Road Tolls In Thailand Among Highest In The World

[webfact]

Road tolls in Thailand among highest in the world
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Up to 26,000 people get killed in road accidents every year in Thailand, which puts the country on the 6th spot in terms of road casualties.

Of those killed, up to 70 or 80 per cent are motorcyclists or their passengers.

These statistics were released at a press conference by Vice Interior Minister Silapachai Jarukasemratana Friday.

He told the press that the key causes for the deaths were speeding, drunk driving or the failure to wear safety belts or crash helmets - all of which are offences under traffic laws.


-- The Nation 2013-03-15

[Mosha]

That was before all these new drivers were let loose.

[dcutman]

He told the press that the key causes for the deaths were speeding,
drunk driving or the failure to wear safety belts or crash helmets

I would think law enforcement/punishment (or lack of) might have something to do with it.

[thaikahuna]

Yet the BiB are never out enforcing the laws unless their wallets are a bit thin before payday. IF the BiB would actually enforce the existing laws there would be a lot fewer road casualties IMO. Given the drivers with no licenses, those who have no clue, scavengers with an old POS scoot with a dump trailer in front, no lights, no signals and all the scooters with modified electrics to turn the lights off, plus adding drugs and alcohol into the mix I am surprised more are not killed.

[mancub]

He told the press that the key causes for the deaths were speeding,

drunk driving or the failure to wear safety belts or crash helmets

I would think law enforcement/punishment (or lack of) might have something to do with it.

or ...ignorance ,arrogance ,incompetence and recklessness....and a few more besides !

[FarangTalk]

It should be noted that those are only the figures for persons that die at the scene of an accident. Those that die later from their injuries are not included, and would make the actual figures far higher.

Good to see that the truth is coming out about the roads here, for too long obfuscation and lies have been the order of the day.

[Thaddeus]

It should be noted that those are only the figures for persons that die at the scene of an accident. Those that die later from their injuries are not included, and would make the actual figures far higher.

Good to see that the truth is coming out about the roads here, for too long obfuscation and lies have been the order of the day.

Add the number of incidents that go unreported too,

[dcutman]

He told the press that the key causes for the deaths were speeding,

drunk driving or the failure to wear safety belts or crash helmets

I would think law enforcement/punishment (or lack of) might have something to do with it.

or ...ignorance ,arrogance ,incompetence and recklessness....and a few more besides !

Those as well for sure. Thanks for completing my post

[Payboy]

Any info on a per capita comparison?

[yourauntbob]

I for one am absolutely shocked, SHOCKED I tell you. With all the training Thai drivers must go through and the strict enforcement of the laws its hard to believe there is a high rate of accidents here.

[tingtongfarang]

It should be noted that those are only the figures for persons that die at the scene of an accident. Those that die later from their injuries are not included, and would make the actual figures far higher.

Good to see that the truth is coming out about the roads here, for too long obfuscation and lies have been the order of the day.

Add the number of incidents that go unreported too,

I would imagine the true figures could be double,

I seem to notice more and more underage drivers/riders everyday here...its used to be only on the soi but now the main road.

[akampa]

He told the press that the key causes for the deaths were speeding, drunk driving or the failure to wear safety belts or crash helmets - all of which are offences under traffic laws

AND THE FACT THEY DONT HAVE A CLUE HOW TO F******* DRIVE ANYTHING

[Payboy]

speeding, drunk driving or the failure to wear safety belts or crash helmets - all of which are offences under traffic laws

Really, who would've thunk that?

[cycloneJ]

The OP is very vague - 'between 70-80%'

Where are the actual stats?

This chart from 2010 gives % (source)

'two wheels bad'

[cycloneJ]

No idea why Songkran road toll is so high.

[laislica]

I wanted to get a license but I haven't got enough box tops yet......

[phosphorescent]

Human nature is a very funny and confusing thing.

When SARS reared it's ugly head, there was mass panic in Thailand. Many measures were put in place at border crossings and around the country for fear of the disease spreading. People put themselves out by wearing those silly little masks and limiting contact with others. All of this for a grand death total in Thailand of........................2!

If any disease was claiming 26,000 lives per year in Thailand , all of the stops would be pulled out to come up with a solution ASAP with no expense spared, but when it comes to road deaths, there is a very nonchalant attitude by both the authorities and road users as though it is something that comes with the territory. Well, IT"S NOT!!!! Everybody has the right to use the road and expect to get from A to B without dying. It's high time something is done, something more than the usual band aid which we all know doesn't work. All that's needed to save tens of thousands of lives per year, is for a very select few at the top to pull their fingers out. How many more lives must needlessly be lost? Unfortunately, I think we all know the answer to that question.

[tingtongfarang]

Human nature is a very funny and confusing thing.

When SARS reared it's ugly head, there was mass panic in Thailand. Many measures were put in place at border crossings and around the country for fear of the disease spreading. People put themselves out by wearing those silly little masks and limiting contact with others. All of this for a grand death total in Thailand of........................2!

If any disease was claiming 26,000 lives per year in Thailand , all of the stops would be pulled out to come up with a solution ASAP with no expense spared, but when it comes to road deaths, there is a very nonchalant attitude by both the authorities and road users as though it is something that comes with the territory. Well, IT"S NOT!!!! Everybody has the right to use the road and expect to get from A to B without dying. It's high time something is done, something more than the usual band aid which we all know doesn't work. All that's needed to save tens of thousands of lives per year, is for a very select few at the top to pull their fingers out. How many more lives must needlessly be lost? Unfortunately, I think we all know the answer to that question.

For that they would first have to have a real police force and justice system....not what they have now.

[Mosha]

Any info on a per capita comparison?

x/100000 = 26000/67000000 gives about 38.8 per 100000 population I think.

[webfact]

an off topic post has been deleted

[Dudley23]

I actually think for the amount of traffic Bangkok drivers are not that bad. I have driven here for 5 years with out incident, but have seen the odd car upside more than likely a 4.30 am drive home after drinking.

Go to Vietnam, you want to see some of the most idiotic drivers in the World they are it, I swear their necks have bolts in them so they cannot turn their heads. Drive on any side of the road, at least India drivers look occasionally they never do. I have even drove in India looks worse that what it is. Would like to know the stats in Vietnam will leave Thailand for dead.

Also if they drove in Thailand they would not last 5 minutes maybe some of the deaths are Vietnamese trying to drive in Thailand.

[Bellweather]

It should be noted that those are only the figures for persons that die at the scene of an accident. Those that die later from their injuries are not included, and would make the actual figures far higher.

Good to see that the truth is coming out about the roads here, for too long obfuscation and lies have been the order of the day.

Add the number of incidents that go unreported too,

and the con favoured by the real PM Thaksin who used to wait for the Songran figures and then amend the number of days to be regarded as holidays so the figures didn't look so bad

[Tboy928]

Any info on a per capita comparison?

US about 300 mill people , and about 55 000 dead in trafic

[Pimay1]

About 98% or so of the motorcycle riders never look at oncoming traffic before entering onto a road. They just come on out. Same thing with changing lanes. Just zip over into the next lane without looking back. But when they are not taught road safety that is to be expected?

And another thing that makes my blood boil is a mother, caretaker will be walking with a 2/3 year old child on a road with the child on the road side of the mother/caretaker next to the traffic.

[dcutman]

It should be noted that those are only the figures for persons that die at the scene of an accident. Those that die later from their injuries are not included, and would make the actual figures far higher.

Good to see that the truth is coming out about the roads here, for too long obfuscation and lies have been the order of the day.

Add the number of incidents that go unreported too,

Trat Province 0 accidents 0 injuries 0 deaths, 7 days of danger 2012.

Are you saying that Trat Province may have had 1 or 2 fender-benders during X-mass New year holiday last year?

[Mosha]

It should be noted that those are only the figures for persons that die at the scene of an accident. Those that die later from their injuries are not included, and would make the actual figures far higher.

Good to see that the truth is coming out about the roads here, for too long obfuscation and lies have been the order of the day.

Add the number of incidents that go unreported too,

Trat Province 0 accidents 0 injuries 0 deaths, 7 days of danger 2012.

Are you saying that Trat Province may have had 1 or 2 fender-benders during X-mass New year holiday last year?

More likely the guy doing the counting was too pissed to count.

[JetsetBkk]

About 98% or so of the motorcycle riders never look at oncoming traffic before entering onto a road. They just come on out. <snip>

Unfortunately, it's often not them that gets killed, but the person that the car or truck swerves into to avoid the idiot on the bike.

[rubl]

Road Toll in Thailand Amongst Highest in the World

But obviously not during the upcoming Songkhran Festival. Surely the Ministry of Interior has all in hand and might already be dreaming of a zero.

"Permanent Secretary for Interior Wiboon Sanguanpong revealed on Tuesday that the Road Safety Center is now prepared to launch an anti-road accident campaign for the Songkran holidays, during April 11 and 17."

[Thereisnoif]

Where are the Thai apologists when you need them ?

[Silom]

Isn't it the highest according to the WHO, just published?

38.1 per 100000 population, can see here http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/2013/data/table_a2.pdf