DEPUTY PM AND MINISTER OF JUSTIC AIMS AT REDUCING ROAD ACCIDENTS

Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister CHITCHAI WANASATHIT (ชิดชัย วรรณสถิตย์) held a meeting with the road safety administration center. He said the road traffic accident prevention scheme would emphasize on motorcycles. He said the old strategies for solving accident problems would still be use.

He stated that the strategies would consist of law enforcement, traffic engineering, emergency medical services, publicity and education, launching campaigns on road safety and evaluation of information technology.

He also said that there is an aim to reduce traffic injuries caused by motor bikes, which would begin from measuring standard of vehicles. He said that currently there are 22 million vehicles from which 70 percent are motor bikes and are the major cause of road accidents in Thailand.

Pol. Lt. Gen. CHITCHAI (ชิดชัย) mentioned that the number of road accidents should drop down to 15 percent on the coming New Year Festival.

Source: thaisnews.com ประจำวันพฤหัสบดีที่ 6 ตุลาคม 2548

The first point should be to set up a REAL driving test, and no more let all these people go to death in their car...

whatever direction is taken, it will fail. The mentality of motorcyclists is downright insane.

Things I see daily on the roads in Phuket:

Run red lights on a regular basis

Ride down the wrong side of the street

Talk on a mobile phone while driving

Helmet in basket

Risking one's life to get in front of someone

Pull out without looking

Too many people on one bike

Underage children driving

Underage children and teenagers trying to pop wheelies

Weaving in and out of traffic in a death-defying manner

Taking off when the other light starts to turn yellow

Changing lanes without looking

Turning left from the far right lane

Yada, yada, yada

Thais don't take traffic laws seriously. No wonder they get in so many accidents. Sit at any busy traffic light and watch what happens.

Station cops at all major traffic light and give real tickets to anyone who passes someone in a turn or who runs a red light.

2 things affect the accident rate here - the drivers and the roads.

In order to reduce the accident rate both have to be addressed.

How to educate the entire population of a country to drive?

In western societies we have grow up with the automobile for over 50 years; we have developed with it. Mass motor vehicle ownership here is a relatively new and changing thing. It is not engrained in Thai culture to own a vehicle or drive. I think here a test would help new drivers but what about the several million already driving? Some form of public education campaign is needed to raise public awareness. But how can you tell a family that earns 3000 baht a month that a motorbike is not family transport?

The other factor here is the appalling standard of road/traffic engineering. Signposts road markings, laning, lighting surfaces…all are sub-standard and usually in the wrong place and therefore ignored.

If you create a road system that is clearly marked and maintained it helps and encourages drivers to drive sensibly. There are plenty of traffic systems that could be copied. It would seem to me that this could be a simple way of reducing accidents….design roads where it is more difficult to have an accident not matter how reckless your driving.

Road accidents are tragic for the victims, their family and friends but they are also a great cost to the nation. Lost working days, lost bread winners, permanent disablement, and hospital costs all eventually affect the economy. If road accidents are reduced, Thailand will save a fortune.

Good post wilko

Just to add my own personal comments/thoughts...

1. Driver education

2. Road rules awareness/education

3. Road rules enforcement

The whole country really needs an attitude change on this issue. They just cant see the dangers involved in speeding, drunk driving,not wearing adequate safety helmets,not wearing seat belts,and driving dangerous unroadworthy vehicles.

Even with the graphic scenes you see in the media the message is still not getting home.

The whole country really needs an attitude change on this issue. They just cant see the dangers involved in speeding, drunk driving,not wearing adequate safety helmets,not wearing seat belts,and driving dangerous unroadworthy vehicles.

Even with the graphic scenes you see in the media the message is still not getting home.

The one hurdle that is difficult to overcome is the "my bpen rai" attitude. This is one of the differences here then other places that slows this progression.