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

[wilcopops]

Have you really lost the plot or are you just trolling?

You sound completely like an armchair theoretician who has never ventured out on the roads. Regardless of how "skillful" a driver may be, if he drives recklessly, weaves in and out of traffic to overtake, tailgate, turns without signalling, runs a red light, sits on the fast lane at 80 kmh when the left lanes are free, then he is NOT a good driver.

A good driver is one who knows the HIghway Code, traffic rules and regulations, the reasoning behind such rules, obeys them, drives safely within his/her limits and shows courtesy and consideration to other road users. I am yet to meet one such Thai driver (but not saying that there aren't any about).

You have no idea of how subjective your comments are, do you?

BTW - Have YOU read the Thai highway code?...or more likely are you one of those who thinks OTHERS need to?

How are my comments subjective? I have given clear examples of how one should and should not drive, be it in Thailand or anywhere else in the world. Do you disagree with my opinion on what makes a good driver?

I have not read the Thai Highway code nor do I need to. I have driven extensively in Australia, Asia, Europe, UK and America and have never been involved in an accident nor caused one. I have full NCB's on all my insurance policies. I own two cars and 5 bikes here in Thailand so I would consider myself a regular road user. I stay in the middle of Bangkok (next to Asoke intersection to be accurate) so each and every one of my commutes and trips have to be exercises in care and caution due to the large number of other road users.

Am I a skillful driver? Can I drift my car around corners, slalom around an obstacle course in record time, do handbrake turns nilly willy? No, but what I am is a good driver as I can spot potential hazards and adjust my driving accordingly. I give way to other road users out of courtesy and consideration (unless they are obviously queue jumping). I do not tailgate nor do I hold up traffic. I do not text while driving. I signal my intentions clearly to other road users. I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you are the same but do you honestly think the majority of Thai drivers are in our league?

"How are my comments subjective?" - QED!

​this is a CLASSIC example of someone who hasn't got the first idea of road safety.

Edited August 15, 2014 by wilcopops

[joshstiles]

another useless article

[keith89]

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.

sorry you are wrong, everyone makes mistakes when driving,all people are saying is the lack of training, a car, motorbike, truck, bus, are all leathel weapons. here they have got to start by banning students from driving motorbikes and if you do that there would be less mistakes when they are old enough to drive a car also need better trainers for driving any vehicle. i say bring in more qualified people for training for road and class work and general maintainence of a vehicle

How many trucks and buses you see with bald tyres, windscreens covered in stickers this is a cause of accidents driving to many hours, (Tiredness Kills) no restrictions here.

And why you are on about racism many people on this forum live in Thailand,if they were racist what are they doing here?

[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.

sorry you are wrong, everyone makes mistakes when driving,all people are saying is the lack of training, a car, motorbike, truck, bus, are all leathel weapons. here they have got to start by banning students from driving motorbikes and if you do that there would be less mistakes when they are old enough to drive a car also need better trainers for driving any vehicle. i say bring in more qualified people for training for road and class work and general maintainence of a vehicle

How many trucks and buses you see with bald tyres, windscreens covered in stickers this is a cause of accidents driving to many hours, (Tiredness Kills) no restrictions here.

And why you are on about racism many people on this forum live in Thailand,if they were racist what are they doing here?

"And why you are on about racism many people on this forum live in Thailand,if they were racist what are they doing here?" what an astoundingly facile statement!

[ginjag]

Good points GinJag BUT, How long will it take to train these " Driving Examiners " away from the present Thai driving mentality? And just who will set the standards for these examiners ?

Last night my girlfriend drove onto a roundabout causing a biker already on it and very close to stop, and when I told her you can not do that in the UK she laughed and said you can in Thailand !!! And that ended further discussion.

Last year I travelled by taxi from Pattaya to Huahin and on the way we came across an accident involving three vehicles a Toyota, a Honda, and very neatly parked underneath them was another Toyota this time a four by four.

The only other time I have ever seen such good "Stacking " was in a scrap yard and they use machinery to achieve it there but Thais can do it Ad hoc. Driver training standards? Yep ok

Your post is a normal everyday experience here.

Examiners ?? Maybe like the Thai Airways I believe you have to import examiners. special forces trainers and pilot trainers and the rest. Any thing that needs specialist work is near always imported personnel.

Pity they cannot import good governance, the army could then do it's job description to the tee, without having to bother with all this lot cleaning a dung hole left to them is and must be a headache.

[wilcopops]

For those who are actually interested in causes and solutions to the road safety issues in Thailand

For over a decade Thailand with its “Road Safety Action Plan” has espoused the virtues of the 5 “E”s (it has to be said with little effect) ...............

1. Education
2. Enforcement
3. Engineering
4. Emergency
5. Evaluation

It would also seem that the official who dreamed up the OP also has no idea of what his own country already has in situ as regards to road safety....so not much hopee of any success there.

Without observing and implementing these there will be no significant improvement in road safety.

driving like education is a topic where suddenly everyone's an expert, critical thinking is thrown out of the window in favour of whim, prejudice and misconception.... it becomes a playground for self-satisfied drivers to expound ill-conceived and incomplete theories that mostly imply that others - in the case the Thai Nation all all stupid whilst they themselves are simply superb drivers.

Well as road safety is not simply down to driving standards (see the list above) their argument has no legs right from inception.

No premise, no argument.

Edited August 15, 2014 by wilcopops

[KhnomKhnom]

Try........

force all Thai TV soap operas to contain scenes of people near death from traffic accidents.

Stage some typical bad driving and show victims dying.

Great drama and do some civic good, too.

[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.

sorry you are wrong, everyone makes mistakes when driving,all people are saying is the lack of training, a car, motorbike, truck, bus, are all leathel weapons. here they have got to start by banning students from driving motorbikes and if you do that there would be less mistakes when they are old enough to drive a car also need better trainers for driving any vehicle. i say bring in more qualified people for training for road and class work and general maintainence of a vehicle

How many trucks and buses you see with bald tyres, windscreens covered in stickers this is a cause of accidents driving to many hours, (Tiredness Kills) no restrictions here.

And why you are on about racism many people on this forum live in Thailand,if they were racist what are they doing here?

I really think before you comment you should get up to speed on road safety.

we can all make lists of things we see that are "wrong" on Thai roads, the secret (to you at least) is to ask WHY this is so then the mists will begin to clear.....

E. G. - Read "road craft" for and research into the 5 Es.

You are arguing from a position of darkest ignorance at present, you postulations are based purely on personal assumptions and as such can't be taken seriously.

Edited August 15, 2014 by wilcopops

[ginjag]

Try........

force all Thai TV soap operas to contain scenes of people near death from traffic accidents.

Stage some typical bad driving and show victims dying.

Great drama and do some civic good, too.

Problem Thais are used to seeing people in this state-same animals care------it would be water off a ducks back. But I know what you mean it would work normally.

Better still ban all the sick brainwashing soaps.

[watcharacters]

Have you really lost the plot or are you just trolling?

You sound completely like an armchair theoretician who has never ventured out on the roads. Regardless of how "skillful" a driver may be, if he drives recklessly, weaves in and out of traffic to overtake, tailgate, turns without signalling, runs a red light, sits on the fast lane at 80 kmh when the left lanes are free, then he is NOT a good driver.

A good driver is one who knows the HIghway Code, traffic rules and regulations, the reasoning behind such rules, obeys them, drives safely within his/her limits and shows courtesy and consideration to other road users. I am yet to meet one such Thai driver (but not saying that there aren't any about).

You have no idea of how subjective your comments are, do you?

BTW - Have YOU read the Thai highway code?...or more likely are you one of those who thinks OTHERS need to?

How are my comments subjective? I have given clear examples of how one should and should not drive, be it in Thailand or anywhere else in the world. Do you disagree with my opinion on what makes a good driver?

I have not read the Thai Highway code nor do I need to. I have driven extensively in Australia, Asia, Europe, UK and America and have never been involved in an accident nor caused one. I have full NCB's on all my insurance policies. I own two cars and 5 bikes here in Thailand so I would consider myself a regular road user. I stay in the middle of Bangkok (next to Asoke intersection to be accurate) so each and every one of my commutes and trips have to be exercises in care and caution due to the large number of other road users.

Am I a skillful driver? Can I drift my car around corners, slalom around an obstacle course in record time, do handbrake turns nilly willy? No, but what I am is a good driver as I can spot potential hazards and adjust my driving accordingly. I give way to other road users out of courtesy and consideration (unless they are obviously queue jumping). I do not tailgate nor do I hold up traffic. I do not text while driving. I signal my intentions clearly to other road users. I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you are the same but do you honestly think the majority of Thai drivers are in our league?

.

I'm not joining this s.it fest but I will say the Thai driving code offers some surprising differences in driving from the places you mention. In my home country where I've spent the majority of my driving time, an emergency vehicle with its siren or light flashing is cause for vehicles on BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET to pull off to the side of the road to make way. Also, under no circumstances should ones vehicle be in an intersection If an emergency vehicle is approaching. The intersection must be kept clear.

Thailand: drive normally and do not pull over. Funny that.

Edit and add to that, yes I've driven in the UK, Asia, SEA, Europe and America. Not likely I'll ever drive in Australia, however.

Edited August 15, 2014 by watcharacters

[lostmebike]

It's all been said before.

[Gweiloman]

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.

sorry you are wrong, everyone makes mistakes when driving,all people are saying is the lack of training, a car, motorbike, truck, bus, are all leathel weapons. here they have got to start by banning students from driving motorbikes and if you do that there would be less mistakes when they are old enough to drive a car also need better trainers for driving any vehicle. i say bring in more qualified people for training for road and class work and general maintainence of a vehicle

How many trucks and buses you see with bald tyres, windscreens covered in stickers this is a cause of accidents driving to many hours, (Tiredness Kills) no restrictions here.

And why you are on about racism many people on this forum live in Thailand,if they were racist what are they doing here?

"And why you are on about racism many people on this forum live in Thailand,if they were racist what are they doing here?" what an astoundingly facile statement!

I've concluded that you're a troll. You have not made any constructive comments on this thread other than baiting ones.

[Nigeone]

Blaming Thai people for their driving is ridiculous - they are no worse or better than any others - in fact their skills at driving in Thailand are probably better than most farangs who attempt to drive here. The motivation for this criticism by expats as I said earlier is often motivated by a belief that the poster is somehow "superior" to Thai people - this is basically a racist viewpoint.

Individuals do not believe they are dangerous on the roads but at the same time fervently believe others are.

· I am not likely to be responsible for an accident; others are likely to be responsible. Therefore little I can do.

· Hence, less likely to need to “plan to avoid them”

· Campaigns aimed at dangerous driving are for “other” drivers not themselves.

· Such campaigns re-emphasise this difference (2CV, 2008 and Flaming Research, 2008)

· The third-person effect (Davison, 1983).

· High support for enforcement, engineering solutions and education

· But not for themselves - for other people.

That is utter garbage....Thai driving skills are probably better than most farangs.....what planet do you live on..I'm sorry but you are so wrong...

I too have driven in lots of countries and I have never seen such disregard for basic rules of the road...And if I was to take your point of view which I clearly dont where do they get those driving skills from...!! most have never done a proper driving test and those that have it isn't worth jack shit...compounded by the problem of drink driving along with the attitude that the thai driver isnt somehow indespensible and just laugh when they nearly crash...your comments are just so wrong..Thai drivers are by far and away the worst drivers I have ever come across...In my country I know off maybe 14 thai women who all drove in Thailand...They had to take lessons here and one gave up after 14 !! tests..the average including my wife is 4 tests before they passed....its got nothing to do with racist comments either..thats just a nonsense comment ...Then I could mention the overcrowded bikes with unsafe loads or up to 4 people on the bikes but I wont

Edited August 15, 2014 by Nigeone

[Krataiboy]

The usual guff which will do nothing to cut the toll of accidents, injuries and deaths. The only way to do this is to insist on everyone on the road taking driving lessons from qualified instructors and passing a comprehensive driving test - motorcyclists as well as motorists - and introduce more police patrols able to carry out random breathalyser tests and far tougher penalties for law breakers than the instant fines (bribes) which are no deterrent..

No more driving without seat belts for passengers as well as drivers and special baby seats for toddlers. No more riding motorbikes without helmets (passengers, too). A seat for every car passenger, with belt. No more than two on a motorbike. No more carrying babies under the arm, on the shoulders, with dogs, phones and riding with one hand on the bars.

This isn't rocket science. Everybody knows what to drastically reduce the carnage on Thailand's roads. But it won't happen because no political party proposing such reforms would ever win a general election.

Assuming, of course, there ever is one.

Edited August 15, 2014 by Krataiboy

[ginjag]

Blaming Thai people for their driving is ridiculous - they are no worse or better than any others - in fact their skills at driving in Thailand are probably better than most farangs who attempt to drive here. The motivation for this criticism by expats as I said earlier is often motivated by a belief that the poster is somehow "superior" to Thai people - this is basically a racist viewpoint.

Individuals do not believe they are dangerous on the roads but at the same time fervently believe others are.

· I am not likely to be responsible for an accident; others are likely to be responsible. Therefore little I can do.

· Hence, less likely to need to “plan to avoid them”

· Campaigns aimed at dangerous driving are for “other” drivers not themselves.

· Such campaigns re-emphasise this difference (2CV, 2008 and Flaming Research, 2008)

· The third-person effect (Davison, 1983).

· High support for enforcement, engineering solutions and education

· But not for themselves - for other people.

That is utter garbage....Thai driving skills are probably better than most farangs.....what planet do you live on..I'm sorry but you are so wrong...

I too have driven in lots of countries and I have never seen such disregard for basic rules of the road...And if I was to take your point of view which I clearly dont where do they get those driving skills from...!! most have never done a proper driving test and those that have it isn't worth jack shit...compounded by the problem of drink driving along with the attitude that the thai driver isnt somehow indespensible and just laugh when they nearly crash...your comments are just so wrong..Thai drivers are by far and away the worst drivers I have ever come across...In my country I know off maybe 14 thai women who all drove in Thailand...They had to take lessons here and one gave up after 14 !! test..the adverage including my wife is 4 tests before they passed....its got nothing to do with racist comments either..thats just a nonsense comment ...

Willicops please, your post above 14-8-14 (lottery number Ha) is just rubbish.

driven here about 500,000 kilometers not a lot but enough to say (deleted) Reforms yes but your general comments are stupid, because they are untrue to farrangs driving here.

[watcharacters]

It's all been said before.

Yep as has likely 99.9% of every post on this board.

Your point?

[northernjohn]

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

the second phase should have began yesterday.

[lostmebike]

It's all been said before.

Yep as has likely 99.9% of every post on this board.

Your point?

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.

These 'departments', 'joining forces', 'working out measures to prevent or reduce the number of road accidents', we hear this rhetoric how many times a year? And what exactly gets reduced? If anything, casualties, injuries and accidents actually increase.

As I said ... It's all been said before.

(Does this satisfy your question?)

[GAZZPA]

Yet another campaign,,,,

how about a driving school agency that has to be licensed by the government AND only people who are put forward for their test by this registered agency are permitted to take a test. And then how about a proper test,,

Then how about fines for speeding, reckless driving (including tailgating), not using turn signals, undertaking and all the other things too many to mention.

And lastly, absolute zero tolerance for drink driving, loss of license, ban on license renewal for an appropriate period and in cases where drunk driving leads to injury or death a jail term.

All of the fines will pay for the extra policing on the roads, in fact I think they will need to employ extra accountants to deal with the influx of money in the early days.

Until these measures happen (or something like this) nothing will change and Thailand will continue to have one of the worst road death statistics in the world..

[wilcopops]

Blaming Thai people for their driving is ridiculous - they are no worse or better than any others - in fact their skills at driving in Thailand are probably better than most farangs who attempt to drive here. The motivation for this criticism by expats as I said earlier is often motivated by a belief that the poster is somehow "superior" to Thai people - this is basically a racist viewpoint.

Individuals do not believe they are dangerous on the roads but at the same time fervently believe others are.

· I am not likely to be responsible for an accident; others are likely to be responsible. Therefore little I can do.

· Hence, less likely to need to “plan to avoid them”

· Campaigns aimed at dangerous driving are for “other” drivers not themselves.

· Such campaigns re-emphasise this difference (2CV, 2008 and Flaming Research, 2008)

· The third-person effect (Davison, 1983).

· High support for enforcement, engineering solutions and education

· But not for themselves - for other people.

That is utter garbage....Thai driving skills are probably better than most farangs.....what planet do you live on..I'm sorry but you are so wrong...

I too have driven in lots of countries and I have never seen such disregard for basic rules of the road...And if I was to take your point of view which I clearly dont where do they get those driving skills from...!! most have never done a proper driving test and those that have it isn't worth jack shit...compounded by the problem of drink driving along with the attitude that the thai driver isnt somehow indespensible and just laugh when they nearly crash...your comments are just so wrong..Thai drivers are by far and away the worst drivers I have ever come across...In my country I know off maybe 14 thai women who all drove in Thailand...They had to take lessons here and one gave up after 14 !! test..the adverage including my wife is 4 tests before they passed....its got nothing to do with racist comments either..thats just a nonsense comment ...

Willicops please, your post above 14-8-14 (lottery number Ha) is just rubbish.

driven here about 500,000 kilometers not a lot but enough to say (deleted) Reforms yes but your general comments are stupid, because they are untrue to farrangs driving here.

would thou care to say why?

[fullcave]

Most accidents involve overloaded pickup trucks and ten wheelers overturned on the side or middle of the road. Obviously, these trucks don't have adequate braking power and the center of gravity is too high the way they pack them up. Also, the overloaded pickups in particular tend to stay in the passing lane, forcing thru traffic to pass on the left..

[lostmebike]

Good cut and paste job there wilcopops.

I totally agree with you (NOT)

All Thai drivers are great. They are such safe drivers and it's a shame that the expats and migrant workers here all scheme together to make their roads some of the unsafest on the planet.

Thanks so much for your insight.

[wilcopops]

Most accidents involve overloaded pickup trucks and ten wheelers overturned on the side or middle of the road. Obviously, these trucks don't have adequate braking power and the center of gravity is too high the way they pack them up. Also, the overloaded pickups in particular tend to stay in the passing lane, forcing thru traffic to pass on the left..

Incorrect - this is purely speculative.

[sz1a]

Lol and the political campaigning for the worker's vote continues

[ginjag]

Most accidents involve overloaded pickup trucks and ten wheelers overturned on the side or middle of the road. Obviously, these trucks don't have adequate braking power and the center of gravity is too high the way they pack them up. Also, the overloaded pickups in particular tend to stay in the passing lane, forcing thru traffic to pass on the left..

Incorrect - this is purely speculative.

Wilcopops.

Funny isn't it on TVF you get the few rebuffing majority posts, just an observation, true or not. but their right to air their views.

Edited August 15, 2014 by ginjag

[Varangkul]

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.

I have had a good laugh over this - I think its the funniest posting for quite a while! Now, who do you think is going to run this system and provide "Driving schools"? Where are the "driving examiners with advanced test driving ability" going to come from? And who is going to enforced the rule that "L" plates be carried by provisional licence holders? Half the road users dont have licences in the first place! For goodness sake, stop comparing Thailand with your own country - or anyone else's country - this is Thailand.

[Rorri]

wilcopops, on 15 Aug 2014 - 19:58, said:

most of the drivers posting here got there driving licences when driving tests in US and Europe were a joke.......now they are "experts"????? how did that happen?

But I'd wager they know the difference between "there" and "their," just maybe they know something. I guess you actually know "most of the drivers" which would give some credence to your comment, otherwise it is simply unsubstantiated crap.

[Bigfarang1948]

Cynical me says eyewash with no substance because the over speeding will continue, tour buses with faulty brakes will continue, drinking and driving will continue, overloaded vans and trucks of all sorts will continue to drive recklessly as we witness every day almost, so how will this campaign strategy actually save lives? I have never seen a speed gun used but once inn 7 years and never on the weekend. I have never seen a line of vehicles with drivers waiting to take a Breathalyzer. All I see here is BIB stopping motor bikes and cars towards the end of the month when the ticket quotas need to be met. After all, it is hot outside the office. As far as vehicle safety regarding any vehicle, is there a yearly safety inspection, especially for tour buses and vans; I think not; would cost vehicle owners especially tour bus and big truck owners mak mak baht even though it would surely save lives if the bus had decent brakes and the bus driver did not drive 18 hours a day. I wish them success.

SSDD

[emilymat]

Ginjag

You are right to point out to the other poster about the driving tests in the 1960'. Not only did we have to do all the things you mention but, in the UK at least, most economy cars were fitted only with drum brakes, front and rear. We had to learn to drive on our gearbox, change down approaching lights, absolutely no tail-gaiting and feather the brakes to give a warning to the road user behind. I still do it.

The problems with the big pick-ups and such like is that people feel 'safe and invulnerable in them". I have had a Thai friend tell me this (hope that's not racist!). I've ridden with him as a passenger and he just slams on his servo assisted disc brakes if he's not sure he can jump the lights.! Scary.

This troll guy talks about 'skillful' Thai driving. If the example I have given is skill then GH us.

[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.

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.

Take their car away, they get another one.

Put them away for a year and it keeps them well away from the roads.