Report Rising Pedestrian Deaths Highlight Urgent Need for Enhanced Safety Measures

[Hardcastle P]

Road safety should start at school, people dont even understand why they should walk facing oncoming traffic. 

[ZigM]

When I first visited Thailand in 2006, I hired a Toyota with a tray. My wife overloaded and squeezed her family, and much more, into and onto the vehicle. As a proper and fit person, I objected to this dangerous practice. Naturally, they all thought I was an id*ot. "What's wrong with him?", I was told. To keep the peace, I eventually allowed it. I drove in Bangkok and down to Hua Hin with people loaded in the back of the truck. D*mb scooters would swerve in front of me without looking or indicating. People did not seem to follow any road rules. When I drove at the sign-posted speed, I got angry looks from every one as cars raced past me. My wife yelled at me: "Drive faster!". When I stopped at a pedestrian crossing, everyone, even the pedestrians who were waiting to cross, looked at me as if I was a fool. When we drove along the beach, my wife shouted: "Slow down!". First I thought there was an emergency, but when I slowed down, she wound down the window and threw out rubbish.

 

It is very sad that pedestrians die because of ignorance and the way Thai society accepts chaos. When I pointed out the chaos, I appeared to offend everyone which was not my intention. It was merely making an observation but Thai society will never learn if they don't learn to listen first.

 

The way traffic works in Thailand is that unless there is a traffic light, the pedestrian gives way to everything else, scooters give way to cars, cars give way to vans and buses and trucks always have right of way, unless of course, there's a traffic light. At the end of the day, authorities here are just as dysfunctional and chaotic as the traffic that they are supposed to regulate.

 

I have since remarried and am now retired in Thailand. I fully accept the driving style in this country and the deaths that come with it. It is not my problem if inept authorities are unable to catch up with the runaway train that they created.

[SbuxPlease]

Definitely has nothing to do with drivers "knowing the laws". I'm sure the motorcycles whizzing through the crosswalks with pedestrians KNOW there is 2000 to 4000 baht "fine" if they are caught.

 

But will they be caught? Absolutely not. And if they are caught, will the fine be that high? Also absolutely not.

 

999 times out of 1000 they break the rules with no consequences and that's all it takes. Just like every other official all the way to the top. "The rules don't apply to me"

 

 

[Robert Smith 2]

18 hours ago, angryguy said:

Youd think that thais would be more careful crossing the street but they have to start walking or else the drivers are never gonna stop. Its like a game of chicken, high stakes

Why did the Thai cross the road?

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, ZigM said:

I have since remarried and am now retired in Thailand. I fully accept the driving style in this country and the deaths that come with it. It is not my problem if inept authorities are unable to catch up with the runaway train that they created.

 

Married here too, with a daughter, I have never and will never "accept the driving style in this country". All I hope for is that my situation changes and I can get my family out this nightmare of a country. Nothing will change here, and the longer we stay here the more of a chance that one of these idiot Thai drivers kills one of us, our all of us.

[Robbkk]

2 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

the pedestrian has the right of way

No they don't.  This misconception is what's getting them killed. 

 

 

. 

[ZigM]

2 minutes ago, SbuxPlease said:

Definitely has nothing to do with drivers "knowing the laws". I'm sure the motorcycles whizzing through the crosswalks with pedestrians KNOW there is 2000 to 4000 baht "fine" if they are caught.

 

But will they be caught? Absolutely not. And if they are caught, will the fine be that high? Also absolutely not.

 

999 times out of 1000 they break the rules with no consequences and that's all it takes. Just like every other official all the way to the top. "The rules don't apply to me"

 

 

Some 20 years ago, a friend of mine's 20 year-old daughter was killed by a wealthy but drunk motorist. When the mother went to the police with witnesses, she was told that her 'farang' boyfriend had to cough up 6,000 baht for them to investigate. After paying the money, they let a week go by and eventually told her that no charges would be laid, unless of course, the 'farang' boyfriend is prepared to pay another 10,000 baht. Yep, that's the reality here. My wife is concerned when I'm alone at home. She doesn't want me to walk outside on my own. That says it all.

[Olav Seglem]

Its not infastructue-it sits in drivers head.

Take away driver licence 10 years and fine them 50% annual salary for severe accidents.

Guarantee it will help 🙂

 

[ignore it]

In an effort to end any controversy regarding pedestrian deaths, the Thai Department of Silly Buggers has put forth a motion to prohibit walking and teenage pimples.

[LittleBear57]

In April I believe a German family with a pushchair were mowed down on a pedestrian crossing by a pickup I believe. I was out of the country after that did they all die, I never say any follow up to the story. 

[fredwiggy]

10 minutes ago, Robbkk said:

No they don't.  This misconception is what's getting them killed. 

 

 

. 

I was referring to the west, specifically the US. At crosswalks, parking lots, and intersections , especially with lights. Not on highways or on and off ramps. Here the driver has the right of way, hence the deaths and hospitalizations that happen daily.

[wensiensheng]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

 

 

“A recent report from the Department of Disease Control reveals a shocking increase in pedestrian fatalities, with 5,066 deaths recorded between 2015 and 2024, averaging 506 annually. This spike underscores the urgent need for improved pedestrian safety measures.”
 

I don’t see a spike. Just the total deaths and an average. What was the spike?

 

“Despite efforts, pedestrian fatalities rose to 0.63% last year, reflecting persistent law enforcement failings.”

 

0.63% of what?

 

it’s a bit hard to get a clear picture from the numbers quoted. I’m pretty sure that the reality is horrific, but there should be data to back it up, not just meaningless random numbers

[jwest10]

18 hours ago, angryguy said:

Youd think that thais would be more careful crossing the street but they have to start walking or else the drivers are never gonna stop. Its like a game of chicken, high stakes

Yes, and often state why are you slowing down and why are you letting traffic in from the left.
Surely there are security cameras but maybe not enough.
In the UK and not aptly named, there are cameras everywhere and more often than not  get fined!!!

[lordgrinz]

3 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

“Despite efforts, pedestrian fatalities rose to 0.63% last year, reflecting persistent law enforcement failings.”

 

0.63% of what?

 

it’s a bit hard to get a clear picture from the numbers quoted. I’m pretty sure that the reality is horrific, but there should be data to back it up, not just meaningless random numbers

 

Plus what do they mean by "Despite efforts", what "efforts"?

[bbbbooboo]

hmm… how about enhancing pedestrian safety by teaching thai drivers to slow down and give way to them . Might be too obvious perhaps TIT?

[Ron Micheli]

Wonder what percentage of the fatal wrecks involved motorcycles. I have been hit by one motorcycle and would have been killed by a racing big bike on Pattaya Nua. Maybe a idea to look at, create and enforce a few laws on them. Maybe motorbikes shouldn't be given free reign on the roads. For all the places where they pull over motorbikes, they do not enforce anything on them outside of these stops. 

[Alotoftravel]

IMHO : have roads be pedestrian friendly eg pedestrian walkways , pedestrian crossing , etc . 

[mberbae]

Having just returned from Japan, I was in 7th heaven crossing the street. EVERYONE stops for pedestrians in Japan. It's just the OPPOSITE in Thailand. NO ONE stops here.

What is Needed .... SERIOUS law enforcement with SERIOUS fines - not the 200 baht BS.

[Photoguy21]

17 hours ago, dinsdale said:

It called irony mate. Department of Disease Control reports on road safety whereas the Department of Road Safety reports on disease. Can you explain how disease and pedestrian deaths are linked?

Could it be minimal understanding on behalf of both pedestrian and motor vehicles? Each believing they have right of way.

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, bbbbooboo said:

hmm… how about enhancing pedestrian safety by teaching thai drivers to slow down and give way to them . Might be too obvious perhaps TIT?

 

I've said this in another post on this website, but the problem is cognitive skills, the average Thai is lacking in that department. With an average IQ in Thailand of 88, it's no wonder where the problem lies. Drivers are focused on wants not safety, like I want to go there....so I go there. When it comes to focusing on speed limits, lane discipline, blinkers, road safety, laws, rules, regulations, etc they end up overwhelmed, so they go into a form of brain fog. What we have is a bundle of zombies driving around, and they don't care about their own safety, let alone the safety of others. At least on motorcycles they mainly self-terminate, which according to Darwin's Theory of Evolution, should work out in the end.

[Nicholas Paul KNIGHT]

I am sorry folks but after 25 years here and despite the annual hand wringing by State officials with honestly said heartfelt words, I must offer a titter as the complete uselessness of the entreaties by many knowing that with the Legally constituted enforcement agency AKA The Royal Thai Police who are known to be about as much use in enforcing anything unless there is Baht sign attached to their action, sadly the situation will NOT IMPROVE, as an ex- cop[ I can truthfully say even removing driving licences from offending drivers will not change anything .

HOWEVER   making  all INSURANCE companies ( Including  Porobor )  recognise and refuse to insure errant drivers of any driver who commits offences with the loss of their licence will have a financial detriment effect on DRIVERS most of whom could not afford the costs of damages and the fines associated with injury or death

Might take a few months but many deaths, injuries etc would subside of these drivers knew their lives would be severely impacted maybe for years. Hit them where it hurts in the wallet.

[baansgr]

3 hours ago, AhFarangJa said:

There is an unseen, but established hierarchy on Thai roads. In order of importance are....... Hi-so Drivers in expensive cars are at the top, next comes your average car owner along with delivery trucks / pick ups, then come the motorbikes, along with their various additions, after that there are the pushbikes, and finally, you, the pedestrian, at the bottom of the pecking order. Lorries and buses can be placed anywhere in the group depending how rich the owners are. In the countryside Buffalo and Cows are at the top.

You've answered your own question...."pedestrians on Thai roads"..roads are for vehicles not pedestrians..plenty of foot bridges etc if people wanna cross the road

[baansgr]

35 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

Could it be minimal understanding on behalf of both pedestrian and motor vehicles? Each believing they have right of way.

Your gonna get shot down in flames for that comment 😁 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, ChrisKC said:

Did it occur to you that pedestrians are Thai as well, except when they are driving - the same in fact! 

It occurred to me that their mentality changes once behind a steering wheel.

[dinsdale]

37 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

Could it be minimal understanding on behalf of both pedestrian and motor vehicles? Each believing they have right of way.

Thailand. Motorcyle has right of way over pedestrian. Car has right of way over motorcycle and pedestrians. Van has right of way over car, motorcle etc. Bus has right of way over van, car etc. Truck has right of way over everything.

[Quentin Zen]

shocking.  I've seen Thais always looking BOTH ways when they cross the street, change lanes, etc...

 

when I say always, I mean 1% of the time.

 

Thais opening their car door to traffic is an exception.   I do think people are good with that.

 

awareness of their surroundings, yea, not so much.  

[thaigrifter]

In the Nimman area of Chiang mai, the footpaths have become bike parking zones, you have no choice but to walk in the road, and it's a very busy road, it's so dangerous.

[dinsdale]

@ZigM I've just echoed what you said. 21years here for me full time. There have certainly been occassions where a few seconds either way wouldn't have beem good. 

[dinsdale]

9 minutes ago, Quentin Zen said:

shocking.  I've seen Thais always looking BOTH ways when they cross the street, change lanes, etc...

 

when I say always, I mean 1% of the time.

 

Thais opening their car door to traffic is an exception.   I do think people are good with that.

 

awareness of their surroundings, yea, not so much.  

Rear view mirrors are for putting on make-up.

[quake]

28 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Rear view mirrors are for putting on make-up.

 

I had no idea you were one of them.