366 killed, 3,345 injured in road accidents during seven-day New Year holidays

[webfact]

366 killed, 3,345 injured in road accidents during seven-day New Year holidays
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A total of 3,174 road accidents happened during December 27 to January 2, killing 366 persons and injuring 3,345 others, the Road Safety Directing Centre announced Friday.

On Thursday alone, 283 accidents happened, killing 32 people and injuring 304 others, the centre's chairman, caretaker Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan told a press conference.

He said drunk driving was the main cause of the accidents.


-- The Nation 2014-01-03

[CelticBhoy]

One more than last year.

Can't keep the tourist arrivals up

but can certainly beat the death

toll year after year. Sad statistic.

[BangkokHank]

When countries lose this many people in a similar time period in a war, people are outraged. But when it happens on the roads of Thailand, it's business as usual.

[robsamui]

It comes down to policing and deterrents.

Paperwork, tax, insurance legal registration, driving licence. Road check, breath tests, speed checks. All to be checked and with fines for infringements.

And an organised police force which is able to penalise drivers effectively. A 500 baht fine - even a 2,000 baht fine - for being drunk is not a deterrent.

A few moments ago I just read headlines in the UK that said

A record 1.32million fines were issued for minor offences in 2011/12, 16 per cent up on the year before.

The CCTV cameras spot those guilty of straying into bus lanes, blocking box junctions or committing other infringements.

And that's only for minor traffic offenses.

But until Thailand has a workforce with cheque books and credit cards and a banking system that's computerised and interlinked, plus a policeforce with the inclination and ability to impose crippling fines for compound offenses, impound or confiscate vehicles, and be able to uphold and enforce driving bans - death life will continue as normal.

R

Edited January 3, 2014 by robsamui

[WitawatWatawit]

And how many deaths for the entire year - 25-26-27-28,000? In 10 years, that's a quarter of a million people. The stomach churns.

[LuckyLew]

same same every year ... authorities useless and powerless to do anything about it

[up-country_sinclair]

The worst part is that it will all happen again next year. And let's not forget the senseless road deaths during Songkran.

Edited January 3, 2014 by up-country_sinclair

[DocN]

...but I guess, all the anti-corruption-champions will- in the future- obey laws on speeding, drunk driving and wearing helmets and not look for the easy way out and hand over 100 Baht to the cop who stops them...

[Felt 35]

And how many deaths for the entire year - 25-26-27-28,000? In 10 years, that's a quarter of a million people. The stomach churns.

366 x 52 = 19032

[webfact]

Traffic death toll now reaches 366



BANGKOK: -- Death toll for the past seven days from road mishaps during the New Year festival now rose to 366 killed and 3,345 injured.

Caretaker Interior Minister and director of the Road Safety Center Charupong Ruangsuwan said that the death toll of 366 people was recorded for the past seven days from December 27 to January 2.

During the seven-day period, a total of 3,174 road accidents were recorded with 366 people dead, and 3,345 injured.

Drunk driving is major cause of deaths or 41.71%. Motorcycle remains the vehicle that engaged in most road mishaps or 81.03%.

He also said the behavior of motorists that caused highest fatalities or 22.39% is that they did not wear crash helmets while driving.

Most fatalities were reported in working age group or 56.59%.

He said five provinces which have no road accidents during the seven-day safety driving campaign are Mae Hong Son, Bung Kan, Trat, Pattani and Phang Nga.

But province which recorded highest accumulated accidents is Nakhon Sawan with 127 cases. Highest death toll from road accidents is in Nakhon Ratchasima with 21 deaths.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/traffic-death-toll-now-reaches-366/


-- Thai PBS 2014-01-03

[Mosha]

And how many deaths for the entire year - 25-26-27-28,000? In 10 years, that's a quarter of a million people. The stomach churns.

366 x 52 = 19032

That's if you believe only 52 fie every day as a result of traffic accidents.

[edwinchester]

And how many deaths for the entire year - 25-26-27-28,000? In 10 years, that's a quarter of a million people. The stomach churns.

366 x 52 = 19032

Do you actually believe the figures for the last seven days are accurate?

Why call them 'seven dangerous days' if the released figure shows it is really safer to drive over the new year period?

Just think, in Thailand, you have the equivalent of a fully loaded Airbus a380 nosediving into the ground every single week that is tragic and it's terrible that there seems to be no will and no idea how to reduce the toll.

[theslime]

It was double this death toll not many years ago, now with more cars ,something is working out for the better. maybe the figures have been fiddled TIT.

[ChrisY1]

About the same number of fatalities as losing a Boeing 747...........which would have been on the front page of all international press agencies......here in Thailand it's just another road statistic...page 3!

Shameful to say the least

[WitawatWatawit]

And how many deaths for the entire year - 25-26-27-28,000? In 10 years, that's a quarter of a million people. The stomach churns.

366 x 52 = 19032

From The Nation in March last year:

Up to 26,000 people are killed in road accidents every year in Thailand, which puts the country in 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 yesterday.

-----

Why did you multiply the Xmas/NY figure by 52? I was talking about the ANNUAL figure multiplied by 10 years to give the situation some perspective. Suggest you read a bit more carefully in future. Go stand in the corner.

[mumjokmok]

When countries lose this many people in a similar time period in a war, people are outraged. But when it happens on the roads of Thailand, it's business as usual.

Well you might get yourself a few different sets of comparitive figures this holiday season.

52 people per day, I imagine in other countries there would be tanks out on the streets to stop the drunk drivers if they were racking up those kind of numbers.

[dutchisaan]

I think it is 52 people a day more than a normal day. Because the numbers they give can not be correct.

[ThaiTrav]

The worst part is that it will all happen again next year. And let's not forget the senseless road deaths during Songkran.

Songkran gets a higher score than this!

[falangadang]

So if the average year toll is around 26,000 that's 70 per day.

Therefore 366/7 = 52 per day during the 7 days of danger.

Does that mean that the efforts to reduce fatalities during the 7 dangerous days actually worked?

[sbk]

The worst part is that it will all happen again next year. And let's not forget the senseless road deaths during Songkran.

Songkran gets a higher score than this!

Actually, it doesnt

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/633613-seven-day-songkran-death-toll-tops-300/

The accumulated number of road accidents from April 11-17 reached 2,828 with 321 people dead and 3,040 injured. Main reasons of the accidents were drunken driving, followed by speeding.

[mrfill]

And how many deaths for the entire year - 25-26-27-28,000? In 10 years, that's a quarter of a million people. The stomach churns.

366 x 52 = 19032

Do you actually believe the figures for the last seven days are accurate?

Why call them 'seven dangerous days' if the released figure shows it is really safer to drive over the new year period?

Just think, in Thailand, you have the equivalent of a fully loaded Airbus a380 nosediving into the ground every single week that is tragic and it's terrible that there seems to be no will and no idea how to reduce the toll.

The WHO figure for a year is around 26000 - that is an average of around 70 per day.

They promote the week as being dangerous to attempt to scare drivers into being more careful. In the UK there is a high profile campaign every Xmas about drink driving, yet the worst time of year for DUI offences is July/August when there is no such campaign.

What do you expect though? The government to say 'Drink and drive more over Xmas as its a bit safer than usual' ?

And before doubting the accuracy of figures, please note that the maximum certificated capacity of an A380 is 853, more than twice the 366 figure and more than 50% higher than a normal weeks road kill.

The only way to reduce the casualties is to change the nation's attitude to drunk driving. 50 years ago, it was socially acceptable to drink and drive and if you were caught it was 'bad luck'. Nowadays, a drunk driver gets no sympathy whatsoever when caught. The penalties have not changed drastically over the period, but the stigma attaching is way more.

[apophyss]

Half of this in just ONE airplane crash would be terrible...

[ableguy]

I remmeber one of the govt Hi Sos declaring he would cut fatalities this holiday period by 20%, guess there must be a picture in his office with bad karma, of course the monks had there say on it ( evil Spirits ) and not the whisky ones. What could be done really well is make Thailand the hub for pointless deaths in ASEAN over the New Year. I wont repeat everything that has been said on this forum on how to clean this up its all pointless it wont happen in this lifetime ( mine and yours )it is so sad.

[fakename]

Five provinces had No accidents? Someone has to be fibbing just a little bit. The truth is, no one knows exactly how many deaths there are, and if someone does know, he aint telling!

[Sayonarax]

It comes down to policing and deterrents.

Paperwork, tax, insurance legal registration, driving licence. Road check, breath tests, speed checks. All to be checked and with fines for infringements.

And an organised police force which is able to penalise drivers effectively. A 500 baht fine - even a 2,000 baht fine - for being drunk is not a deterrent.

A few moments ago I just read headlines in the UK that said

A record 1.32million fines were issued for minor offences in 2011/12, 16 per cent up on the year before.

The CCTV cameras spot those guilty of straying into bus lanes, blocking box junctions or committing other infringements.

And that's only for minor traffic offenses.

But until Thailand has a workforce with cheque books and credit cards and a banking system that's computerised and interlinked, plus a policeforce with the inclination and ability to impose crippling fines for compound offenses, impound or confiscate vehicles, and be able to uphold and enforce driving bans - death life will continue as normal.

R

Daniel Rothschild is that you?

[GentlemanJim]

Well, just as I thought, it is probably safer on the roads during these holidays than during normal days. The figures work out lower than the statistical norm for deaths on the roads, probably because many people actually stay off the roads, especially at night, believing it to be dangerous. The Government always give these figures out with a sense of shock and horror, yet the dreadful disgusting truth is that this level of carnage occurs ever single day and nothing is done about it. If the Police would do a policeman's job and enforce traffic law and put serious offenders through the Judicial process it would be a start. If parents would ensure their children are securely strapped in and everyone wore helmets it would get even better. Still, only two hopes, no hope and Bob Hope!

[edwinchester]

And how many deaths for the entire year - 25-26-27-28,000? In 10 years, that's a quarter of a million people. The stomach churns.

366 x 52 = 19032

Do you actually believe the figures for the last seven days are accurate?

Why call them 'seven dangerous days' if the released figure shows it is really safer to drive over the new year period?

Just think, in Thailand, you have the equivalent of a fully loaded Airbus a380 nosediving into the ground every single week that is tragic and it's terrible that there seems to be no will and no idea how to reduce the toll.

The WHO figure for a year is around 26000 - that is an average of around 70 per day.

They promote the week as being dangerous to attempt to scare drivers into being more careful. In the UK there is a high profile campaign every Xmas about drink driving, yet the worst time of year for DUI offences is July/August when there is no such campaign.

What do you expect though? The government to say 'Drink and drive more over Xmas as its a bit safer than usual' ?

And before doubting the accuracy of figures, please note that the maximum certificated capacity of an A380 is 853, more than twice the 366 figure and more than 50% higher than a normal weeks road kill.

The only way to reduce the casualties is to change the nation's attitude to drunk driving. 50 years ago, it was socially acceptable to drink and drive and if you were caught it was 'bad luck'. Nowadays, a drunk driver gets no sympathy whatsoever when caught. The penalties have not changed drastically over the period, but the stigma attaching is way more.

Agree entirely about reducing drunk driving.

The reason I doubt the figures is that I have first hand experience of no deaths being reported for a province when I know for a fact deaths have occurred. Exactly the same for provinces reporting zero accidents when I know that they have taken place.

[ratcatcher]

Well, just as I thought, it is probably safer on the roads during these holidays than during normal days. The figures work out lower than the statistical norm for deaths on the roads, probably because many people actually stay off the roads, especially at night, believing it to be dangerous. The Government always give these figures out with a sense of shock and horror, yet the dreadful disgusting truth is that this level of carnage occurs ever single day and nothing is done about it. If the Police would do a policeman's job and enforce traffic law and put serious offenders through the Judicial process it would be a start. If parents would ensure their children are securely strapped in and everyone wore helmets it would get even better. Still, only two hopes, no hope and Bob Hope!

And we all know dear old Bob died a long time ago.

[Mudcrab]

It comes down to policing and deterrents.

Paperwork, tax, insurance legal registration, driving licence. Road check, breath tests, speed checks. All to be checked and with fines for infringements.

And an organised police force which is able to penalise drivers effectively. A 500 baht fine - even a 2,000 baht fine - for being drunk is not a deterrent.

A few moments ago I just read headlines in the UK that said

A record 1.32million fines were issued for minor offences in 2011/12, 16 per cent up on the year before.

The CCTV cameras spot those guilty of straying into bus lanes, blocking box junctions or committing other infringements.

And that's only for minor traffic offenses.

But until Thailand has a workforce with cheque books and credit cards and a banking system that's computerised and interlinked, plus a policeforce with the inclination and ability to impose crippling fines for compound offenses, impound or confiscate vehicles, and be able to uphold and enforce driving bans - death life will continue as normal.

R

Maybe that's why the Brits bugger off to Thailand - to get away from all that crap..

[marko kok prong]

just tonight spoke to my thai family about this,firstly they did not like the subject because it was of a negative bent, second it was what will happen will happen, no one seemed bothered about it,or cared or shocked,it was then i realised how totally different our cultures are about these things,kon thai really do not care,it could have been 20,000, no one would care, so i think we just have to accept,kon thai don,t see it as a problem and never will,view of life completley different from ours,sorry for spelling have had a couple of drinks and did not drive.[too scared]