Road Toll Up, But Fewer Crashes This Year: Thailand

[webfact]

Road toll up, but fewer crashes this year

Wattana Khamchoo

The Nation

The first four days of the New Year Festival's seven-dangerous-day period saw 241 people killed and 2,382 injured, the Road Safety Centre reported yesterday.

There were 2,167 serious road accidents reported nationwide.

Buri Ram had the most deaths at 16, while Chiang Rai recorded the most number of road injuries at 88 and the highest number of accidents at 85.

The total of 241 fatalities was seven higher than the same period last year, while the 2,382 injuries and 2,167 accidents were lower than last year by 274 persons and 306 accidents, Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri said yesterday.

On New Year's Day alone, 562 accidents were reported, compared to last January 1's 777 accidents. Some 76 people were killed, seven less than the 83 on New Year's Day last year. Another 600 others were injured, compared to last New Year's 845 injuries, he said.

Drunk driving was blamed for 48 per cent of accidents and speeding for nearly 20 per cent. Some 83 per cent of accidents involved motorcycles, he said.

The 2,465 checkpoints had stopped 704,164 vehicles and found 97,359 motorists who broke the law, most of whom failed to wear helmets (30,698 cases) or failed to show a driver's licence (27,121 cases).

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department chief Wibul Sanguanpong said this New Year festival had seen more severe accidents than the previous one and that speeding, dozing behind the wheel, failing to wear helmets, riding on the back of trucks and failing to fasten seat belts were important factors leading to crashes.

-- The Nation 2012-01-03

[Cheops]

"2,167 accidents"

And more than 10 million near accidents! People here drive like complete morons with no respect to safety.

Yesterday we came back from my wifes hometown. You see constantly people drive like crazy on the emergy lanes (with other people driving on the same lane but in the opposite direction!), big busses drive like they need a race to win, minivans are apparently in the same race which they need to win, normal cars just drive up the road at the several U-turns even if cars are coming with 100kph or more. And this is not even counting the drunk drivers. It really amazes me that there are 'only' 241 people killed.

People here will never learn. Next year there will be similar figures of people dying in road accidents. For me I try to have a big distance between me and the car in front of me. Mostly some other people will fill the gaps, but I try to keep my distance, so that I have enough time to react when some moron acts crazy (which happens all the time).

Can they bring it to almost zero deaths here in Thailand? Yes, they can. Just enforce the law. But sadly that will never happen here.

Happy New Year everybody!

[zakk9]

These are all Mickey Mouse figures. Even when it's not a holiday, the number of traffic injuries are much higher. The number of fatalities corresponds to what is happening every day in this country. The problem is that on normal days, many traffic deaths (40%+) are reported as "unknown cause of death" on normal days.

[Morgo]

A 79yr lady in my village was knocked down by a motor bike 3 weeks ago, she died in hospital 3 days later. The young girl riding the bike offered the lady's family a monetary compensation, which was accepted. I don't think this incident has been recorded as a road death statistic. The young motor cyclist attended the funeral and sat with the old lady's family, she was very remorseful, but she will have to live with her conscience for the rest of her life. The village is signposted as a 30kph speed limit zone which is completely ignored especially by motor cylclists, if only these people could realise the pain they cause to themselves and others by not obeying a few simple road rules.

[slapout]

Glad someone (Nation) can see some positive in the traffic numbers this year. The marksmen have become more expert, takes less bullets to kill more citizens, could be another way of looking at it.

Another of the example as to how the introduction of modern devices, without proper training, add to a countries social/economic burden.

[pisico]

"2,167 accidents"

And more than 10 million near accidents! People here drive like complete morons with no respect to safety.

Yesterday we came back from my wifes hometown. You see constantly people drive like crazy on the emergy lanes (with other people driving on the same lane but in the opposite direction!), big busses drive like they need a race to win, minivans are apparently in the same race which they need to win, normal cars just drive up the road at the several U-turns even if cars are coming with 100kph or more. And this is not even counting the drunk drivers. It really amazes me that there are 'only' 241 people killed.

People here will never learn. Next year there will be similar figures of people dying in road accidents. For me I try to have a big distance between me and the car in front of me. Mostly some other people will fill the gaps, but I try to keep my distance, so that I have enough time to react when some moron acts crazy (which happens all the time).

Can they bring it to almost zero deaths here in Thailand? Yes, they can. Just enforce the law. But sadly that will never happen here.

Happy New Year everybody!

As you said: Enforcement of existing laws is the key to having fewer casualties all year round. The police presence is sparse and when it is obvious on a checkpoint/road block has a different purpose and end result. All countries with a Third World mentality are the same. I have lived in several in South America and in Asia and the norm is that a vehicle trumps human life. Motorcyclists in Thailand are told during the test to get their license to yield to pedestrians and to stop at red lights. Do they afterwards? They are also keenly aware that any traffic transgressions can be fixed with some "tea money". Therefore, we will never see the situation improve until policemen have to go through intensive training and tests (and truly pass them) to become members of the force and their salaries are commensurate to those of other officials at the airport, for instance. After that, we all will have to pray and hope that they will break away from the tradition of not enforcing the laws.

[Pib]

Drunk driving was blamed for 48 per cent of accidents and speeding for nearly 20 per cent. Some 83 per cent of accidents involved motorcycles, he said.

83% of the accidents involved motorcycles...I don't know if this means only motorcycles were involved or it was also a car/truck and motorcycle were involved, but regardless, motorcycle and drinking definitely don't mix. Many Thai's, especially the younger ones which may or may not have a license, drive motorcycles like crazy people when they are sober and when they are drunk it's truly a high probability accident just waiting to happen.

[lee68]

Cant really say anymore than has been said,ive driven cars and bikes here for 17 years and it don't get any better and it never will,it just gets worse year by year,with more cars and bikes on the road,with completely untrained and incompetent drivers,who are just dangerous,but im still going to carry on living here,so think i will trade the pick up in for a second hand tank.lol

[madchad]

I drove to my wifes village and back to bangkok over the new year period and thai people just should not be allowed near a vehicle. Either they drive like they stole it especially vigo drivers or they drive so slowly where in some countries it is called loitering. If they all drove at the correct speed limit whatever that is and took there turn when overtaking a truck or a above said loiterer there will be fewer deaths and everyone will get to there destination quicker.

[webfact]

this topic is from January 2012

//CLOSED//

New Year road accidents casualties: 365 deaths,3,329 injured in 3,176 cases nationwide during Dec.27-Jan.2 /The Nation