, have eyes in the back of your head, drive with caution, and always, and I mean always watch out of the other guy. Chances are, he does not have much driving skill, nor patience, nor reason, nor common sense. You cannot be too careful on the road here. Especially considering that the toy police offer no traffic safety, prevention, enforcement of the law, or concern toward the prosecution of very reckless drivers. 

 

 

[natway09]

The same problem as all the "elected" PM's .

Unable or unwilling to break into the total lack of meaningful control by  RTP.

It will never change until there is a sufficient enough deterrent by the RTP to start obeying the existing laws. It is called being indolent

[Humpy]

It might help if the police were to do their job. Police road check points in our area begin after school kids are in class. They pack up before the students leave school........ I wonder why ?

[swm59nj]

Difficult to control.  Especially when you are dealing with a large number of people that only care about themselves.  And could care less about others. 

[Bangkok Barry]

3 hours ago, HaoleBoy said:

An easy place to start would be at schools.  Do not allow any student to leave on a scooter without a helmet (whether a driver or a passenger).  Ensure all students leaving on a scooter has a valid DL too.

Meanwhile, school road safety......

[Cake Monster]

59 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

 

Thats a SWAT Team on call out right ?

[300sd]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“I ordered that the law must be strictly enforced against traffic offenders. But I would have liked to seek people’s cooperation first,” Gen Prayut said. “I can’t criticise people but I can remind them [of the need to prevent road accidents

Police co-operation may be a better plan.

[actonion]

Law enforcement yes, but  the police are Thai  they have as much knowledge  of the Highway code   as the general public which is close to Nil,  so how can they enforce something they know nothing of,      they drive ride dangerously the same as 99% of the others, and they see no wrong in it, and being Thai they surely cannot be told how... educate those idiots who  pass   you at  the driving test center, then start on the police... then  lets see...

[johnnyloda]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The goal is to cut fatalities from traffic accidents to 12 persons per 100,000 population by 2027 and achieve the Vision Zero target by 2050.

Off course they can achieve it, by 2050 Bangkok will be underwater, so no more road accident ... (https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1785569/revised-forecast-puts-bangkok-underwater-by-2050) ... ????

 

[klauskunkel]

Quote

PM seeks Public Cooperation To Address Road Safety

Now look at that, he is setting up the scapegoat already at the beginning of the game...

So the future headline may read:

PM blames lack of Public Cooperation in Road Safety Initiative Failure

 

He simply refuses to discipline the police force into taking action, because he needs their loyalty for any possible civil unrest.

[bkk6060]

Just saying "wear a helmet" is such a waste of time.  Having a helmet on does not prevent the accident from occurring in the first place.  "It saves lives".  I would argue this is a very rare event.  The helmets most people wear (thais and foreigners) are cheap plastic or even styrofoam just to appease the laws.  Most of the helmets people wear here are not going to save their lives.   

The only way to save more lives with helmets is to require helmets that are highly safety rated and constructed out of the appropriate materials.  But, those helmets at the low end can run around 5,000 b, usually much more.  Sorry, not many people even foreigners are going to invest in the quality helmet necessary for ultimate personal safety and I strongly doubt the government will ever require it.

Edited May 26, 2022 by bkk6060