Experts flag doubts over road-safety masterplan as Thailand braces for ‘Seven Dangerous Days’

[snoop1130]

 

Thailand enters the annual “seven dangerous days” today (Dec 28) with sirens already sounding over efforts to meet its 2027 goal of cutting the appalling death toll from traffic accidents.

 

Road traffic fatalities currently stand at 25 for every 100,000 people – more than double the 12 per 100,000 targeted within the next four years. Also worth noting is that these figures do not reflect the thousands of accident victims left disabled for life.

 

The seven dangerous days occur over the New Year holidays when Thais hit the road in their millions for holidays or visits to their hometowns.

 

Last year, the seven days from December 29 to January 4 produced 2,440 accidents, killing 317 people and injuring 2,437 others.

 

The most common causes of accidents were speeding (37.5%), drunk driving (25.49%), and swerving between traffic lanes (18.69%). Alarmingly, tests showed that over 50% of road accident victims had alcohol in their blood.

 

Annual road safety campaigns designed to reduce the deadly toll are being cranked up as the seven dangerous days approach.

 

However, experts say these efforts are being hampered by rules that allow vehicles to speed at 120 kilometers per hour on motorways, nighttime entertainment venues to stay open until 4am, and motorbike owners to postpone the installation of anti-lock braking systems. They also point to lax law enforcement and punishment, including relatively small fines for most traffic offenses.

Obstacles and recommendations

 

Dr Wittaya Chartbanchachai, a specialist on a World Health Organization panel on injury prevention, pinpoints government policies he claims are hindering efforts to meet goals in Thailand’s Road Safety Masterplan (2022-2027).

 

“An estimated 17,000 people will die in road accidents over the coming ‘seven dangerous days’, a toll that matches the previous year. Based on this, it is difficult to see how our country can fulfil the masterplan’s goal,” he said.

 

The masterplan calls for a cut in road fatalities to 12 for every 100,000 people by the end of 2027, or about 8,474 deaths per year.

“If we were on track, we would have already cut road fatalities by 3,000 this year,” Wittaya said.

 

He urged the government to establish a single command to monitor road safety operations and consider using other measures instead of just fines to combat traffic violations.

 

He also called for more traffic CCTV cameras, automatic issuance of traffic penalties, improved road conditions, and mandatory anti-lock braking for motorcycles.

 

Caption: Image: google.com

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2023-12-28

 

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[Dmaxdan]

You don't have to be an expert to flag doubts over their road safety master plan. Even the village idiot knows that they will fail miserably like they do every year.

The authorities are too spineless to inflict harsh enough punishments on drivers who break traffic laws and kill and maim other road users.

 

[2baht]

There's plenty of shady trees for the cops to park under and collect donations between Bkk and Chiang Mai or Nong Khai! 

[poppysdad]

Sadly one of my wife’s cousins is an early number in the statistics already, and yes alcohol was the culprit but luckily no one else was involved. Now we have around a 7 hour drive tomorrow to attend the cremation on Saturday and hopefully we won’t be added to the statistics. 

[ikke1959]

Every year the same story on New Year and Songkran, but nothing is being done by the Government during the rest of the year.. severe punishments, real checking of alcohol and drugs at checkpoints, speeding and lane changing. hold the drivers and show them a 4 hour video obliged to watch so they will belayed more as they should drive normally..and drunk/ drugs in the blood, forbid them to drive on.. confiscate the vehicle until they are totally sober again. Just a few things 

[stupidfarang]

Same news/story as every year, I personally think it comes down to a combination of the following to improve road safety and lower road deaths.

1) Police to do their jobs and enforce the traffic laws, Thailand has around 210,000 thousand police officers.

2) Heavy fines for all people not wearing a helmet on a bike including paasengers, take bikes away until fine paid.

3) Increase speeding fines, not 500 baht but 5,000 baht for speeding, take cars and vans away until paid.

4) Ensure there is correct training on how to drive a car before they get a license.

5) Ensure the police stop any car, van, truck that drives badley on the roads (crossing yellow lines etc)

 

The other thought I had the other day is the amount of money the goverment would collect if the police did their job and enforced the lawm the only way people learn is by hitting them in the pocket .

 

Am sure this is just a dream, not much chance it will happen.

[stupidfarang]

2 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Every year the same story on New Year and Songkran, but nothing is being done by the Government during the rest of the year.. severe punishments, real checking of alcohol and drugs at checkpoints, speeding and lane changing. hold the drivers and show them a 4 hour video obliged to watch so they will belayed more as they should drive normally..and drunk/ drugs in the blood, forbid them to drive on.. confiscate the vehicle until they are totally sober again. Just a few things 

Not sure if the 4 hour video will work, when I sat for my license here, I had to attend an hour or two video, there were people sleeping, other playing on their phone and others going out for a smoke. If they are drunk or under drugs take the car off them and not give it back until traing is done. You have to make them hurt to get the message.

[stoner]

17 minutes ago, stupidfarang said:

Same news/story as every year, I personally think it comes down to a combination of the following to improve road safety and lower road deaths.

1) Police to do their jobs and enforce the traffic laws, Thailand has around 210,000 thousand police officers.

2) Heavy fines for all people not wearing a helmet on a bike including paasengers, take bikes away until fine paid.

3) Increase speeding fines, not 500 baht but 5,000 baht for speeding, take cars and vans away until paid.

4) Ensure there is correct training on how to drive a car before they get a license.

5) Ensure the police stop any car, van, truck that drives badley on the roads (crossing yellow lines etc)

 

The other thought I had the other day is the amount of money the goverment would collect if the police did their job and enforced the lawm the only way people learn is by hitting them in the pocket .

 

Am sure this is just a dream, not much chance it will happen.

 

6) rewire the thai brain and change societal structure systems and values. 

 

i did get a good giggle at point 5. i have talked to my wife about this before. a police officer from back home would have an aneurism in 5 minutes from trying to control that kind of thing here. there aren't enough ticket books in circulation to even cover 1 hour of fines and penalties of bkk rush hour traffic. 

Edited December 28, 2023 by stoner

[McTavish]

50 years of drunk driving has honed my senses and I've never had an accident.  It's these young kids you gotta watch out for. 

 

Seriously though, yaba/meth/P/Ice or whatever combined with alcohol will only see a rise in deaths.  Mainly (~75%) motorbike riders.

[connda]

46 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Road traffic fatalities currently stand at 25 for every 100,000 people – more than double the 12 per 100,000 targeted within the next four years. Also worth noting is that these figures do not reflect the thousands of accident victims left disabled for life.

...or who dies after they left the scene of the accident.  More like 35 for every 100,000 people.

[billd766]

I am looking forward to my New Year Stroh 80 proof rum and coke with ice.

 

It will be my first one since last New Year and my last one until next New Year

 

No, I will not be driving either.

[smedly]

5 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

seven dangerous days

what about the other 358 days, it is embarrassing that Thailand is still ranked in the top 3 most dangerous roads on earth, get police to do their jobs enforcing traffic laws 24hrs a day 365 days a year

[lordgrinz]

5 hours ago, stoner said:

 

6) rewire the thai brain and change societal structure systems and values. 

 

i did get a good giggle at point 5. i have talked to my wife about this before. a police officer from back home would have an aneurism in 5 minutes from trying to control that kind of thing here. there aren't enough ticket books in circulation to even cover 1 hour of fines and penalties of bkk rush hour traffic. 

 

We have a 4 way stop near our townhouse here in Muang Thong Thani, and multiple 2 way Stop signs, nobody stops for the Stop Signs, NOBODY! They could write a thousand tickets an hour here, but they don't, that's with a huge police facility here right across from Impact Arena. No patrols, and whenever I do see the police, you guessed it, they blow right through the stop signs and crosswalks too. The Thai brain is wired for law-breaking, they just don't care about safety, even their own. I have lost count at how many times drivers have tried to run my daughter and I over in crosswalks near her school. I hate this country and it's people with a passion, mainly because of the "Culture" that everyone else can't wait to come see and enjoy. 

[reefsurfah]

TIT, same same.  Should be 365 dangerous days.  Not only Thais also.  Reckless driving, speeding, etc. 

[still kicking]

7 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Every year the same story on New Year and Songkran, but nothing is being done by the Government during the rest of the year.. severe punishments, real checking of alcohol and drugs at checkpoints, speeding and lane changing. hold the drivers and show them a 4 hour video obliged to watch so they will belayed more as they should drive normally..and drunk/ drugs in the blood, forbid them to drive on.. confiscate the vehicle until they are totally sober again. Just a few things 

Where I live you don't have checkpoints, you have booze busses who also check for drugs, any alcohol or drugs in your system you will be walking home depending on the amount you will lose your licence on the spot or get a court summons and your car impounded. And booze busses can turn up in any street.

[webfact]

Thai Transport Minister Mulls 12-15 Year Prison Terms for DUI Fatalities Amid Safety Concerns
By Kittisak Phalaharn

 

 

On December 27th, 2023, Mr. Suriya Juangroongruangkit, the Thai Minister of Transport, publicly revealed consideration in increasing penalties in fatal accidents from DUIs, with up to 12 to 15 years of imprisonment.

Don’t Drive Drunk Foundation representative Dr. Taejing Siripanich requested for the Thai Ministry of Transport officials to draft bills regarding the increasing penalties for fatal accidents resulting from drunk driving cases.

After the Thai government announced the extension of nightlife service hours to 4 AM, it is a good policy to stimulate economic and financial values, however, it is undeniable that there will be a higher rate of road accidents from DUI cases, said Dr. Taejing.

 

Full story: THE PATTAYA NEWS 2023-12-29

 

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[bbbbooboo]

Hmmm….. “doubts “would be an understatement

[chrisbangkok]

11 hours ago, billd766 said:

I am looking forward to my New Year Stroh 80 proof rum and coke with ice.

 

It will be my first one since last New Year and my last one until next New Year

 

No, I will not be driving either.

Let me be the first to congratulate you .

[jacko45k]

13 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

You don't have to be an expert to flag doubts over their road safety master plan. Even the village idiot knows that they will fail miserably like they do every year.

The authorities are too spineless to inflict harsh enough punishments on drivers who break traffic laws and kill and maim other road users.

 

Since numbers will be compared to those occurring at the end of Covid I fear they will be worse..... and late night bar closures will not help. 

Edited December 28, 2023 by jacko45k

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Road traffic fatalities currently stand at 25 for every 100,000 people – more than double the 12 per 100,000 targeted within the next four years. Also worth noting is that these figures do not reflect the thousands of accident victims left disabled for life.

Thailand has an appalling road accident record, for many reasons that could if the will from above was stronger it could change.

 

[DJ54]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

motorbike owners to postpone the installation of anti-lock braking systems

I’ve not heard about this… is it going to be a requirement? Cost? How do they test if you has ABD will crash test dummies?

[2baht]

13 hours ago, stupidfarang said:

Police to do their jobs

But they do, this is what Thai police do, get comfortable and collect donations, are you trying to re invent the wheel???

[2baht]

3 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Thailand has an appalling road accident record, for many reasons that could if the will from above was stronger it could change.

 

You will pay the "fine"! You will pay 500 baht! Oh there is plenty of will! 

[Ralf001]

The 7 dangerous days when the road toll lowers below the  daily average !

[AhFarangJa]

Christmas day my Son's friend died in an accident in Hua Hin, 9 in the morning. A 50 year old woman pulled straight out in front of him, he hit her, fell off the bike, and a speeding pick up ran over him. His Father is a Brit, Mother Thai. He was 19 years old. Already the police have stated that if the Father (being Farang) pursues a case to prosecute He is wasting His time. There is simply no hope for these people.

I am going to the market this morning, then the truck stays in the drive until at least the 4th.

Please, please everyone out there stay safe, do not become a statistic.

Edited December 28, 2023 by AhFarangJa

[daveAustin]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

An estimated 17,000 people will die in road accidents over the coming ‘seven dangerous days’

Too many zeros there surely. 

[daveAustin]

6 minutes ago, AhFarangJa said:

Christmas day my Son's friend died in an accident in Hua Hin, 9 in the morning. A 50 year old woman pulled straight out in front of him, he hit her, fell off the bike, and a speeding pick up ran over him. His Father is a Brit, Mother Thai. Already the police have stated that if the Father (being Farang) pursues a case to prosecute He is wasting His time. There is simply no hope for these people.

I am going to the market this morning, then the truck stays in the drive until at least the 4th.

Please, please everyone out there stay safe, do not become a statistic.

Sorry to hear that about your son’’s friend, pretty horrendous. As a father, doesn’t bear thinking about. 

[Gandtee]

8 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

We have a 4 way stop near our townhouse here in Muang Thong Thani, and multiple 2 way Stop signs, nobody stops for the Stop Signs, NOBODY! They could write a thousand tickets an hour here, but they don't, that's with a huge police facility here right across from Impact Arena. No patrols, and whenever I do see the police, you guessed it, they blow right through the stop signs and crosswalks too. The Thai brain is wired for law-breaking, they just don't care about safety, even their own. I have lost count at how many times drivers have tried to run my daughter and I over in crosswalks near her school. I hate this country and it's people with a passion, mainly because of the "Culture" that everyone else can't wait to come see and enjoy. 

Now now, mother. Settle down and take your medicine

[ezzra]

let me clue ya that as bad as  supposedly Thai drivers are, they're much better than other countries drivers, not as aggressive and mad as in western countries, and I'm speaking from 30+ years of driving in this country...

[stoner]

3 minutes ago, ezzra said:

let me clue ya that as bad as  supposedly Thai drivers are, they're much better than other countries drivers, not as aggressive and mad as in western countries, and I'm speaking from 30+ years of driving in this country...

 

good thing there are supposedly things like facts and statistics to back up the claim. seems your 30+ years you have been lap noi.