Lax Law Enforcement Cited for Alarming Road Fatalities in Thailand

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Advocates are raising concerns about insufficient enforcement of road safety laws, which they believe is significantly contributing to Thailand's staggering road fatality rate. On average, the country registers around 48 road deaths daily.

 

Speaking at a recent event marking the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, advocates pressed for immediate improvements in law enforcement.

 

The event, supported by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation at the Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre, threw light on Thailand's grim statistics. Last year alone, 17,498 people lost their lives in traffic accidents, illustrating a dire need for changes to road safety regulations.

 

Surachai Liengboonlertchai, who chairs a parliamentary road safety subcommittee, stressed the importance of remembering victims and pushing for systemic changes to prevent future tragedies.

 

The call for action is echoed by Ratchanee Supawatjariyakul, president of the Road Traffic Accident Victims Empowerment Network, who has personally been affected by these statistics. She lost her daughter to a road accident involving an off-duty police officer in early 2022.

Advocates argue for tougher amendments to the Land Traffic Act and the Vehicles Act to deter violators through harsher penalties and faster legal processes. Revising how driver's licences are issued, with more stringent tests, is also recommended.

 

Key proposals include capping speed limits in urban areas at 50 km/h, increasing fines for motorists who neglect pedestrian crossings, and penalising motorcyclists who invade pavements. Additionally, tighter penalties for drink-driving offenders are urged to include both imprisonment and fines.

 

Joining the discourse, Dr Withid Sariddeechaikool of the Food and Drug Administration cautioned drivers against medications that impair alertness, contributing to Thailand's ranking as having the ninth-highest rate of road traffic accidents globally.

 

Such holistic attempts aim to curb the nation’s distressing road fatality statistics effectively, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2024-11-18

 

 

[RSD1]

Hub of road deaths. Be good or be good at it. 

[bkk6060]

Frustrating and very stupid.  What about the drivers?  It is all about educating people when they are in the 6th grade.  Then, continuing until they reach driving age.  Add, the engineering of the roadways.

The Cops could do more, but can only do so much the Thai drivers are totally uneducated about safe driving.  I bet many of thee accidents are follwing too closely and running red lights.  Following someone at 1 metere while driving 120 is a death trap they are so clueless.  Sadly, I doubt it will ever change I just stay to the left and driver very cautiously.

[Phil1964]

Most Thais, sorry, but they're idiotic drivers with an insane belief that Buddha will be giving them a better life if they wrap their vehicle round a lamp post or into a ditch and kill themselves off.

Education is poor, life is cheap, cars can be poorly maintained and still allowed on the roads, Thai males all think they're the next F1 world chumpion.

 

 

[Mason45]

Over the years one thing I've noticed is when Thais are driving and they start talking to the passenger opposite them they take their eyes off the road. That's dangerous in itself but when doing so they never reduce their speed. Another thing people here must know is Thais have a mindset of the own. Policing, road signs even road trauma commercials on all forms of media won't change the way they think.

Edited 29 minutes ago by Mason45
typo

[willip]

What has immigration got to do with licensing?  Thailand policy of fines for breaking the laws for driving, is based on the police receiving money!. Not dealing with bad drivers.  From what I see in khon kaen.  Zebra crossing's are for parking on. How many schools stop children driving to school?  None. I saw 4 children on a motorcycle  the oldest was 10. That was the driver! Everyone when turning right are on the wrong side of the road.  Especially cyclist! . Everyone knows what time the police have road checks because they never vary. It's all about income! Not safety. The incident with the nurse evolved a policeman!.  Both were professionals. Hence had money and were pursued.  Soon forgotten. Enforcement of driving standards are needed for all ages. Not just an income off tourists. I've seen the driving standards for licensing.  It's far below the western world. Private schools for driving are far better than government testing. If someone is driving and doesn't have a license.  It should be emediate ban! No license means no insurance!. Not just a fine !get them off the road altogether. If a driving gets a fine it covers you for 24hrs.  No sop this procedure. If you break the law. Make it for each offence. And have top up offence's. HGV lorry licensing is the same as small car's.  It should be stricter! As the same for anything driving comersially. Your policies for cannabis is incouraging violations for offence's. START with improving the tests for driving. As we all know corruption is everywhere.  Start with driving if you really mean to improve things. 

Someone asked a police officer about schools letting children use motorcycles. He replied how else are they going to get there?????. Start with the schools and enforce underage driving!!!!

[Rampant Rabbit]

Having spent 4  months in the UK and seeing the ridiculous speed limits especially in Wales where you can go from 60mph (100kmh) to 20mph (32kmh)  then to 40mph to 60mph in the space of a few hundred yards and  for going over that by 4mph = ticket and 4500 baht fine + 3  points on licence Im ALL for a  lax  approach and long.........long may it continue.

Many of the speeding laws are there to catch the total moron driver who goes fast past a  school at 4pm and ends up catching the guy doing 10-20mph  over at 3am in the morning.

The real problem is not the speed its the total an utter lack of concentration.

Anyway I for one  hope it doesnt become like Europe..............just re taxed the car yet again with unpaid speeding tickets.

[willip]

2 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Frustrating and very stupid.  What about the drivers?  It is all about educating people when they are in the 6th grade.  Then, continuing until they reach driving age.  Add, the engineering of the roadways.

The Cops could do more, but can only do so much the Thai drivers are totally uneducated about safe driving.  I bet many of thee accidents are follwing too closely and running red lights.  Following someone at 1 metere while driving 120 is a death trap they are so clueless.  Sadly, I doubt it will ever change I just stay to the left and driver very cautiously.

You're so right ✅️