Seven died in passenger van crash on Asian Highway

[Benmart]

Firstly, of course, RIP the victims concerned.

If you read the story, its a bit contradictory. The woman who was asleep suggested that the driver may have been going faster to make up time, but she was asleep so really we don't know.

The policeman who said that the driver may have been sleepy while driving fast was not stating a fact, only a theory.

The fact is, from the story as its been presented, we just do know know what happened, so it's not really fair at this stage to be blaming the driver.

Accidents like this do happen in other countries too, I totally agree that road safety is an issue here but I think we also have to also understand that not every driver is an idiot and not every crash is the fault of the driver.

To say the driver would have run away if not dead is also very stupid, not all drivers run away.

I agree. While I am not a fan of drivers in Thailand, not all are reckless. The generalized statements made by some posters invalidates their positions.

I wasn't in the van. I wasn't at the scene. I didn't inspect the van, the other vehicle involved or the roadway. I didn't talk to the police that were there. I didn't talk to the reporter who composed this article. I am not a vehicle accident expert.

I read and try not to be an arm-chair critic in such matters.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

It seems to me I've read this same story somewhere before.... 1000 times over....

[Bakseeda]

Just beats me why so many Thai bashers care to live in this wonderful country.... surely we live here Because of all its faults..!

[kaorop]

Just beats me why so many Thai bashers care to live in this wonderful country.... surely we live here Because of all its faults..!

The carnage on the roads is a huge major fault, that you have to confront every time you step out the door and effects everyone,

which is what we are discussing.

Seems you can easily ignore posts that make you go and move on to things you want to discuss.

But you've contributed nothing more than a lame and veiled "if you dont like it, why dont you go home".

Edited June 28, 2015 by kaorop

[mikebell]

Thai word for safety = ความปลอดภัย (kwamplodpie)

I think the Thai word for safety is safety, since that is written at many sites, like those construction sites where you can see big signs saying 'safety first'.

It says 'SAFTEY FIRST" near me.

[smedly]

I avoid minivans at all costs

either the reporting is getting more accurate or the roads here are actually getting worse if that was ever possible, drunk driving is one of the worst here locally in Pattaya with deaths happening on a seemingly daily basis yet they do nothing about it

[Colabamumbai]

Drive faster for What? For them to die sooner than later.

[glasswort]

I have not seen any mention of it yet. The accident obviously happened at night; was the truck involved stopped or moving? Was it displaying lights? How many times have you come up behind a truck, particularly the old decrepit things that use the roads in Thailand,at night with no lights?

[GinBoy2]

Just beats me why so many Thai bashers care to live in this wonderful country.... surely we live here Because of all its faults..!

I like to live here for many reasons, however that doesn't mean I need to turn a blind eye to the insanity of deaths on the roads.

If you think thats part of the 'magic' of living here, you really are deluded!

[Sviss Geez]

Firstly, of course, RIP the victims concerned.

If you read the story, its a bit contradictory. The woman who was asleep suggested that the driver may have been going faster to make up time, but she was asleep so really we don't know.

The policeman who said that the driver may have been sleepy while driving fast was not stating a fact, only a theory.

The fact is, from the story as its been presented, we just do know know what happened, so it's not really fair at this stage to be blaming the driver.

Accidents like this do happen in other countries too, I totally agree that road safety is an issue here but I think we also have to also understand that not every driver is an idiot and not every crash is the fault of the driver.

To say the driver would have run away if not dead is also very stupid, not all drivers run away.

Obviously you don't drive in Thailand!

I dare to say that from 100 Thai drivers 70 of them drive like idiots. Most likely I'm underestimating this!

If you think otherwise just go and drive a few times on the Asia highway.

Sure, some other countries have there fair share of idiot drivers, but most western countries enforce strict safety and educate people.

The word safety does not exist in a Thai dictionary (and also not the Thai translation for safety, duh).

Obviously you don't know much about the Thai language.

[Guest]

BREAKING NEWS: This just in:

[gemguy]

BREAKING NEWS: This just in:

Absolutely.

Meantime Thai Visa is a public opinion website and that includes all the crass and over bearing insults and small minded comments as it is common and comes with the territory relevant to public forums.

Not worth getting upset about.

Meantime:

The young son asks his father: "Daddy, why does Mr. Dick Head next door always have a black eye and swollen face?

The father answers: "Well son, the man is always talking when he should have been listening"

Cheers

[ExPratt]

Just down the road from where we live , I hate the dual lane roads there , U turns all over the place, too lazy to go the long way round

Edited June 28, 2015 by ExPratt

[planemad]

Doesitmatter, do you see the 70+% idiot Thai drivers in your rear view mirror? As a regular road user I really dont see anywhere near the percentage you are claiming, of course there are the speed merchants that need to get past you anyway possible, then there is the farmer taking his car for a walk in the outside lane and will not budge, so you "undertake" to get past the problem. Vehicles travelling the wrong way along your piece of road, lorries that pull into the right hand lane long before they execute a "U" turn, and the pick-up's full of their human cargo, they are all causes for concern, but do they really constitute 70% of road users, not in a million years! I changed my car in April, since then I have covered 8000km (without incident), well on track for 25000+ km per year and I regularly drive from Nakhon Sawan to Bangkok using the 1, 32 and the Ayutthaya to Bangkok Expressway (this is probably the most indisciplined part of the journey). Remain alert, read the roads and remain safe!

Edited June 28, 2015 by planemad

[little mary sunshine]

This is a sad, tragic, almost daily occurrence . Until

THE OWNERS of these coffins-on-wheels are held

Accountable for their untrained, drunk drivers,

Operating at high speeds nothing will be done. The

OWNERS should do jail time for these unnecessary

Deaths.

[doesitmattter]

Thai word for safety = ความปลอดภัย (kwamplodpie)

I think the Thai word for safety is safety, since that is written at many sites, like those construction sites where you can see big signs saying 'safety first'.

It says 'SAFTEY FIRST" near me.

555

[apetley]

Just beats me why so many Thai bashers care to live in this wonderful country.... surely we live here Because of all its faults..!

What is so "Thai bashing" about saying something should be done about the appalling carnage on the roads here?

Is the govt "bashing" it's own citizens when it launches safety campaigns every Songkran, Loy Kratong and New Year?

Is my Thai mother in law "bashing" when she complains that nothing was done to the drunk driver who killed her son?

[doesitmattter]

Firstly, of course, RIP the victims concerned.

If you read the story, its a bit contradictory. The woman who was asleep suggested that the driver may have been going faster to make up time, but she was asleep so really we don't know.

The policeman who said that the driver may have been sleepy while driving fast was not stating a fact, only a theory.

The fact is, from the story as its been presented, we just do know know what happened, so it's not really fair at this stage to be blaming the driver.

Accidents like this do happen in other countries too, I totally agree that road safety is an issue here but I think we also have to also understand that not every driver is an idiot and not every crash is the fault of the driver.

To say the driver would have run away if not dead is also very stupid, not all drivers run away.

Obviously you don't drive in Thailand!

I dare to say that from 100 Thai drivers 70 of them drive like idiots. Most likely I'm underestimating this!

If you think otherwise just go and drive a few times on the Asia highway.

Sure, some other countries have there fair share of idiot drivers, but most western countries enforce strict safety and educate people.

The word safety does not exist in a Thai dictionary (and also not the Thai translation for safety, duh).

Obviously you don't know much about the Thai language.

Obviously you don't know much about sarcastic comments.

BTW, I speak Thai.

[doesitmattter]

Doesitmatter, do you see the 70+% idiot Thai drivers in your rear view mirror? As a regular road user I really dont see anywhere near the percentage you are claiming, of course there are the speed merchants that need to get past you anyway possible, then there is the farmer taking his car for a walk in the outside lane and will not budge, so you "undertake" to get past the problem. Vehicles travelling the wrong way along your piece of road, lorries that pull into the right hand lane long before they execute a "U" turn, and the pick-up's full of their human cargo, they are all causes for concern, but do they really constitute 70% of road users, not in a million years! I changed my car in April, since then I have covered 8000km (without incident), well on track for 25000+ km per year and I regularly drive from Nakhon Sawan to Bangkok using the 1, 32 and the Ayutthaya to Bangkok Expressway (this is probably the most indisciplined part of the journey). Remain alert, read the roads and remain safe!

Maybe it's indeed a bit less, but there are lots of idiots behind the wheel of many transportation vehicles.

I do see them everywhere and mostly not in the rear view mirror, since I don't drive like an idiot with 2 kids in the car. Furthermore I try to keep a good distance between me and other cars.

Don't forget that Thailand is 2nd on the world list of deaths in traffic!

Of course it could be that you don't see the idiots that I see because you drive in a similar way as them? (not to mean, but some people really don't see the danger that they are).

Just ask your friends and also your Thai friends etc. if you know anyone who has never been involved in any accident.

I know many people, but I don't know many people who never have been involved in any accident.

Drive safe!

BTW, you know when a country is not serious about safety when they allow people to drive 100km/h with 10 or more people in the back if an open pick up truck!

[Travelman868]

They need WAY more 'highway police' - and some that actually do their jobs by catching and prosecuting dangerous drivers, rather than providing escorts for hi-so 'VIPs'

In my lifetime? Na

Don't be too sure, there is much pressure and focus on Thailand to address the issues, I know they are long standing issues and TiT but there is huge pressure for change,

Each year hundreds die on the roads during the seven dangerous days of Songkran. This year was no different. At least 364 people lost their lives, making Songkran 2015 the most deadly since 2009.

These figures come as a blow to the military government, who recently stepped up their efforts to reduce traffic accidents for the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. Under the UN mandate Thailand must halve its road death rate by the year 2020. Considering the current average stands at 26,000 deaths per year, this is no short order.

http://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/citylife-articles/far-from-safe-thailands-traffic-as-fatal-as-ever/

Also big bike sales are going up

Double-digit growth was also seen in Asia, where Ducati said it achieved an all-time sales record (up 11% with 5,787 units sold).

Performance was particularly strong in Thailand (up 22%) and in China, where sales volumes nearly doubled (up 97%) vs. 2013, the OEM noted.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-news/statistics/motorcycle-sales-statistics.htm

So the road traffic accident rates are going to keep going up while more and more pressure is applied to see them brought down.

Problem is there will also be knee jerk reactions as different ways are considered to address the situation.

364 killed in the 7 days of Songran, as the average is 71 per day there would normally be 498.63 killed in 7 days

[MESmith]

Doesitmatter, do you see the 70+% idiot Thai drivers in your rear view mirror?

69% tops...

[Jimlove]

Just beats me why so many Thai bashers care to live in this wonderful country.... surely we live here Because of all its faults..!

I like to live here for many reasons, however that doesn't mean I need to turn a blind eye to the insanity of deaths on the roads.

If you think thats part of the 'magic' of living here, you really are deluded!

Agree - so right. I live here too but hate these psycho-maniacs on the roads. Bakseeda seems to think that its not allowed to criticize the wrongs going on here ... well then welcome to North Korea

btw I live here despite of all its faults ...!

[doesitmattter]

Doesitmatter, do you see the 70+% idiot Thai drivers in your rear view mirror?

69% tops...

I need to laugh, but actually it's no laughing matter at all.

[wabothai]

Thai mentality is shown on the roads. hard to do something about.

Yes I bash, and I have reason to do so.

[MESmith]

Doesitmatter, do you see the 70+% idiot Thai drivers in your rear view mirror?

69% tops...

I need to laugh, but actually it's no laughing matter at all.

I know, but someone took you too literally.

[SOTIRIOS]

.......sick...........so, so sick......

[doesitmattter]

Doesitmatter, do you see the 70+% idiot Thai drivers in your rear view mirror?

69% tops...

I need to laugh, but actually it's no laughing matter at all.

I know, but someone took you too literally.

555 yes.

Currently I'm on the way from Chainat back to my home in Bangkok and unfortunately saw several idiots. Speeding in the emergency lanes etc. Driving 120km/h with 2 meter distance to the car in front of them etc.

[CarolJadzia]

364 killed in the 7 days of Songran, as the average is 71 per day there would normally be 498.63 killed in 7 days

Well this is the problem with statistics and where they come from.

As the Thai government has tried to play down the figures as they don't want it to effect tourism, recent data can be sketchy and old data is used. So it all depends where the numbers come from.

Here is a good place to start: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0386111214601229

But that report was done in 2005

Here is comment from the world bank 2014 http://blogs.worldbank.org/eastasiapacific/thailand-road-safety-will-never-happen-accident

Here is a WHO fact sheet from 2013 but seems to show data from 2010: http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/2013/country_profiles/thailand.pdf?ua=1

Here is a link to Thai Roads that has more data: http://trso.thairoads.org/statistic/national/N-SPI-A

It is very hard to build a full balanced picture.

But it can be easily said that Thailand is at least in the top three countries in the world with the highest road deaths per 100000

Possibly the most dangerous place to ride a motorcycle in the world.

The general stats currently suggest about 26000 people die every year. In the UK with about the same population the figure is around 2000.

With such a big problem, for the moment at least, does it matter how many die on a given day?

[DividendGuy]

I sometimes feel upset and saddened all at the same time whenever I see these vans all chewed up and demolished in the news. The carnage those people must have gone through while they were being turned into hamburger or being shredded to death. I have no answers or smart mouthed comments, but only a depressed sorrowful feeling whenever lives are thrown away in such a needless way, and I know there are several families hurting right now over their loved ones who won't be coming home. Come on Thailand, wake up to this carnage and try to do something.

[arthurwait]

I had to shout at the coach driver on Saturday to wake him up as the coach started heading for the edge of the Bang Na Tradt elevated road.

Yep he was actually asleep driving at 3'30 pm in the afternoon.