Lax Law Enforcement Cited for Alarming Road Fatalities in Thailand

[Asquith Production]

The drivers here have no observation. Mirrors are for checking your hair.

Drivers have no anticipation. Nothing can happen to me all these amulets that block the windscreen will protect me.

Drivers have no consideration. I am bigger and faster than him so he should get out of my way.

[AhFarangJa]

These speakers should be on mastermind, specialist subject 'The Bleedin' obvious', It will never change due to the Thai mindset of me,me,me. Drove from Surin to Hua Hin, and back. 1240 km. Never saw an active policeman, yet was constantly in contact with overloaded pick ups hogging the right lane, Trucks & buses pulling out directly in front of me, kamikaze motorbikers everywhere you turn, the list is endless. Condescending platitudes from numerous committee's, symposiums, etc will do nothing. You would need to set the clock to zero, and start again from the first born for any difference to be made. All you can do is be aware, and do what I was taught when learning in the early 70's............Treat every other driver on the road as an idiot who may do the unthinkable without warning.

[OldmanJ]

They can try to increase the fines all they want but where is a police presence on the road, there is no one to enforce the present laws.And why is it %99 of the time a incident is seen as a foreigners fault,this behavior must stop.

[bigt3116]

1 hour ago, NedR69 said:

Thai police don't have vehicles to actively patrol the highways and roads.

 

The Traffic Police Division (TPD) is a unit of the Royal Thai Police (RTP) that regulates traffic and patrols cities:

• Vehicles

  The RTP uses a variety of vehicles for traffic enforcement, including sedans, motorcycles, tuk-tuks, minivans, bicycles, all-terrain vehicles, boats, and helicopters. Highway police vehicles often have equipment like speed radars, breath analyzers, and emergency first aid kits.
• Colors

  The color of RTP vehicles varies by grade, region, and duty. For example, Bangkok metropolitan police vehicles are black and white, while provincial police vehicles are maroon and white, and highway police vehicles are maroon and yellow

[newbee2022]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

File photo

 

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

 

 

On reality the death rate is much higher than the daily 48. That is because Thailand counts only the deaths at the scene, not those who died on the way or later in hospitals.

[AlaskaDave]

49 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Police law enforcement is not lax, it's non-existent. The police function seems to be collecting fines on expired registrations and helmetless Thais at checkpoints, or on the occasionally functioning speed cameras.

 

In 12 years of driving here, I have yet to see a police car or motorcycle actively pulling over a motorist.

 

Getting off their @rses would be a good start.

I drive a motorcycle in Chiang Mai and actually feel it's safer to do that here than in the U.S. In Thailand almost everyone who drives a car also drives a moto and with the exception of certain young men, (in Thailand and everywhere), they are more considerate of moto drivers as a result. 

That said, the lack of even minimal police presence to discourage speeding, driving the wrong way on a divided highway, loud mufflers and other moving violations, is a critically important issue. Agree totally with Lacessit; I have never in 15 years here ever seen a cop ticketing a car or van for anything. I see cops at the occasional helmet-checking roadblock. But that's it. Until police personnel get off their buts and enforce laws, the carnage will continue and innocent people will continue to die. 

[itsari]

Most Thais learn how not to drive when children sat in front of there parents on a scooter.

Just passing down the unofficial highway code for the next generation 

[quake]

6 minutes ago, AlaskaDave said:

I drive a motorcycle in Chiang Mai and actually feel it's safer to do that here than in the U.S. In Thailand almost everyone who drives a car also drives a moto and with the exception of certain young men, (in Thailand and everywhere), they are more considerate of moto drivers as a result. 

 

Come on man

What you smoking. 

[Aussie999]

2 hours ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

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.

Just maybe, those speed limits aren't to annoy you, but to protect the public from you... I'm sure you like thailand, because of the almost no limitations... but hey, they do account for over 25,000 deaths, every year, and that's only those who die, on the road, not once put into an ambulance, or from injuries once in hospital.... but hey, I'm glad you are happy.

[MangoKorat]

Lax Law Enforcement Cited for Alarming Road Fatalities in Thailand

 

Really? Well that's amazing, who would have guessed it?

[Reddavy]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

File photo

 

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

 

 

Lax???? Should that not say NONE 🤷🏼

[RichardColeman]

How about a drop of 1% of police salaries the following year for every 500 people killed on the roads each year ? By my calculations that would be about a 50% drop in wages each year and maybe give them a boot up the proverbial to do something

[Artisi]

5 hours ago, RSD1 said:

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

Currently best of the best, however it's best of the worst. 

[Gandtee]

Insufficient enforcement of traffic laws? Is this news? Just recently I made a five hour road trip and did not see one police patrol vehicle, but many traffic law violators. Nothing will change until the police get a grip of enforcing the existing laws. Without enforcement, laws are useless. But, TIT. Mai ben rai.

[Artisi]

1 minute ago, RichardColeman said:

How about a drop of 1% of police salaries the following year for every 500 people killed on the roads each year ? By my calculations that would be about a 50% drop in wages each year and maybe give them a boot up the proverbial to do something

Wouldn't work, the cost of getting a "free" pass would just increase dramatically. 

[klauskunkel]

Quote

Lax Law Enforcement Cited for Alarming Road Fatalities in Thailand

This is the headline to an article that doesn't even remotely mention any Police involvement in the cause for road deaths. It looks like editors are shying away from criticizing the RTP. Scared much? 

[ChaiyaTH]

That's what you get if nobody learns things properly. Main issue here is always people driving too slow or driving double lanes, I am pretty sure that that kind of behavior alone accounts for 30% of traffic jams. In Chiang Mai that is even 70% of the cause.

 

I used to think it is because there are too many cars but if you really pay attention to it, and then count them, on the city sizes etc, it is actually very little. They just drive so bad, that the amount now is already causing issues.

Edited 1 hour ago by ChaiyaTH

[quake]

1 minute ago, Gandtee said:

Insufficient enforcement of traffic laws? Is this news? Just recently I made a five hour road trip and did not see one police patrol vehicle, but many traffic law violators. Nothing will change until the police get a grip of enforcing the existing laws. Without enforcement, laws are useless. But, TIT. Mai ben rai.

 

The police break all the laws and rules themselves.  

A disgraceful example they set.

TIT

[Artisi]

1 hour ago, Theforgotten1 said:

Nothing will change until somebody’s child who is a very high  elite is killed on the road 

Still won't change, it will just be put down to karma. 

[Artisi]

45 minutes ago, AhFarangJa said:

These speakers should be on mastermind, specialist subject 'The Bleedin' obvious', It will never change due to the Thai mindset of me,me,me. Drove from Surin to Hua Hin, and back. 1240 km. Never saw an active policeman, yet was constantly in contact with overloaded pick ups hogging the right lane, Trucks & buses pulling out directly in front of me, kamikaze motorbikers everywhere you turn, the list is endless. Condescending platitudes from numerous committee's, symposiums, etc will do nothing. You would need to set the clock to zero, and start again from the first born for any difference to be made. All you can do is be aware, and do what I was taught when learning in the early 70's............Treat every other driver on the road as an idiot who may do the unthinkable without warning.

When you drive out of your driveway just remember that every other driver is out to kill you - so drive accordingly. 

[superal]

19 minutes ago, AhFarangJa said:

These speakers should be on mastermind, specialist subject 'The Bleedin' obvious', It will never change due to the Thai mindset of me,me,me. Drove from Surin to Hua Hin, and back. 1240 km. Never saw an active policeman, yet was constantly in contact with overloaded pick ups hogging the right lane, Trucks & buses pulling out directly in front of me, kamikaze motorbikers everywhere you turn, the list is endless. Condescending platitudes from numerous committee's, symposiums, etc will do nothing. You would need to set the clock to zero, and start again from the first born for any difference to be made. All you can do is be aware, and do what I was taught when learning in the early 70's............Treat every other driver on the road as an idiot who may do the unthinkable without warning.

That is my way too . Plus I never believe their indicators which are often not cancelled from a previous turn . 

 

It is simple to point out the many faults that contribute to the alarming road fatalities and traffic accidents  incidents . What we have to consider is the way that Thailand is run and that is corruption which runs throughout the culture and is the accepted way of living , by Thai folk . Suppression of the lower classes often results in illiteracy and ignorance . There is certainly no driver education , hence the lack of consideration for other road users . Police wages are low and are subsidized by roadside fines that carry mostly no suspension of driving licences which leaves the traffic offenders to carry on their way and leave themselves  free to targeted again on another day , by the police . Any licence ban would result in fewer road users , hence less fines to help police incomes .Young school children riding motorbikes are not stopped by police because they will not have money to pay a fine but seizure of the motorbike is never considered .

In a nutshell , it will take a culture change to mitigate the high fatality rates on Thai roads . Change has to start from the top and that will not happen any time soon .

[quake]

2 hours ago, itsari said:

Nothing will change the 48 a day death total on Thai roads for a long time.

Only yesterday I saw a mother breast feeding her baby on the back of a motorbike travelling at speed. 

 

That reminds me of an old Jethro joke.

 

 

[soalbundy]

3 hours ago, Phil1964 said:

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.

 

 

I often read here about poor driving abilities in Thailand but in my area of Isaan I've yet to witness an accident in 20 years of driving. I don't think the driving habits of Thais is any worse than those in Europe. Most deaths come from young motorbike drivers or drink drivers and in these instances the police could certainly step up enforcement of the law, it's pure laziness on their part that they don't do so.

[kiwikeith]

5 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.

The mad muffler drivers are everywhere creating noise, Speeding and dangerous driving  95% don't know how to use a roundabout or stop for a pedestrian crossing, yet to get a license you have to sit in a room for hours watching videos on road safety then pass a test on road code that is not easy, the practical is a joke .I don't know how some of them pass the test. 

A few days ago a motorcycle stopped and gave way to me at a roundabout, first time I ever had anyone use a roundabout correctly. 

[wwest5829]

Recently back from driving 2800 km from Chiang Mai to Trat Amphur on the Cambodian border. Confess to driving around 120 kph on most of the four lane, divided highways (legal on many highway stretches). In the USA, cops with radar guns would have been much more in evidence and having fewer road deaths (although I do note the substantial number of speed cameras in evidence mounted over the highways). Here, freer to speed but the trade off is the higher road deaths. It appears always in society as to where to strike the “sweet spot” … the most freedom with the most safety.

[1happykamper]

Events and proposals. That's all Thailand ever does about road safety. 

 

Shameful 

[Nid_Noi]

2 hours ago, itsari said:

Nothing will change the 48 a day death total on Thai roads for a long time.

Only yesterday I saw a mother breast feeding her baby on the back of a motorbike travelling at speed. 

…while the driver was texting and another toddler squeezed between his father’s legs was handling the steering of the bike???

[itsari]

5 minutes ago, Nid_Noi said:

…while the driver was texting and another toddler squeezed between his father’s legs was handling the steering of the bike???

Well possible

[FolkGuitar]

Are we permitted to ask 'why' there is so little police presence on the roads?

I've been driving in Thailand daily for the past 25 years and have never seen a cop pull over a reckless driver or three on a motorbike! Only daily roadblocks to give out tickets for not wearing a helmet.

 

Sitting at a traffic light with several riders not wearing helmets and one cop sitting right next to them completely ignoring these violations because he was already finished with the helmet detail. To hell with the fact that a cop was sitting right next to lawbreakers, right?

[proton]

Having a real driving test and teaching road laws and driving skills at school would be progress. The current test is a joke, three manoeuvres off road does not test driving ability ON the roads.