474 road accidents kill 86 in first 2 days of New Year holidays: Thailand

[marko kok prong]

this carnage is incredible,i wonder how many people were killed and injured in the syrian civil war in the last two days,the thai road toll may be approaching,the death toll there over theses past 2 days.

[puukao]

Let's play, "Guess the total at the end of 7-days". I will say 400, since it should accelerate over the next few days.

It's IMPOSSIBLE for me to get my head around all this kind of death. if i did, i wouldn't be able to function. this is just another crazy event in the world filled of crazy events. i have no solution, not enough prayers, and I guess all i can say is keep your loved ones close. take the week off from driving, esp. on a motorbike. good luck out there. look both ways, twice

[Hawk]

Road safety campaign Wear a helmet Don't drink n driveYaba is a no no Slow down Learn to drive first Who am I kidding? It's Thailand.

Actually, in the majority of the motorcycle accidents that I have seen, the motorcyclists were wearing helmets, were not high on drink or drugs, and could drive. Everyone had been hit by a car or bus, usually sideswiped, some rear ended, and a few hit head on. Many Thai car drivers think the roads are racing circuits, foot down and go.

[soi41]

I winder how many of those accidents involved the new drivers the PTP unleashed on the road.

Probably very few as most of them can't afford the mortgage on the cars, let alone petrol!!

[Ozybear]

Road safety campaign Wear a helmet Don't drink n driveYaba is a no no Slow down Learn to drive first Who am I kidding? It's Thailand.

Actually, in the majority of the motorcycle accidents that I have seen, the motorcyclists were wearing helmets, were not high on drink or drugs, and could drive. Everyone had been hit by a car or bus, usually sideswiped, some rear ended, and a few hit head on. Many Thai car drivers think the roads are racing circuits, foot down and go.

maybe a sumo suit would help

[Hawk]

Let's play, "Guess the total at the end of 7-days". I will say 400, since it should accelerate over the next few days.

It's IMPOSSIBLE for me to get my head around all this kind of death. if i did, i wouldn't be able to function. this is just another crazy event in the world filled of crazy events. i have no solution, not enough prayers, and I guess all i can say is keep your loved ones close. take the week off from driving, esp. on a motorbike. good luck out there. look both ways, twice

Think of the Thai roads as a war zone, a "Death Race" movie, even a challenge.

[Hawk]

Road safety campaign Wear a helmet Don't drink n driveYaba is a no no Slow down Learn to drive first Who am I kidding? It's Thailand.

Actually, in the majority of the motorcycle accidents that I have seen, the motorcyclists were wearing helmets, were not high on drink or drugs, and could drive. Everyone had been hit by a car or bus, usually sideswiped, some rear ended, and a few hit head on. Many Thai car drivers think the roads are racing circuits, foot down and go.

maybe a sumo suit would help

No, an "Iron-man" suit.

[b2bme]

Drove from Bangkok to Buriram yesterday. Averaged 30kmh for the whole trip. Only saw one police check point and they were not stopping people. It appeared they were not making much of an effort. There were highway police along the way but they seemed focused on managing the extra lane on the opposite side of the road that they opened heading out of Bangkok. This was a good initiative. Highway 24 was its usual mayhem. I don't know what it is about this road but people are just plain crazy. People driving on opposite side of road and inside stopping lane. You see so many stupid drivers. So long as they don't take any innocent lives with them I don't mind to see them remove themselves from the gene pool but unfortunately they always seem to be respnsible for the death of others.

[soi41]

Come on guys, give the Thais a break, it just bad luck!

With well-educated Thai drivers and vehicles like those:

what can possibly go wrong??

[Roberte]

The cash woke up me. I am surprised your alive.

[Benmart]

The article is frightening and sad of course. What is more frightening and sad are the crude, bigoted and hateful comments by some of the readers/posters.

From their comments, they appear to be the ultimate authority of all things Thai, experts of highway/road safety, accident statisticians, motorcycle repair technicians, soothsayers, inebriates, political science majors and know-all-see-all gurus. Some seem to be able to be able to discern the truth from a mere printed article, even though their knowledge and expertise about the subject is yet to be established.

I believe these hate-mongers represent a minority of readers. The silent majority,I would guess, may only shake their heads after reading some of the juvenile, hateful and speculative postings.

[Hawk]

The cash woke up me.

Cash always wakes me up.

[Roberte]

Should have read, the crash woke me up. I just couldn't stop laughing at another piece of Thai journalism.

[mrfill]

"Police are urged to arrest those who drink and drive, drive at high speed, or ride motorcycles without a helmet."

Urged?

[harber8]

How many of these dead were the breadwinners in the their families. No longer bringing food home to put on the table. No welfare to fall back on. The riple effect of reprocusions can be endless on these families well beings now and in the long term future.

How do the traffic police here sleep at night????

[chooka]

"Police are urged to arrest those who drink and drive, drive at high speed, or ride motorcycles without a helmet."

Urged?

Yea the same as trying to urge your kids to get out of bed and get ready for school.

[chooka]

How many of these dead were the breadwinners in the their families. No longer bringing food home to put on the table. No welfare to fall back on. The riple effect of reprocusions can be endless on these families well beings now and in the long term future.

How do the traffic police here sleep at night????

with an empty whiskey bottle and a fat wallet from a hard days takings.

[soi41]

The article is frightening and sad of course. What is more frightening and sad are the crude, bigoted and hateful comments by some of the readers/posters.

From their comments, they appear to be the ultimate authority of all things Thai, experts of highway/road safety, accident statisticians, motorcycle repair technicians, soothsayers, inebriates, political science majors and know-all-see-all gurus. Some seem to be able to be able to discern the truth from a mere printed article, even though their knowledge and expertise about the subject is yet to be established.

I believe these hate-mongers represent a minority of readers. The silent majority,I would guess, may only shake their heads after reading some of the juvenile, hateful and speculative postings.

Some valid points in your post!

BUT, then according to you, we should not post at all or we would have 100 identical posts saying "RIP, our thoughts are with the family"

If just one or two of the Thai Thaivisamembers reading our stupid replies start to think about a possible solution to the roadcarnage, then we have accomplished something!

[laobali]

How many of these dead were the breadwinners in the their families. No longer bringing food home to put on the table. No welfare to fall back on. The riple effect of reprocusions can be endless on these families well beings now and in the long term future.

How do the traffic police here sleep at night????

Quite easily. The furthest thought from their minds is "I am a traffic officer whose job is to help save lives on the roads."

[peterbkk9]

Some 611,600 cars and vehicles were inspected ... Infractions included 31,020 drivers without a licence

The situation is hopeless.

[planetoftheapes]

OK they have the data. Now what. Nothing! That is what is going to happen. Why even write this post. Why am I even typing. Over out..... . . .

[planetoftheapes]

OK they have the data. Now what. Nothing! That is what is going to happen. Why even write this post. Why am I even typing. Over out..... . . .

[soi41]

How many of these dead were the breadwinners in the their families. No longer bringing food home to put on the table. No welfare to fall back on. The riple effect of reprocusions can be endless on these families well beings now and in the long term future.

How do the traffic police here sleep at night????

with an empty whiskey bottle and a fat wallet from a hard days takings.

As a long time resident in this lovely country how can you be so cynical?

Wait...wait... does the answer lie in my question??

Made my day!!

[simple1]

The article is frightening and sad of course. What is more frightening and sad are the crude, bigoted and hateful comments by some of the readers/posters.

From their comments, they appear to be the ultimate authority of all things Thai, experts of highway/road safety, accident statisticians, motorcycle repair technicians, soothsayers, inebriates, political science majors and know-all-see-all gurus. Some seem to be able to be able to discern the truth from a mere printed article, even though their knowledge and expertise about the subject is yet to be established.

I believe these hate-mongers represent a minority of readers. The silent majority,I would guess, may only shake their heads after reading some of the juvenile, hateful and speculative postings.

How do you come to the conclusion that anonymous critical posts are more frightening and sad than the OP road toll of deaths and injuries? Also roughly one in six vehicles checked required some reported action by the police against the owner/driver.

Edited December 30, 2013 by simple1

[Colabamumbai]

I asked my local Thai pharmacist, educated in England, here in Isaan, what he was doing for the holidays?

He replied: "Staying home, it is a war out there."

Referring to the traffic and accidents at this time of year, drunk drivers etc.

[belg]

it is really so much different than any other day?

they just pay attention to now and songkran ...

26.000 deaths a year, you dont get that in one week or one month

it is a consistent nr1 hit overhere

do they learn anything from it ?

well, look at the numbers, and i would say: i guess not ....

[Sam Gold]

There is unfortunately no foreseeable solution to this problem for the country.

The only truly safe way to spend the New Year in Thailand is to not drive for a week - has worked so far for me.

[marko kok prong]

just read in the australian; holiday road toll from 23 dec to present 18,nation wide,vs Thailand 86 in 2 days.

[chrissables]

Everyone seems to concentrate on the car/truck/bus deaths & accidents, but around 82% of the deaths/accidents involve motorcycles...probably drunk motorcycle drivers with no helmets zipping along a country road. I know for me here in western Bangkok I rarely see a serious vehicle accidents that obviously killed/hurt people...but I see plenty of minor to medium low speed rear end collisions because of the constant tailgating....I think most Thai's consider maintaining a couple of car length distances from the person in front of them as being a crime against humanity and they just don't do it. I still waiting for the day someone rear-ends my SUV...it's just a matter of time...came close many times already with people tailgating and not paying full attention.

I sure know when I'm driving around in the provinces on the back roads it's the land of motorcycles, no helmets, all age groups riding motorcycles with some of the age groups being young kids or really old folks...and I expect many have no license. And of course it's very common to see old motorcycles loaded down with a whole family of dad, mom, and a couple of kids...and of course none of them wearing helmets.

Since when did not wearing a helmet cause an accident?

[Asiantravel]

The article is frightening and sad of course. What is more frightening and sad are the crude, bigoted and hateful comments by some of the readers/posters.

From their comments, they appear to be the ultimate authority of all things Thai, experts of highway/road safety, accident statisticians, motorcycle repair technicians, soothsayers, inebriates, political science majors and know-all-see-all gurus. Some seem to be able to be able to discern the truth from a mere printed article, even though their knowledge and expertise about the subject is yet to be established.

I believe these hate-mongers represent a minority of readers. The silent majority,I would guess, may only shake their heads after reading some of the juvenile, hateful and speculative postings.

But why are you more concerned about attacking the readers/posters than criticising the ridiculously low driving standards in this country?

Think about the four mums in England who each lost their sons in that bus crash and who have since embarked on a very aggressive campaign to inform the world about the dangers on Thailand's roads.

Would you call those 4 mums ´ hate-mongers “ as well ?