Road death toll reaches 209 during first 4 days of New Year holiday

[webfact]

New Year road death toll reaches 209
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 31 -- A total of 1,818 road accidents have claimed 209 lives and resulted in 1,931 injuries over the first four of the seven dangerous days of the New Year holiday, according to Thailand's Road Safety Centre.

Chanvech Boonpraderm, advisor to the Office of the Vocational Education Commission, told a press briefing that on Monday alone, 48 people were killed, six less than the previous year; and 541 others were injured in 496 road accidents, explaining that most accidents resulted from drunk driving, followed by excessive speeding.

After being accident-free initially, the first accidents in four days occurred in Chaiyaphum and Samut Songkhram so now all provinces have had accidents.

Meanwhile, Nakhon Sawan recorded the highest number of accidents at 66 while Nakhon Ratchasima recorded the largest number of injuries at 81.

Nakhon Ratchasima has also seen the highest number of fatalities at 13. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-12-31

[bkkgriz]

Most deaths due to drunk driving or speeding. Two problems that could be cleaned up with stringent law enforcement, but we know the deal there. The Royal Thai Police need to be completely overhauled. Until the day the police actually start enforcing existing laws we will read similar headlines year after year.

[gregchambers]

you can't really blame the cops for the populace's deep belief in reincarnation and therefore not so worried about death, more concerned with enjoying themselves and living in the moment regardless of the consequences...

[DA3NDORPHIN3]

you can't really blame the cops for the populace's deep belief in reincarnation and therefore not so worried about death, more concerned with enjoying themselves and living in the moment regardless of the consequences...

you really don't know nothing about thailand.I guess only barstool stories about how thailand being a bad country etc.Now go back to soi 6.

[how241]

Most deaths due to drunk driving or speeding. Two problems that could be cleaned up with stringent law enforcement, but we know the deal there. The Royal Thai Police need to be completely overhauled. Until the day the police actually start enforcing existing laws we will read similar headlines year after year.

+1.... drunk driving or speeding are the killers.

[Dkr]

Am I missing something or how are these bad numbers?

According to WHO Thailand's road fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants per year according to wikipedia was 38.1 and Thailand has 69M inhabitants. So that would be over 26000 per years and 72 per day. So wouldn't that mean that it is safer to drive now?

[simon43]

Weird photo accompanying the article. Are all those people born-again Christians or something?

Simon

[cardinalblue]

Are there bars on soi 6 now?

Thais do have weird reactions to death...it sure doesnt seem to motivate them to take action steps whether health or safety issues...

So passive and accepting of it like applying a mai bpen rai attitude towards it and other social ills...

[10Yen]

Most deaths due to drunk driving or speeding. Two problems that could be cleaned up with stringent law enforcement, but we know the deal there.

In 2010 1.4 Million people were arrested in the US for DUI, and a large % of the fatalities on the roads were involving Alcohol.

http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/by_the_numbers/drunk_driving/index.html

Stringent laws don't stop Americans from drink driving, why do you think it would stop the Thais and the Farangs that drive here whilst alcohol impaired ?

[noddy77]

you can't really blame the cops for the populace's deep belief in reincarnation and therefore not so worried about death, more concerned with enjoying themselves and living in the moment regardless of the consequences...

you really don't know nothing about thailand.I guess only barstool stories about how thailand being a bad country etc.Now go back to soi 6.

I don't see why you react like this to Greg's opinion. The Police I have socialised with here are totally drunk when they leave my place to drive home. I don't hear of much concern from Thai's about death. Nothing will change in my lifetime here so I guess concern for life is not high on the lets fix it list.

The trick is to stay off the roads and let them go for it. I could think of worse places to be than Soi 6.

[Loles]

It's awful, I don't want to hear about it at all.

[laobali]

you can't really blame the cops for the populace's deep belief in reincarnation and therefore not so worried about death, more concerned with enjoying themselves and living in the moment regardless of the consequences...

you really don't know nothing about thailand.I guess only barstool stories about how thailand being a bad country etc.Now go back to soi 6.

'He doesn't know nothing' means he does know something - and he's quite right about the Thai populace.

[madmitch]

Am I missing something or how are these bad numbers?

According to WHO Thailand's road fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants per year according to wikipedia was 38.1 and Thailand has 69M inhabitants. So that would be over 26000 per years and 72 per day. So wouldn't that mean that it is safer to drive now?

Obviously goes to prove that Thailand's stringent law enforcement over these few days is effective!

[cracker1]

Annual road toll lowest in more than 60 years.

(Down 17% on last year)

This is the headline from New Zealand's largest newspaper at the end of 2013. Sadly I don't think we will ever see a report in Thailand like this.

More info on how it came about below.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11179909

[redutedog1]

Are they all going to that big Cross in the background of the photo ironic huh?

[Sydebolle]

Well, there is only one way.

Revamp the BiB and re-write the fines. I am dreaming but the following comes to mind:
Drunk driving at THB 5'000 in the first case; car stays put until a) fine is paid and driver is sober.
Second time THB 20'000; car stays put for two weeks and until fine is paid.
Third time same as second time but a mandatory jail term of a week.

Forth time - car gets impounded for a month and the fine is THB 50'000; two weeks jail.

All this is not rocket science but I guess it needs a death in each and every family having a drunk driving member until the message reaches home. How sad!

[10Yen]

Well, there is only one way.

Revamp the BiB and re-write the fines. I am dreaming but the following comes to mind:

Drunk driving at THB 5'000 in the first case; car stays put until a) fine is paid and driver is sober.

Second time THB 20'000; car stays put for two weeks and until fine is paid.

Third time same as second time but a mandatory jail term of a week.

Forth time - car gets impounded for a month and the fine is THB 50'000; two weeks jail.

All this is not rocket science but I guess it needs a death in each and every family having a drunk driving member until the message reaches home. How sad!

Maybe Crucifixion for Farangs to deter them ?

[simple1]

Am I missing something or how are these bad numbers?

According to WHO Thailand's road fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants per year according to wikipedia was 38.1 and Thailand has 69M inhabitants. So that would be over 26000 per years and 72 per day. So wouldn't that mean that it is safer to drive now?

Up to 03/2013 Thai government reporting on the p.a. road deaths was around 12,000 & declining & was the number used by international reporting agencies. Out of the blue a government representative announced the actual number to be approx 26k p.a. The various internation websites picked up this info & increased the numbers in alignment to the Thai government announcement. As been mentioned a number of times, the current reporting for the period would be based upon deaths at the time of accident, obviously not including those who later died from injuries.

Original 03/2013 media report at:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Road-death-toll-in-Thailand-among-highest-in-the-w-30202066.html

[kimbathewhitelion]

you can't really blame the cops for the populace's deep belief in reincarnation and therefore not so worried about death, more concerned with enjoying themselves and living in the moment regardless of the consequences...

you really don't know nothing about thailand.I guess only barstool stories about how thailand being a bad country etc.Now go back to soi 6.

I don't see why you react like this to Greg's opinion. The Police I have socialised with here are totally drunk when they leave my place to drive home. I don't hear of much concern from Thai's about death. Nothing will change in my lifetime here so I guess concern for life is not high on the lets fix it list.

The trick is to stay off the roads and let them go for it. I could think of worse places to be than Soi 6.

That would be Chiang Mai now and for the next 3 months, with something as simple as breathing.

[DocN]

Is this some kind of "Olympics of stupidity"?

[noddy77]

Annual road toll lowest in more than 60 years.

(Down 17% on last year)

This is the headline from New Zealand's largest newspaper at the end of 2013. Sadly I don't think we will ever see a report in Thailand like this.

More info on how it came about below.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11179909

Portal Travel will be perfected before you will see this in Thailand as Portal Travel is the only way the carnage will reduce.

[wotaplonker]

you can't really blame the cops for the populace's deep belief in reincarnation and therefore not so worried about death, more concerned with enjoying themselves and living in the moment regardless of the consequences...

you really don't know nothing about thailand.I guess only barstool stories about how thailand being a bad country etc.Now go back to soi 6.

rubbish, you obviously know little about Buddhism, now go back to your seat in Soi 6

[DA3NDORPHIN3]

you can't really blame the cops for the populace's deep belief in reincarnation and therefore not so worried about death, more concerned with enjoying themselves and living in the moment regardless of the consequences...

you really don't know nothing about thailand.I guess only barstool stories about how thailand being a bad country etc.Now go back to soi 6.

'He doesn't know nothing' means he does know something - and he's quite right about the Thai populace.

Well it's a well known fact most of TV users are hating everything what's related with thai in any means.Saying that thais don't care about death it just moronic but understandable.Most of the foreigners don't speak thai thus can't understand everything that's going on,believe me those who can speak are seeing the country on whole new level.

Seeing that most of the farangs don't even know difference between bar girl and normal girl says everything.Ones who marry with bar girl and than complain how she stole his money and "every thai girl" is the same are the best lol.Ah farangs,education doesn't worth shit sometimes

[DA3NDORPHIN3]

you can't really blame the cops for the populace's deep belief in reincarnation and therefore not so worried about death, more concerned with enjoying themselves and living in the moment regardless of the consequences...

you really don't know nothing about thailand.I guess only barstool stories about how thailand being a bad country etc.Now go back to soi 6.

rubbish, you obviously know little about Buddhism, now go back to your seat in Soi 6

Lol.I suggest distance yourself from other farangs and try to know thailand.But that's probably mission immposible

[Gil]

Most deaths due to drunk driving or speeding. Two problems that could be cleaned up with stringent law enforcement, but we know the deal there. The Royal Thai Police need to be completely overhauled. Until the day the police actually start enforcing existing laws we will read similar headlines year after year.

...after year, after year...

[godden]

lost mantle #1 rice exporter go for #1 road deaths pathetic.

[Gil]

you can't really blame the cops for the populace's deep belief in reincarnation and therefore not so worried about death, more concerned with enjoying themselves and living in the moment regardless of the consequences...

Can we therefore blame the cops for believing in reincarnation too? C'mon, let's get real!

[nong38]

Thai driving standards revealed for exactly what they are, dreadful, nothing will change of course not even any wringing of hands, we will be back again next year beat these figures.

[oztaurus]

'He doesn't know nothing' means he does know something

He mus'know sumpin'

But don't say nuthin',

He jes'keeps rollin'

He keeps on rollin' along.

[tetleythedog]

Am I missing something or how are these bad numbers?

According to WHO Thailand's road fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants per year according to wikipedia was 38.1 and Thailand has 69M inhabitants. So that would be over 26000 per years and 72 per day. So wouldn't that mean that it is safer to drive now?

It may come as a big shock to you...............but published figures and actual fatalities could be different !!! We will only read what they want us to.