Road Safety in Thailand – a summary of Perceptions and Reality

[Phulublub]

8 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

They are reckless:

 

Drunk driving

No helmet

Pulling out without looking

Not indicating

Not proper training

Too fast

Too slow

On the phone

Not using mirrors

Motorbikes overloaded

etc

A lot on that list could equally apply to many othe rnationalities, both in their own countries and here.  We could, if we wanted to be flippant, say that the majority on the list apply to pretty much all BMW drivers worldwide.

 

PH

[scubascuba3]

1 hour ago, Phulublub said:

A lot on that list could equally apply to many othe rnationalities, both in their own countries and here.  We could, if we wanted to be flippant, say that the majority on the list apply to pretty much all BMW drivers worldwide.

 

PH

We are talking about Thailand and Thais and they are the worst I've seen at those things in the list, but of course the system is rubbish too, training, law enforcement etc

[Hummin]

4 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

We are talking about Thailand and Thais and they are the worst I've seen at those things in the list, but of course the system is rubbish too, training, law enforcement etc

The gulf states back in 90ies and early 2000 is something of the worst I have seen in my life. They had the infrastructure, power and sports cars, but no driving skills or ethics. As well they where heavily toxicated as well, alchohol or drugs

[richard_smith237]

7 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Many drivers and riders are incompetent. 

And they don't get any better in part because of the non-existing law enforcement.

 

Poor road infrastructure in itself is no reason for deadly accidents. In many countries there are a lot worse roads than in Thailand. People have to adjust their speed to the conditions, that should be common sense. But in Thailand many riders and drivers ignore this simple fact. Which brings us back to my first line: Many drivers and riders are incompetent. 

 

It doesn't matter what you write and how accurate it is....   You will be contradicted because there is only one person on this forum who is allowed to 'know anything' about road safety.... 

 

His comments are 'text book theory' - ignore a lot of the realities of the real world and human nature... 

 

Yours is a perfect example....  how you rightly highlight how other area's have worse conditions, worse roads, worse driver education yet better road fatality stats...    ALL 'he' would in this is racism' and for sure, he'll drop that accusation as he does every time his 'text book theory' is shown to be flawed in the real world.

 

 

 

6 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

There is no point in arguing with the guy who started this thread. He just knows he is right and anybody else is ignorant. And he doesn't want to listen because he knows it all.

There... 100%... 

[OneMoreFarang]

4 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

It doesn't matter what you write and how accurate it is....   You will be contradicted because there is only one person on this forum who is allowed to 'know anything' about road safety.... 

 

His comments are 'text book theory' - ignore a lot of the realities of the real world and human nature... 

 

Yours is a perfect example....  how you rightly highlight how other area's have worse conditions, worse roads, worse driver education yet better road fatality stats...    ALL 'he' would in this is racism' and for sure, he'll drop that accusation as he does every time his 'text book theory' is shown to be flawed in the real world.

 

 

 

There... 100%... 

 

Thanks!

It seems on some topics we disagree and on other topics we agree. Great!

This is how discussions should work. Not our team against your team or I am always opposite from you.

It is perfectly ok to have sometimes similar opinions and sometimes different opinions. That's how it should be.

[KannikaP]

17 hours ago, kwilco said:

I've studied road safety world over and over 20 years in Thailand. I'm amazed by the ignorance and rubbish written in the social madia about driving in Thailand

 

Just because you can drive doesn't make you an "expert" on road safety..........

Thailand has one of the highest road fatality rates in the world, with around 25,000 deaths annually. The public and government responses to road safety issues are often misguided, focusing on blaming "bad drivers" rather than addressing systemic failures.

 

Road Safety and Media Reporting

The media often reports crashes as isolated incidents rather than as part of a larger public health crisis.

Comprehensive road safety strategies, including better data collection and analysis, are lacking in Thailand.

International organizations have provided recommendations, but these are often ignored.

 

Common Misconceptions and Cognitive Biases

Confirmation Bias: People tend to focus on evidence that supports their existing beliefs about Thai drivers being reckless.

Cognitive Dissonance: Many fail to accept new information that contradicts their assumptions about road safety.

Many foreigners perceive Thai drivers as incompetent, but the real issue is inadequate enforcement of laws and poor road infrastructure.

 

Key Causes of Road Accidents

Speeding: Higher speeds significantly increase crash severity.

Drink-Driving: A major contributor, with Thailand’s rate among the highest in the world.

Lack of Helmet Use: Over 75% of road deaths involve motorcyclists, often due to non-compliance with helmet laws.

Distracted Driving: e.g - The rise of mobile phone use has worsened the problem.

Unsafe Infrastructure: Poor road design and lack of pedestrian safety measures.

Inadequate Law Enforcement: Existing traffic laws are weakly enforced, often due to corruption.

 

Statistical Issues

Thai crash statistics are inconsistent and unreliable.

The Thai police primarily record deaths at the scene but fail to track later fatalities and injuries.

WHO data suggests Thailand has a road fatality rate of 32.7 deaths per 100,000 people, one of the worst globally.

 

Driving Culture in Thailand

Traffic norms in Thailand differ from Western countries.

Drivers often don’t use indicators and have an unusual codes and styles of driving, making defensive driving crucial for newcomers.

Road social hierarchies exist, with wealthier individuals facing fewer consequences in traffic incidents.

Don't overlook the historical influence of river traffic either!

 

Legal and Enforcement Challenges

Corruption among law enforcement makes proper road policing ineffective.

Many traffic stops are aimed at collecting bribes rather than enforcing safety.

Legal fines are often negotiable on the spot.

 

Potential Solutions: The Safe System Approach

Education: Public awareness campaigns on safe driving.

Enforcement: Stricter implementation of traffic laws.

Engineering: Improved road and vehicle safety standards.

Emergency Response: Faster and more efficient post-crash care.

Evaluation: Data-driven policy-making.

 

 

 

Thailand needs a systemic shift in road safety management. Road safety is a public Health issue. Instead of blaming individual drivers, authorities must focus on structural changes, stricter law enforcement, and improved road design. Implementing proven international strategies like Sweden’s “Vision Zero” could significantly reduce fatalities. Until such reforms take place, Thailand’s roads will remain among the deadliest in the world.

Which AI did you use for this please?

[MangoKorat]

8 hours ago, kwilco said:

"Reducing Thailand’s road safety issues to just 'lack of enforcement' is an oversimplification that ignores the complexity of the problem. Road safety is influenced by infrastructure, vehicle standards, education, emergency response, and public awareness. A real solution requires a comprehensive approach—not just one fix."

There are no doubt, many issues that need attention but if the existing rules were enforced and proper punishments issued, it would make a massive difference.

 

Even the decision makers are guilty. Where the road from my home meets the main road leading from Highway 2 to Khao Yai there used to be a set of traffic lights.  There were many accidents there - 99% of which were caused by people on the main road running red lights, sometimes long after they had changed.  I believe one year there was a total of 5 deaths there. The local authority's answer - take out the lights and put in 2 U-turns.  We all know that U-turns are also very unsafe and there have already been several accidents at the U-turns. I find it ridiculous that they can't (maybe won't) make Thai drivers stop running red lights.

 

I regularly see people in the UK run red or amber lights but not 10 seconds afterwards.

 

They have laws, they have a police force (rarely seen after 5pm), I really can't understand the problem. I repeat - enforcement would make a massive difference.

[MangoKorat]

Doing something about road safety and law enforcement instead of talking about it is key to this.

 

Its not so far from Songkran and the carnage that ensues.  We will shorlty be bombarded with the annual 'talk' about what the Thai authorities intend doing to reduce the huge amount of road deaths and injuries that happen every year at both Songkran and New Year.  Politicians will be spouting off on TV and in the media - as they do every year.

 

Thai politicians and authorities simply talk a lot and do nothing - they are famous for it but this matter has real consequences. Last year there were 480 deaths recorded on Thai roads during Songkran - yet in my 22 years of involvement with Thailand, nothing has been done. Year in year out, the carnage continues.

[Gottfrid]

9 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Ignorance is bliss with you, everyone knows people see the list above day in day out.

 

How many km a year do you drive or ride here? i do about 25k km so i see a lot

So, you drive about 70 km per day. I assume you are not retired, as that would spoil retirement totally!

[scubascuba3]

3 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

So, you drive about 70 km per day. I assume you are not retired, as that would spoil retirement totally!

Cycling about a 100km 4 days a week, motorbike about 80km 2 days a week, golf, easy enough

[Will B Good]

18 hours ago, kwilco said:

Key Causes of Road Accidents

Speeding: Higher speeds significantly increase crash severity.

Drink-Driving: A major contributor, with Thailand’s rate among the highest in the world.

Lack of Helmet Use: Over 75% of road deaths involve motorcyclists, often due to non-compliance with helmet laws.

Distracted Driving: e.g - The rise of mobile phone use has worsened the problem.

Unsafe Infrastructure: Poor road design and lack of pedestrian safety measures.

Inadequate Law Enforcement: Existing traffic laws are weakly enforced, often due to corruption.

 

How does 'Lack of Helmet' use cause road accidents?

[Will B Good]

18 hours ago, kwilco said:

Confirmation Bias: People tend to focus on evidence that supports their existing beliefs about Thai drivers being reckless.

 

True...and my evidence that supports my belief is the totally reckless driving I see when I drive between Chaiyaphum and BKK about once every six weeks........MANY Thai drivers are thoroughly reckless.

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

Cycling about a 100km 4 days a week, motorbike about 80km 2 days a week, golf, easy enough

At least you know what you are doing. 

[spidermike007]

Nowhere else in the world have I seen people consistency take the kinds of chances and risks in the road, that they take here, with their families in the car. Nowhere. When they could have waited four seconds to make the uturn or turn onto the highway, and have a completely clear path, they instead choose to take a tremendous risk. It is beyond comprehension. I see it all the time. My eyes do not lie to me. This rarely ever happens to me in the US.

 

If I decide to cut you off on a highway, when you are going 120kph, and I am making a u-turn, and there was plenty of room behind you for me to make a safe turn, is that an error, if it results in a horrific, fatal accident, and I take the lives of you and your family? Or is that pure recklessness? 

 

Sometimes an error is wearing white after Labor day in New York City. And sometimes an error is Germany invading Russia before the oncoming winter.

 

I don't make the kind of errors that result in bad accidents, much less fatalities. Why? Because I am very, very careful on the road, and very, very respectful of other drivers, their lives, and those of their families. That is a choice that results in NOT making very many terrible mistakes.

 

It most certainly has something to do with the inability to visualize. Neither the future, nor the hypothetical. What will happen in this scenario? What about this? What about that? What are the inherent risks involved in piloting my bike, car or truck onto the safety lane of a major highway, in the wrong direction, with big trucks coming at me at 100kph? Or onto a lane of a major highway, with oncoming traffic going 120kph? Is it worth sacrificing my life, or my ability to walk for the rest of my life? How will my death affect my kids? Hold on, what about the lives of my wife, kids and sister who are in the vehicle with me, and I am responsible for their safety. Wow. That would be a big loss. An entire family. Maybe I should act like an adult, and be prudent and careful.

 

What if I waited four seconds for the highway lane to be completely clear, rather than just barge into it now, and risk everything.

 

I don't think many Thais ever ponder thoughts like this. Why, I can't imagine. It is likely something we will never understand about their nature. I often like to say the best way to understand these differences in attitude and intellect, is to realize Thailand is NOT a foreign country. It is a distant planet.

[kwilco]

3 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Which AI did you use for this please?

I take that s a compliment - I've been writing on Thailand's road safety for 20 years - just check my other posts.