Thailand's Dept of Disaster Prevention prepares measures to cut road accidents

[webfact]

Measures prepared to cut accidents
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Aug 15 -- Thailand's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has joined forces with relevant agencies in working out measures to prevent or reduce the number of road accidents during the upcoming end of Buddhist Lent and the Loy Kratong festival.

Disaster chief Chatchai Promlert chaired a committee meeting at the Road Safety Centre today.

Mr Chatchai told reporters afterward that the Road Safety Centre and related agencies agreed to set up measures to prevent and reduce road accidents during the two festivals.

He noted the measures would focus on reducing risks that could lead to road accidents and promoting awareness of road users about road safety.

Mr Chatchai said the plan will be carried out in two phases.

The first phase concerns a road safety campaign ahead of the two festivals, from September 1-6 prior to the end of Buddhist Lent and from October 10-November 4 for the Loy Kratong festival, he said.

In the second phase or the control period, efforts, including strict law enforcement, would be carried out to prevent and reduce road accidents, he added.

The control period for the end of Buddhist Lent is October 7-9, and it is November 5-7 for the Loy Kratong festival. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-08-15

[kurnell]

Law enforcement pffft!

[kotsak]

SSDD

[Payboy]

In the second phase or the control period, efforts, including strict law enforcement......

In the third phase, back to selective law "enforcement".

[apetley]

Deja vu all over again.

[BSJ]

With the lack of driver training, the scant regard for the rules, lack of enforcement and the me, me, me attitude of drivers it's any wonder there is bedlam at holiday time.

[timber]

Fines and proper enforcement of the laws would more than pay for itself.

[Crazy chef 1]

Fines and proper enforcement of the laws would more than pay for itself.

if enforced the entire year through not just at some stupid public holidays.

[noitom]

They're preparing more "measures." Thais have plenty of measures.

[wilcopops]

The very fact that they think they can make any serious impact on road accidents in such a short period of time shows how little they know about road safety.

[chainarong]

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With the lack of driver training, the scant regard for the rules, lack of enforcement and the me, me, me attitude of drivers it's any wonder there is bedlam at holiday time.

This sounds like a everyday happening, regardless of the time, me me me.

[ezzra]

Yep, let's have another "crackdown" it has been a while since the last one, and since when road

accidents are a disaster that need to be prevented? It's more human behavior issue than a disaster...

[chainarong]

This is a noble event indeed, rule of thumb would suggest to lower the road toll at anytime in Thailand , all vehicle traffic would need to stop , even then someone will get killed.

[wilcopops]

There are bound to be a plethora of posts deriding the standard of driving in Thailand and laying the blame solely on Thai drivers for road safety problems.

This is a wholly distorted perspective of the causes of the problem. I also suspect that many of these views have a racist motivation.

Edited August 15, 2014 by wilcopops

[ginjag]

There are bound to be a plethora of posts deriding the standard of driving in Thailand and blaming Thai drivers for road safety problems.

This is a wholly distorted perspective of the causes of the problem. I also suspect that many of these views have a racist motivation.

No drivers-no accidents. But in the future driverless cars will be the norm, few deaths/incidents. 80% of Thai deaths are motor cyclists, these damn Motor cycles causing all those fatalities.

[mrfill]

Start dealing with drink driving. 80% of road fatalities are drink related.

No 500Bt fines, just a mandatory year inside for a first offence, 5 years minimum where a fatality is involved.

[Halion]

There are bound to be a plethora of posts deriding the standard of driving in Thailand and blaming Thai drivers for road safety problems.

This is a wholly distorted perspective of the causes of the problem. I also suspect that many of these views have a racist motivation.

No drivers-no accidents. But in the future driverless cars will be the norm, few deaths/incidents. 80% of Thai deaths are motor cyclists, these damn Motor cycles causing all those fatalities.

The records do indeed show that motor cyclists are the most vulnerable group regarding road fatalities, however, in many cases they are the victims and not the cause of accidents generated by motorist who simple have little regard for the anyone else on the road which they consider that they own. The standard of driver ability and awareness in Thailand is simply shocking.

[captspectre]

Law enforcement pffft!

with the cops taking bribes, not targeting the rich, just sitting on the side of the road, what else is new? MAYBE if they confiscate the automobiles, impound them for a few days, that may make a difference, but i would not hold my breath. nothing will ever change in thailand as long as drivers thin like apes, and me first!

[captspectre]

Start dealing with drink driving. 80% of road fatalities are drink related.

No 500Bt fines, just a mandatory year inside for a first offence, 5 years minimum where a fatality is involved.

you want to REALLY stop them? take away their cars! it can be done in this country with no problem, no ACLU, no bleeding hearts.

[thhMan]

The easiest solution is for the Police to enforce road rules that have been law for many years.

But its not the road users that need to be educated about the road rules... Its the police and their peanut brains that need the education... The road users will get tired of being fined for their stupidity and will begin obeying the rules.

Its not rocket science.. is it!

[godden]

I know what's going to happen, nothing.

[Pinot]

There are bound to be a plethora of posts deriding the standard of driving in Thailand and laying the blame solely on Thai drivers for road safety problems.

This is a wholly distorted perspective of the causes of the problem. I also suspect that many of these views have a racist motivation.

Who else is there to blame? Farangs?

Of course it's the Thais that are responsible for the road problems, the poorly trained and unpoliced Thais.

With no police on the roads to even occasionally stop anyone from speeding and driving recklessly, it means everyone can drive like a maniac and get away with it. Why not drive like a maniac? Thais drive like maniacs because they can. That's not racist. That's stating a fact.

If your point is the Thai drivers are not the "cause" of the problem, you're splitting hairs. Thais caused the problem and are unbelievable bad drivers because they can be.

I'd like to know any another perspective.

[lovetotravel]

Start dealing with drink driving. 80% of road fatalities are drink related.

No 500Bt fines, just a mandatory year inside for a first offence, 5 years minimum where a fatality is involved.

It's been proven that reducing drunk driving reduces accidents. I love the ban on stores selling booze during the holiday periods. Stop at a gas station, go into 7/11 and no booze available for sale. But! Head out back, behind the station, and there's a person there with a big cooler selling beer.

I've not lived in the US for many years, but it's now so strict, my brother won't drive at all if he's had more than 1 beer. His friend got caught with just barely over the limit. The fine was massive and loss of license for 6 months or more, and a night in the jail. Plus, many hours of community service wearing orange jumpsuits picking up garbage on the side of the road. And of course a massive jump in his insurance rate.

[ginjag]

There are bound to be a plethora of posts deriding the standard of driving in Thailand and laying the blame solely on Thai drivers for road safety problems.

This is a wholly distorted perspective of the causes of the problem. I also suspect that many of these views have a racist motivation.

Who else is there to blame? Farangs?

Of course it's the Thais that are responsible for the road problems, the poorly trained and unpoliced Thais.

With no police on the roads to even occasionally stop anyone from speeding and driving recklessly, it means everyone can drive like a maniac and get away with it. Why not drive like a maniac? Thais drive like maniacs because they can. That's not racist. That's stating a fact.

If your point is the Thai drivers are not the "cause" of the problem, you're splitting hairs. Thais caused the problem and are unbelievable bad drivers because they can be.

I'd like to know any another perspective.

One way to stop it that has not been mentioned is to put 1 meter speed retarders (bumps) on all roads at 100 meter intervals, after the first one (carnage) no more accidents ever. Because of the millions already not trained for driving it will continue, and will phase out given 50 years from now.

But starting from today all drivers should have to go through driving schools, nationally run. L plates on all vehicles for 1 year, and a town road test for m cycles, as in the UK attended by driving examiners trained for the job who have advanced test driving ability.

All new drivers issued with a PROVISIONAL license. until they pass the test escorted with an examiner.

[abitmiffed]

The only way to stop it is to give them all a bicycle and ban them from driving anything with an engine. Late last night at a traffic light 2 cops stopped next to 2 young boys on a bike no lights and no helmets and did sweet FA about it.

[wilcopops]

There are bound to be a plethora of posts deriding the standard of driving in Thailand and laying the blame solely on Thai drivers for road safety problems.

This is a wholly distorted perspective of the causes of the problem. I also suspect that many of these views have a racist motivation.

Who else is there to blame? Farangs?

Of course it's the Thais that are responsible for the road problems, the poorly trained and unpoliced Thais.

With no police on the roads to even occasionally stop anyone from speeding and driving recklessly, it means everyone can drive like a maniac and get away with it. Why not drive like a maniac? Thais drive like maniacs because they can. That's not racist. That's stating a fact.

If your point is the Thai drivers are not the "cause" of the problem, you're splitting hairs. Thais caused the problem and are unbelievable bad drivers because they can be.

I'd like to know any another perspective.

One way to stop it that has not been mentioned is to put 1 meter speed retarders (bumps) on all roads at 100 meter intervals, after the first one (carnage) no more accidents ever. Because of the millions already not trained for driving it will continue, and will phase out given 50 years from now.

But starting from today all drivers should have to go through driving schools, nationally run. L plates on all vehicles for 1 year, and a town road test for m cycles, as in the UK attended by driving examiners trained for the job who have advanced test driving ability.

All new drivers issued with a PROVISIONAL license. until they pass the test escorted with an examiner.

Speed bumps are often a cause of accidents and frequently make both cars and roads more dangerous. Another example of how the road authorities in Thailand no sweet Fanny Adams about road safety.

Edited August 15, 2014 by wilcopops

[Cake Monster]

The fact that the Dept of Disaster Prevention has become involved, is a great step forward.

At the very least this act sends out the message to the world that Thailands accident rates need the attention of a disaster prevention team to try and sort out the appalling accident and death rates on the Thai roads.

[wilcopops]

The fact that the Dept of Disaster Prevention has become involved, is a great step forward.

At the very least this act sends out the message to the world that Thailands accident rates need the attention of a disaster prevention team to try and sort out the appalling accident and death rates on the Thai roads.

You don't seem to be aware that Thailand already has had it's own road safety "quango" and is part of the ASEAN road safety scheme for several years now - they even have goals and timetables -

Edited August 15, 2014 by wilcopops

[skildpadden]

There are bound to be a plethora of posts deriding the standard of driving in Thailand and laying the blame solely on Thai drivers for road safety problems.

This is a wholly distorted perspective of the causes of the problem. I also suspect that many of these views have a racist motivation.

True, the road worthiness of cars and trucks, maintenance of the roads, dangerous U-turns etc are certainly also to blame. But the Thai drivers are not completely innocent.

How can it be racist, to point out that the Thai driving behavior are to blame? It is Thais who are mostly on the roads, not anyone else, so who else are the cause? E.g. I don't see the French blaming Thais for road accidents in Paris.

Just look at the statistics - it cannot be only bad roads or bad vehicles(or bad farang) that give Thai drivers a bad reputation:

"TARC study has shown that human errors constitute the majority of the cause of a crash in Thailand (89 %)" - Thailand Department of Highways' Roadside Safety Strategic Plan 2009-2013

Thailand has the 6th most road traffic accidents in the world:

http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/cause-of-death/road-traffic-accidents/by-country/

Thailand is number 2 in the world concerning road fatality rate:

University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute - http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/102731/102989.pdf?sequence=1

I am sure I could find loads more statistics, but Google is your friend, so give it a go.

[wilcopops]

Start dealing with drink driving. 80% of road fatalities are drink related.

No 500Bt fines, just a mandatory year inside for a first offence, 5 years minimum where a fatality is involved.

It's been proven that reducing drunk driving reduces accidents. I love the ban on stores selling booze during the holiday periods. Stop at a gas station, go into 7/11 and no booze available for sale. But! Head out back, behind the station, and there's a person there with a big cooler selling beer.

I've not lived in the US for many years, but it's now so strict, my brother won't drive at all if he's had more than 1 beer. His friend got caught with just barely over the limit. The fine was massive and loss of license for 6 months or more, and a night in the jail. Plus, many hours of community service wearing orange jumpsuits picking up garbage on the side of the road. And of course a massive jump in his insurance rate.

"80% of road fatalities are drink related." - really? where did you get that figure? ...and why does it mean?

the truth is of course that drink drive is a problem in Thailand as it is in many countries, but as ever on these threads people post in thinking that there is one simple solution to the road safety problems in Thailand.

Unless ALL aspects of road safety in Thailand a tackled in a unified process then little or no progress will ever be made.....the idea that a campaign before a public holiday ca have anything more than a minimal effect is just ludicrous.

(It is however worth noting that in Brtian on public holidays road accidents actually drop in number)