Interior Minister launches World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims activities

[oztaurus]

I "aim" to make a million dollars by Christmas.

Unfortunately The Minister of Interior Gen. Anupong Paochinda, Acting Executive Director of the Road Safety Directing Center failed to capitalise on the opportunity of announcing that Thailand would become the HUB of road safety.

Words are cheap. Thai news almost seems like a game of hot potato - when you get stuck with it you have to make up a new policy on the spot.

[masuk]

As usual, all talk, but no action.

How about enforcing the traffic laws.

How about actually arresting and prosecuting the likes of the Red Bull hiso.

How about recinding everyone's driver license and make everyone requalify by actually passing a written exam and road test.

If they were serious about doing something, they could. But talk is better, no one gets offended or loses face. Mai pen rai.

Putting the police on permanent night shift until motor cycle riders wear their helmets.

For some reason, many Asians feel that riding at night without head protection gives them some sort of magical protection.

Only realistic penalties will result in observance of the law.

[rickirs]

According to a WHO 2011 report* here are some sample country rankings of road fatalities per 100,000 persons:

#1 Namibia @53.4; #6 Thailand @42.9; #20 Malaysia @34.5; Mongolia @ 31.6; #77 India @18.7

Thailand ranks about the same rate as do 19 African nations.

Countries ranked closest to 10 fatalies per 100,000 persons:

North Korea @ 10.2; Portugal @ 10.0; Belgium @ 10.0; Barbadoes @ 9.9

The Interior Minister's goal of 10 per 100,000 appears ludricous.

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

[biggles45]

It will never happen, the way they act on the road is part of "Thainess" and is ingrained into them from childhood. A lack of police enforcement only encourages the behaviour that kills so many. Number two in the world and if they counted people who died after the event they could probably make number one....a gold medal achievement.

[ableguy]

What about a Remembrance Day for all the foreigners here who have died due to ''suicide''?

Air displays are not part of the culture here.

[ableguy]

According to a WHO 2011 report* here are some sample country rankings of road fatalities per 100,000 persons:

#1 Namibia @53.4; #6 Thailand @42.9; #20 Malaysia @34.5; Mongolia @ 31.6; #77 India @18.7

Thailand ranks about the same rate as do 19 African nations.

Countries ranked closest to 10 fatalies per 100,000 persons:

North Korea @ 10.2; Portugal @ 10.0; Belgium @ 10.0; Barbadoes @ 9.9

The Interior Minister's goal of 10 per 100,000 appears ludricous.

As indeed it is and he is.

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

[connda]

If they used their 'patrol cars' to actually enforce moving violations, then perhaps the driving populace might start modifying their driving behavior. But at the moment, Thai BIB patrol cars are about as useless as teats on a bull.

[Lancashirelad]

Rickirs got here before me with link to the WHO site. (which it would be nice if they updated it). Thailand has now climbed to #2 in the list of the world's most dangerous roads.

Now lets talk figures. 44,000 = 120 a day? Is that really right?

All road death figures should be quoted per 100,000 of population.

In 2011 when those figures from the WHO were produced lets say the population was 65 million.

65,000,000/100,000 = 650 x 42.9 (lets say 43) = 27,950 far too many but a long way short of 44,000.

Think something has been lost in translation somewhere as today's figure is 44 per 100,000.

So, upto date figure: 67,000,000/100,000 = 670 x 44 = 29,480 = 80 per day. Terrible!