DDPM Reports on Road Safety During 2024 New Year Festival Campaign

[Georgealbert]

 

 

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has summarised the outcomes of its efforts to prevent and reduce road crashes during the 2024 New Year holiday. At a press conference held at 10:30, on January 6, officials revealed a reduction in road crashes and injuries compared to previous years. However, fatalities increased, prompting an urgent call for continuous and integrated measures throughout the year to enhance road safety.

 

The 10-day campaign, running from 27 December 2023 to 5 January 2024, highlighted proactive measures aimed at mitigating risks associated with drivers, vehicles, roads, and environmental factors. The Centre for the Prevention and Reduction of Road Accidents (CPRRA) called for strict law enforcement, with an emphasis on vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and foreign residents or tourists.

 

Over the campaign’s duration, a total of 2,467 crashes were recorded, resulting in 2,376 injuries and 436 fatalities. On the final day of the campaign, 5 January 2024, there were 139 crashes, 128 injuries, and 29 fatalities. Excessive speed (34.53%), abrupt lane changes (24.46%), and poor visibility (20.86%) were the leading causes of accidents, with motorcycles accounting for 82.67% of incidents. The most dangerous time periods were 19:01-20:00  and midnight to 01:00.

 

Surat Thani had the highest cumulative number of crashes (89) and injuries (100), while Bangkok reported the most fatalities (26). Notably, Trat, Yala, and Samut Songkhram recorded no fatalities.

 

Deputy Interior Minister Songsak Thongsri, chairing the CPRRA press conference, stressed the need for year-round commitment to road safety. He urged local governments and agencies to prioritise law enforcement targeting high-risk behaviours such as speeding, drink driving, and failure to wear helmets or seat belts. Special attention will also be given to road safety education and vehicle maintenance checks.

 

“We are grateful to all officials, volunteers, and media for their efforts in raising awareness and ensuring safer travel during the New Year celebrations. However, road safety is a continuous endeavour, not limited to holidays. Our goal is to reduce fatalities to 12 per 100,000 people and make every journey safe,” said Mr Songsak.

 

Citizens were encouraged to play an active role in fostering road safety by adhering to traffic laws and avoiding risky behaviours. Local authorities are tasked with learning from successful strategies in areas that recorded no accidents, and adapting these approaches across other provinces.

 

The DDPM will use data from the New Year campaign to refine policies and introduce evidence-based measures to reduce risks on roads.

 

While progress has been made in reducing road accidents and injuries, the rise in fatalities underscores the need for sustained action. The commitment to road safety remains firm, with the government, communities, and individuals urged to work together to make roads safer throughout the year.

 

 

-- 2025-01-06

 

 

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

The DDPM will use data from the New Year campaign to refine policies and introduce evidence-based measures to reduce risks on roads.

 

Enforcement! Enforcement! Enforcement! .....I mean do we have to scream it through a megaphone to get logic-based/common-sense thinking into the brains of Thai's?! Get police onto the streets enforcing laws/rules, no more sitting around the police station basking in the AC and twiddling on their smartphones all day.

[Rampant Rabbit]

41 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

The commitment to road safety remains firm

As a limp lettuce thats been soaking in water for 6 months??

[MikeandDow]

As MANY posters have said Enforcement! Enforcement! Enforcement!  The RTP needs to be pro active in road safety but i think we will see in activite in the RTP as this will happen every year full of BS

[Artisi]

The campaign to reduces road deaths has already been forgotten, it will be resurrected for Thai new year, Loy kraton and next new year  - in between, mai bpen rai. 

[MarkT63]

Is it true that they only count a fatality if the person is pronounced dead at the scene and do not count people who die in the ambulance on the way to hospital or subsequently at hospital from their injuries? Read that a few times in different places and am still struggling to believe it. 😱

[ikke1959]

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Notably, Trat, Yala, and Samut Songkhram recorded no fatalities.

and many provinces will probably not give the correct numbers as they don't want to be a dangerous looking province... Anyway as long as there is no better driving education and no enforcement of traffic laws 24/7 365/365 it will be dangerous on the roads and become even more every year.. Read the narticle of the 13 year old one who died  on a motorcycle. as an example, and make parents responsible for the lack of responsibility to keep the kids away from their motorcycles. Here in my soi another 4 grade kid is driving around on a motorcycle...

[snoop1130]

Over 436 deaths reported over the new year danger period

By Ryan Turner

 

DDPM's meeting to summarise the road safety campaign over the new year period | Photo via DDPM

 

Over the ten-day new year danger period, over 436 road fatalities were reported, primarily due to speeding, with Bangkok recording the highest death toll. In contrast, three provinces noted zero deaths, reflecting varying regional impacts of road safety measures.

 

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) held a press conference led by Interior Deputy Minister Songsak Thongsri, outlining the results of the road safety campaign during the new year celebrations.

 

The campaign, under the banner Safe Driving, Thailand Free of Accidents, compiled data indicating 139 accidents, resulting in 128 injuries and 29 fatalities on the last day alone.

 

A significant factor contributing to these accidents was speeding, accounting for 34.53% of incidents. Other critical causes included cutting off other vehicles suddenly, at 24.46%, and poor visibility, which contributed to 20.86% of accidents.

 

Motorbikes were notably involved in 82.67% of accidents, highlighting a persistent risk for two-wheeler riders.

 

Prachinburi witnessed the highest number of accidents, totalling eight, while Pattani, Phang Nga, and Phatthalung each reported six injuries. Prachinburi also recorded the highest fatalities, with three deaths.

 

 

Reflecting on the campaign’s ten-day period from December 27 to January 5, Songsak revealed a total of 2,467 accidents, with 2,376 injuries and 436 deaths.

 

Surat Thani experienced the most accidents, with 89 incidents, and the highest number of injuries, with 100 cases. Bangkok registered the most fatalities, with 26 deaths. Notably, Trat, Yala, and Samut Songkhram reported no fatalities, demonstrating effective local road safety measures.

 

Songsak acknowledged a decrease in accidents and injuries compared to previous new year periods, although fatalities increased. This trend prompted the Road Safety Operations Centre to mandate continuous preventive measures by relevant agencies, focusing on year-round accident risk reduction.

 

Emphasis was placed on a collaborative approach, integrating efforts across all sectors beyond festive periods like new year and Songkran.

 

The strategy involves strict legal enforcement targeting high-risk groups, including children, the elderly, and foreigners, to curb risky driving behaviours such as speeding, drunk driving, and failure to wear seat belts or helmets.

 

Additionally, unsafe practices like sudden lane changes and driving against traffic flow are being addressed, reported KhaoSod.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-01-06

 

 

[harryviking]

Observing the way Thais are driving, I am not surprised at all! With the way Thai driving licenses are obtained, what could ever go wrong!!😆

[Geoffggi]

17 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

officials revealed a reduction in road crashes and injuries compared to previous years. However, fatalities increased, prompting an urgent call for continuous and integrated measures throughout the year to enhance road safety.

Don't tell me the penny has finally dropped 👀 ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,LOL

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM)

Corrected

[Classic Ray]

The concept of patrolling to prevent and detect offenses seems alien to RTP, who prefer to use occasional static checkpoints only. Large reliance on cameras to catch speeders who never pay fines, so useless activity.

 

Police cars are only used for escorting VIPS or are pickups used for carrying clamps or traffic cones.

 

Maybe there is no budget (or will) to provide patrol or response cars as there is in other countries?

 

Until there is proactive policing, there will be no change and the carnage will continue.

The “campaigns” run over holidays produce no noticeable reduction and the statistics they collect are questionable anyway due to what is and is not counted, eg deaths at scene, not deaths at hospital afterwards.

[newbee2022]

Same show as every year, same outcry by farangs.

Result?? No official will listen.

[JoePai]

Just propping up the motor industry

[lordgrinz]

2 hours ago, harryviking said:

Observing the way Thais are driving, I am not surprised at all! With the way Thai driving licenses are obtained, what could ever go wrong!!😆

 

I drove my daughter to school today, witnessed on just one 200 meter long street, 6 motorcycles driving the wrong way, and two driving the wrong way then using a Zebra crossing as a U-Turn. This is on top of multiple cars/motorcycles on the way there blowing through stop signs, with no intention of ever stopping, in fact they were speeding through the stop signs. Keep in mind these STOP signs are directly behind Zebra crossing, so these crossing are protected pedestrian crossings, not a single car other than myself stops at the STOP signs. They just laid down new tar on the canal road approaching the school, with well-marked solid lines before road junctions, motorcycles are all passing down the center median line right through the intersections between opposing traffic (you couldn't dream up a more dangerous maneuver). Then there is the people changing lanes in the local multi-lane roundabout, and crisscrossing lanes as they exit. My daughters school is a 2 km trip, if I were a cop I could write a 1000 tickets in that short distance, most of which would be "driving to endanger" tickets, its nuts!

[mikebell]

19 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

However, road safety is a continuous endeavour, not limited to holidays.

No it's not continuous; road safety is highlighted for 20 days a year so the police can draw overtime payments.  On the other 345 days it is ignored.  The principle cause of death is speeding no matter how good or bad the drivers. 

 

'during the ten days, courts presided over 7,306 cases of drink-driving, 342 cases of drug-abusing drivers, four cases of reckless driving and two speeding cases, with the offenders put on probation.'

The main victims are young men at a time when birth-rates are down; the population is aging and the police are as inept as ever.

 

[edwinchester]

The powers that be keep doing the same old thing every single year yet wonder why the figures go up. It astonishes me how these absolutely clueless individuals keep their jobs.

Until there are real consequences for the carnage on Thai roads nothing will ever change.

Somebody crashed into the back of our car at a red light during the holiday period. He admitted to falling asleep at the wheel after working two days straight. His fine was 400 bht. Nothing else. No points on his license nothing. Our accident won't even appear in official stats as the Police wanted to keep paperwork to a minimum and let us sort things out amongst ourselves.

[Nid_Noi]

6 hours ago, harryviking said:

Observing the way Thais are driving, I am not surprised at all! With the way Thai driving licenses are obtained, what could ever go wrong!!😆

I would like to know how many casualties among the farangs. During the last 2 weeks an increase of foreigners, young or old, with or without helmets have been taking huge risks and behaving madly, ignoring the basic rules of the road, showing the middle finger to other users. Some have been running red lights following the usual Thai habits.

I suspect many have no Thai driving licences or insurance.

[harryviking]

4 hours ago, Nid_Noi said:

I would like to know how many casualties among the farangs. During the last 2 weeks an increase of foreigners, young or old, with or without helmets have been taking huge risks and behaving madly, ignoring the basic rules of the road, showing the middle finger to other users. Some have been running red lights following the usual Thai habits.

I suspect many have no Thai driving licences or insurance.

Lol! Yes, many foreigners are equally stupid in traffic....

[lordgrinz]

5 hours ago, harryviking said:

Lol! Yes, many foreigners are equally stupid in traffic....

 

When in Rome, or should it be when among the Barbarians? Oh well....TIT

[jvs]

Do they have the dates right?