Thailand Boosts Road Safety Measures for Songkran Holiday Travel

[Kiwiken]

Enforce the Laws would help. Helmets are compulsory in Thailand according to the Law! 2 people on a Motorcycle only! Would certainly remove a lot of fatalities

 

[ujayujay]

Songkran and New Year has long been the safest time on Thailand's roads. How about finally doing something about it for the rest of the year? Road safety commercials on TV are just token exercises. When I see how easy a driving test is in Thailand (my wife, for example, got her license after a three-hour practical test) it's clear where the pressure needs to be applied!

[newbee2022]

12 hours ago, kwilco said:

Every year, like clockwork, the Thai authorities launch their annual Songkran road safety campaign, and every year they manage to demonstrate just how profoundly uninformed they are about the fundamentals of road safety. We see the same tired slogans, police checkpoints that appear more performative than preventative, and a flurry of short-term crackdowns that fail to address the systemic issues at play.

Equally predictably, members of forums like ASEAN NOW dive in with their own well-meaning but hopelessly anecdotal takes—"It’s all about helmets!" or "Ban alcohol for a week!"—as if a single-issue fix could somehow resolve a deeply rooted and complex problem. It becomes a chorus of misinformed hot takes, each more simplistic than the last, revealing a widespread lack of understanding about what actually works in road safety policy and practice.

What’s missing from both sides—authorities and commentators alike—is any serious engagement with proven strategies: things like consistent and fair law enforcement, urban planning that prioritizes safety over speed, public transportation improvements, proper driver education, and long-term behavioral change campaigns. Instead, we get reactive theatrics and internet armchair experts yelling into the void, year after year, while the body count climbs.

You're absolutely right, though I read comments like your's every year.

So, at the end nothing changed within the past years except:

There are more cars on the road but less fatal accidents?

One Explaination could be that the oldest drivers without an obtained licence died by nature or are simply not driving anymore. And the younger ones at least got a glimpse of rules when applying for a license the first time.

[spidermike007]

This is totally fake news and they are ignoring the biggest issue. In all the years I have been here, I have never seen anyone pulled over for speeding or recklessness. Get the useless highway patrol to actually patrol the highway. 

 

In other countries there's something very bizarre known as a deterrent, and when people know that they're going to get in trouble for behaving improperly they tend to be more likely to behave themselves. Here when you have a group that calls itself law enforcement and utterly refuses to uphold traffic laws, you have a population that knows it can get away with absolutely anything on the road, and it results in an awful lot of mayhem, deaths and bad behavior. 

 

There is a very simple solution to this, get the police to actually do their jobs.

 

 

[ChrisKC]

Why pick on Songkran or any other busy holiday period?

 

I live 2 kms from the Number 1 main road in all of Thailand - maybe not the busiest but...

 

Within 10 kms on this road there are two once-working speed cameras, one on each side of the road

 

There are also two police stations within 10 kms of each other.

 

Neither speed camera has been in operation for 5 years

 

It cannot be anything to do with the cost of fixing them or even installing new ones.

 

Why?  Because my experience with speeding vehicle tells me they would get their money back in two hours!

 

I have never seen a patrol car doing anything - except attending accidents already happened!

 

This whole situation repeated  just about everywhere in Thailand.

 

And only talk in all the 22 years I have been in Thailand.

 

When will it all end - or should I say - BEGIN!

 

 

[harryviking]

Would be so nice if they could do this on a regular basis-..... 🙄

[Aussie999]

And yet, why do I expect a similar results as previous years, has Thai turned me into a cynic, do I simply accept no change ever happens.

[newbee2022]

58 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

This is totally fake news and they are ignoring the biggest issue. In all the years I have been here, I have never seen anyone pulled over for speeding or recklessness. Get the useless highway patrol to actually patrol the highway. 

 

In other countries there's something very bizarre known as a deterrent, and when people know that they're going to get in trouble for behaving improperly they tend to be more likely to behave themselves. Here when you have a group that calls itself law enforcement and utterly refuses to uphold traffic laws, you have a population that knows it can get away with absolutely anything on the road, and it results in an awful lot of mayhem, deaths and bad behavior. 

 

There is a very simple solution to this, get the police to actually do their jobs.

 

 

To whom do you address your post??😂

Do you think eg Paetongtarn will read it??

I doubt it.

So at the end you shout your anger and desperation to the world/AN !?

Well done 🤗

[bkk6060]

I bet 90% are speed and following too closely.  Speed vs. reaction time vs. braking vs. skids.  Simple things to teach, but no one cares.

[richard_smith237]

12 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

12 hours ago, kwilco said:

You really don't geddit, do you??? thet's exactly the rubbish I'm referring to.

 

Speeds limits are no good? You said "like consistent and fair law enforcement, urban planning that prioritizes safety over speed" so you must agree right?

 

It’s true Northern Ryan - any factual observation & valid input you have will be shot down by Kwildo….

 

… no comments on Road Safety are meaningful or valid unless posted by him… everyone else is a layman, many racist, know nothing, etc etc…

 

We can soon expect a two page copy & paste plagiarised from a dated text book…

…. Expect at least a few more comments such as (paraphrase)…..  “members of Aseannow are misinformed & don’t understand road safety”

 

Its the same broken record every time…

 

Dare to comment on the stupidity of some of the traffic incidents we witness & be prepared to have accusations of being ‘racist’ thrown at you…. 

[BillyBloggs]

What have they done added another person to sit in the tent at the side of the road, as helmetless riders go past on scooters with no mirrors or working lights at night, speeders who know that there is no mobile police force who can catch them. Best advice park your vehicle and dont go into the madness.

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, ChrisKC said:

Why pick on Songkran or any other busy holiday period?

Because there is no genuine concern for the safety of the masses by those in positions of deciding making power….

 

This is just the same media lip service that’s pedalled year on year….   Juvenile minds who really can’t be bothered to make genuine efforts & real inroads towards safety….

…. That combine with the arrogance & hubris that a ‘mere announcement’ can have an impact…

 

 

 

 

[JJ-Thailand]

I'm not going anywhere over the holidays, not even to Khao San Road.

How many will die in the traffic this year? 😱

[richard_smith237]

17 minutes ago, JJ-Thailand said:

I'm not going anywhere over the holidays, not even to Khao San Road.

How many will die in the traffic this year? 😱

The same as every year….

 

despite all the seasonal media hype - Songkran deaths match the daily average across the year…

 

…. this is a year long issue, not just an issue for 7 days… 

[rwill]

During the major holidays the fatalities are below normal.  Heavy traffic on the highways reduces the speed.  Sometimes you are going 20-30km/h.  Much harder to die at those speeds.

 

It has nothing to do with what they are doing.

[Chongalulu]

12 hours ago, kwilco said:

13 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

Speeds limits are no good? You said "like consistent and fair law enforcement, urban planning that prioritizes safety over speed" so you must agree right?

red my post - "members of forums like ASEAN NOW dive in with their own well-meaning but hopelessly anecdotal takes—"It’s all about helmets!" or "Ban alcohol for a week!"— and in your case "How about the most basic of all rules, speed limits" - as if a single-issue fix could somehow resolve a deeply rooted and complex problem. It becomes a chorus of misinformed hot takes, each more simplistic than the last, revealing a widespread lack of understanding about what actually works in road safety policy and practice." - your comment just shows you have very little understanding of the issues and trying to make a false dichotomy out my comments shows youy have no realargument.

Kwilko, I'm afraid you're addressing the most simplistic soles here with no grasp of an holistic understanding of an endemic, complex issue. Whenever there's an article about road casualties,the comments are like a version of Groundhog Day with the same mindless , endlessly regurgitated 💩 every time. 

[Blueman1]

18 hours ago, Negita43 said:

If drivers had a little more patience there might be fewer patients in the hospitals BUT I am afraid it's not in the average Thai's DNA

Yeah, It's like them saying " I GO 1st " YOU WAIT !!

[richard_smith237]

13 minutes ago, Chongalulu said:

Kwilko, I'm afraid you're addressing the most simplistic soles here with no grasp of an holistic understanding of an endemic, complex issue. Whenever there's an article about road casualties,the comments are like a version of Groundhog Day with the same mindless , endlessly regurgitated 💩 every time. 

Lack of effective policing is simplistic - the identification of this is not a failure to comprehend a wider issue, identification of this & other issues is not a failure to accept lots of other issues are also at hand & each not isolated or individual facets but part of a bigger picture.

 

But, when someone drunkenly speeds into a brick wall & someone comments that “stupidity was at play” - it’s an accurate comment, the comment does not mean other factors are not an involved….  Or that there is no wider understanding - it’s just that not every poster wants to write a thesis on RTA’s in Thailand that covers each & every facet from education, to policing to road engineering….. 

 

 

A lot of people are just stupid - I see it when on holiday & the Thai’s & foreigners riding without a helmet - this just stupidity enabled though a lack of effective policing. 

 

 

 

 

[IvorBiggun2]

Dual carriage way near to where I live becomes a 3 lane motorway at holiday time. Getting the police to enforce the laws will only make things worse.

[dlclark97]

I frequently make the trip between Rayong and Bangkok using the motorway.  I typically travel with my speed control set at or just below the speed limit.  And, I do not hog the high-speed lane, moving left once I have passed another vehicle.  Yet I am very often passed like I was standing still by Mercedes, BMW's and other similar class vehicles.  For the very first time this week I witnessed a highway patrol officer who was parked at the side actually speed out with his siren and lights on to stop a CRV type vehicle.  Not sure of the reason as we were travelling at the same speed.  Why does this never seem to happen with these hi-so vehicles?  I believe it goes back to a basic cultural norm here not to be confrontational.  Stopping a driver and confronting him or her telling them they were breaking the law or for many other possible reasons such as wandering between lanes would be against that norm.

[JJ-Thailand]

4 minutes ago, dlclark97 said:

Why does this never seem to happen with these hi-so vehicles?

Answer: Hi-So!

[NoshowJones]

4 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Last minute measures which will not just as every year, work.... But the job is done It is announced and now time to enjoy their holiday.. They really don't care only around Songkran and New Year holidays. Instead of 24/7 365/365 days a year check and fine and educate people how to behave  or fine when things are not ok, It is only 10 days a year all the rest of the days people can do as they like..And the judges should give big fines so that people feel it in their wallet. That is the best things to get things done...and not in the wallets of the judges and police of course

Your post is well meaning, but you cannot educate stupid.

[KannikaP]

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

I bet 90% are speed and following too closely.  Speed vs. reaction time vs. braking vs. skids.  Simple things to teach, but no one cares.

I seem to remember reading that 80% of the road deaths are men aged between 25 and 40, riding motorbikes, on straight roads, between 4 and 8 pm. 

On the highways on these certain days, traffic moves at about 5 kph, not possible to speed due to traffic jams.

[Kenneth White]

You can make all the rules you want, but nothing will change until you add more police to enforce the laws. I might also add that the driving test for automobiles and motorbikes is a joke here in Thailand. Driving and riding schools. It's worth a try. Bottom line: Checkpoints are useless. Thailand needs more police patrolling the roads.

[NoshowJones]

2 hours ago, ChrisKC said:

Why pick on Songkran or any other busy holiday period?

 

I live 2 kms from the Number 1 main road in all of Thailand - maybe not the busiest but...

 

Within 10 kms on this road there are two once-working speed cameras, one on each side of the road

 

There are also two police stations within 10 kms of each other.

 

Neither speed camera has been in operation for 5 years

 

It cannot be anything to do with the cost of fixing them or even installing new ones.

 

Why?  Because my experience with speeding vehicle tells me they would get their money back in two hours!

 

I have never seen a patrol car doing anything - except attending accidents already happened!

 

This whole situation repeated  just about everywhere in Thailand.

 

And only talk in all the 22 years I have been in Thailand.

 

When will it all end - or should I say - BEGIN!

 

 

"I have never seen a patrol car doing anything - except attending accidents already happened!"

You will always see at least one parked outside most Highway Patrol stations.

[IvorBiggun2]

20 minutes ago, Kenneth White said:

nothing will change until you add more police to enforce the laws.

 

Enforcing the highways laws here will only make things worse.

[NorthernRyland]

1 hour ago, Chongalulu said:

Kwilko, I'm afraid you're addressing the most simplistic soles here with no grasp of an holistic understanding of an endemic, complex issue. Whenever there's an article about road casualties,the comments are like a version of Groundhog Day with the same mindless , endlessly regurgitated 💩 every time. 

what is complex about this? There are simple rules that need to be enforced. That's step one and they haven't even done that so why are you talking about some greater scheme?

[NorthernRyland]

15 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

 

Enforcing the highways laws here will only make things worse.

How???

[spidermike007]

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

To whom do you address your post??😂

Do you think eg Paetongtarn will read it??

I doubt it.

So at the end you shout your anger and desperation to the world/AN !?

Well done 🤗

I think it would be quite foolhardy for any of us to think that Thai officials are reading our comments, taking them to heart, and applying them to policy.

 

We are just simply brainstorming here, venting and expressing our opinions, nothing more. So, why let that bother you? A bit irritated today? 

[newbee2022]

6 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I think it would be quite foolhardy for any of us to think that Thai officials are reading our comments, taking them to heart, and applying them to policy.

 

We are just simply brainstorming here, venting and expressing our opinions, nothing more. So, why let that bother you? A bit irritated today? 

Not irritated as you said.

But it's every year the same, every day actually.

If it would lead to an open letter (!) sent to media (newspapers, TV, govt) it might have some (hopefully) impact. 

So, if you want to be heard, please be the first to initiate such letter. I'll be the first to support such actions.

👍