On 12/22/2025 at 8:11 PM, FolkGuitar said:

just show?

Yes

2 minutes ago, FolkGuitar said:

If it were all about collecting tea money, we would see a lot more police out there stopping bad drivers.

But where are they? Let's look at the numbers.

At every roadblock set up to catch riders without helmets or IDPs, there are anywhere from 5 to 10 policemen assigned to pulling over riders, checking documents, and collecting fines. There are usually 2-3 roadblocks going on around the city each day. Perhaps more. But the roadblocks are only set up for a couple of hours, not all day.

 

Where are all the cops when they are not manning the roadblocks? 

 

There are several different branches of the Thai police: Tourist police, Highway police, City police, Immigration police, etc. With so many different police protecting us, I'd expect to see at least one or two pulling over reckless drivers on the roads. I've never seen that. Have you? Radar traps, yes. Speed Cameras? Sure. But police with boots on the ground, patrolling to keep drivers safe? I've never seen that. 25 years driving in Thailand, and I think I've only seen one highway police car moving on the road... and that was inside the Old City. He must have been lost.

 

Where are all the cops when they are not manning the roadblocks?

 

At the start and finish of the school day they are directing traffic at the schools. At rush hour 5-6pm I see them directing traffic at a local traffic choke point (Chalong circle). Yesterday I saw 4 of them stopping motorbikes who went through a tunnel illegally at about 11:30am. Sometimes they are called out to deal with accidents.

 

To be fair, it’s the traffic police who are responsible for traffic. I wouldn’t really expect immigration police to be doing traffic stops. Of course, immigration police have their own problems that they don’t deal with.

 

Other than that, I guess they deal with call outs when potential crimes are reported. 
 

There are so many issues with how traffic police operate, my personal bug bear is when they DO stop someone, they issue a fine and then allow the person to ride/drive off while committing the same crime for which they were stopped! That just screams money collection rather than traffic enforcement.

On 12/23/2025 at 7:26 AM, dinsdale said:

Drunk driving yes, but also speeding, a complete disregard for all road rules and a complete disregard for other road users. 

I reckon painfully slow and hesitant local drivers cause more accidents than speed merchants. Being stuck behind them sometimes makes me lose the will to live!

I keep on saying if they could figure out a way to get the highway patrol to actually patrol the highways, they would be able to pull over countless numbers of reckless drivers who drive with absolute abandon, and no regard for safety and no respect for others including their own families, who are in the car with them. 

 

Unless and until they get those lazy highway patrol guys to actually perform their work, and levy strong penalties, and stop accepting bribes, nothing will change. 

I've been to Hammasat University Medical Hospital and it truly is a very sad story to see even the younger kids now permanently in wheelchairs or visiting the dept. where the brain has been  damaged. I am totally in agreement with confiscating the bike or vehicle. PERIOD.

But, sadly my real life experience tells me  something I wish  I didn't write, "confiscating" and also a  permanent loss of driving privileges.  I see many and I mean many men using a bicycle these days near the police station near Don Mueang Airport.

I'm a cyclist and I currently have both car and motorcycle license for Thailand. I still love motorcycles and will continue to use them for my transportation.  

Then there comes the realisation that 99% of the population do not want stricter laws/penalties. much less the enforcement of such.

Comment on dangerous driving and the retort will often be "up to them ".

Never an issue until directly affected.

Plus ca change....as they say in Isaarn.

 

It never changes holiday. Periods ect the worst 

Stiffer sentences required but we say this every time nothing changes except the death rate 😱

It would be interesting to see how many of those killed were motor cyclists.

I used to drink and drive but my stubby kept falling off the dashboard.

16 minutes ago, mancub said:

Then there comes the realisation that 99% of the population do not want stricter laws/penalties.

 

99% of the Thai population reminds me of the inner-city Ghettos of America, where they also don't believe, follow, or care about laws//rules/penalties. 

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

One of my best friends was killed by a drunk driver. Don't assume what others have or haven't experienced.

A Neighbour was killed on a Pedestrian crossing in Pattaya by " Sober" Thai driver, thats a bit hard to beat 

22 hours ago, brian69 said:

They will just drive without a license, IF they even had one to start with.....

Not if its automatic prison if found driving after bann 

21 minutes ago, actonion said:

A Neighbour was killed on a Pedestrian crossing in Pattaya by " Sober" Thai driver, thats a bit hard to beat 

Just goes to show it's not always alcohol related. As we all know Thai roads are dangerous.

If 40 a day is being reported, then the real figure will be over 60!

Sameo, sameo!

On 12/23/2025 at 7:01 AM, webfact said:

Thailand's road crisis is making headlines as civil society groups highlight the grim reality of 40 fatalities daily and losses reaching 600 billion baht annually. These groups are advocating for tough measures against drunk drivers, including vehicle confiscation during the New Year 2026.

Look the starting point is a driving  test a real comprehensive driving test not a reaction to put your foot on a pedle when the light turns to red, no licence  crush the car, drunk, crush the car, no insurance,crush the car, but it will never happen so why bother talking about it

On 12/23/2025 at 7:26 AM, dinsdale said:

Drunk driving yes, but also speeding, a complete disregard for all road rules and a complete disregard for other road users. 

Also it seems to me, a complete lack of any instinct for self-preservation.

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Just goes to show it's not always alcohol related. As we all know Thai roads are dangerous.

And the people who abuse the roads

On 12/23/2025 at 7:01 AM, webfact said:

Thailand's road crisis is making headlines as civil society groups highlight the grim reality of 40 fatalities daily and losses reaching 600 billion baht annually. These groups are advocating for tough measures against drunk drivers, including vehicle confiscation during the New Year 2026.

365 days of the year... DUI vehicle is impounded for one year, plus mandatory one year ban with one year suspended sentence.

Any injuries or deaths will face severe sentencing.

Time to get tough.

As long as this exsists.........

Drive slowly when drunk.......

Unbelievable......

 

10 minutes ago, VMKW said:

Drive slowly when drunk....

100 % better than driving fast when drunk 😋

Well done TH, and continuing that downward statistical trend to safer roads over the past decade plus 👍

 

A work in progress, as I see the constant ongoing construction of overpasses at busy, deadly intersections.   Maybe someday, we'll, they'll have true interprovincial highways 

When police, and government, do NOTHING to stop the carnage, what can they expect, thais will not change, by themselves, it needs strong, continuous action by police, backed by the government, and public education programs.

On 12/23/2025 at 7:56 AM, Will Iam Not said:

Is 11pm classed as late hours?

No excuses, confiscation of the vehicle there and then if the driver is over the limit. 

Speeding is more often caused by the intoxication of the driver.

 

Using your "logic" there are 1000s of intoxicated drivers on the road 24/7.. it's Thailand, speeding is cultural..stuff safety, stuff everyone else, They do ask they want.

On 12/23/2025 at 12:11 PM, FolkGuitar said:

Policing the roads from a curbside desk doesn't work. Stopping tourists for not having an IDP while driving around the Moat in Chiang Mai doesn't reduce the road carnage. A table set up at 2 AM to check for drunk drivers is a great beginning, but Thailand needs cops with boots on the ground, cops on the roads. THAT is where and how the policing needs to be done, not some corner money-collecting table.

If you really want to save lives, put Police on the streets to stop the lawbreakers as they commit.

Illegal turns, failure to signal a lane change, speeding, jumping red lights, etc., etc., etc.  If the police were serious about saving lives, they would take serious steps to do so. However, if they are just interested in collecting fines, then these roadside tables are the way to do it.
Question: What is Thailand's goal regarding road safety?  Money? Safety? Or just show?

Answer to your question;

*"Money" -Yes bribes RTP like,

*"Just for show"- Yes. High ranking RTP and politicians like to appear as though they are doing something but in actual fact do nothing,

*"Safety" Come on I think I passed out laughing with that thought!

theses people are all 'mouth ', they say the same thing every year and do absaloutl [y nothing about.If they or the goverment wanted to do something about they would have done something about it by now. 'booze buses to start with '. follow ausfralia from one of the worst death on the road [ 50 years ago to now one of the safest in the world, the difference being the australien goverment cared about there people.

On 12/23/2025 at 4:08 PM, TorquayFan said:

Even the headline of this thread doesn't compute . . . .

 

Thailand's road deaths are lower than 10 years ago but evenso, at about 18,000 p.a. that's an average of 50 deaths daily. To quote 40 in this context makes no sense. 

 

The 'Seven Dangerous Days' is a misnomer i.e. unless this figure exceeds 350, (heaven forbid), it is clearly NOT above average. However, figures proferred at these times may include only deaths at the scene and exclude later deaths at the Hospitals . . . .

 

I suspect that because of heavy traffic/congestion and slow moving traffic, the rate may not actually be higher over these holiday periods.

 

Use the right figures FGS. And it's an EVERY DAY problem, deaths are mainly motorbikers and their Passengers, (frequently unhelmeted, (83%)).

 

Obviously, the focus should be on the motorbikes !

Any proof for the apparent bar stool myth that only deaths at the scene are counted? Those that die in hospital are not?

5 hours ago, HuaHinNew said:

 

That would be awesome!

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I keep on saying if they could figure out a way to get the highway patrol to actually patrol the highways, they would be able to pull over countless numbers of reckless drivers who drive with absolute abandon, and no regard for safety and no respect for others including their own families, who are in the car with them. 

 

Unless and until they get those lazy highway patrol guys to actually perform their work, and levy strong penalties, and stop accepting bribes, nothing will change. 

I've often seen vehicles pulled over by the highway patrol on the Bangkok- Pattaya motorway.

On 12/23/2025 at 7:56 AM, Will Iam Not said:

Is 11pm classed as late hours?

No excuses, confiscation of the vehicle there and then if the driver is over the limit. 

Speeding is more often caused by the intoxication of the driver.

 

Speeding is more often caused by the intoxication of the driver.          naaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh !

then what of the drivers on Rt 4 weaving in and out at over 120kph bellowing black smoke at any time of the day or night ?

or the scooter riders going the wrong way on the highway.. no helmets, smoking,looking at their phones  and with  3-4-5 people on board ?

while the BIB sit there and barely breathe cause their 114+ cm waists are restricting air in take with a shirt made for a 91cm

can lead to the conclusion.. speeding is more often caused by the lack of education, enforcement,

and the down right     most local drivers "don't give a rat's a** about anyone else !

 

ref BIB .... Gomez sums it all up 

 

 

10 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Any proof for the apparent bar stool myth that only deaths at the scene are counted? Those that die in hospital are not?

 

It's not a 'bar stool' myth Empty. The figures are released on a daily basis, so how can they include future deaths in Hospitals which may not have occured yet ? It's deaths at the scenes which are collected and reported.