Thailand aims to lower road fatality rates by 80%

[crickets]

What a joke. Which retard came out with that? Thai drivers have no respect, especially the pick up drivers.

[PeVee1st]

Really though there is no deterrent. Mai pen rai fixes most offences, if it is serious, leave the country or enter the temple, say sorry and pay some money.

[gregk0543]

They say the same thing twice per year and it is forgotten about in a week. Just a nice thought. Wish them all the best. But we know they will not be successful while wrong attitudes are so prevalent.

Need to make it socially unacceptable to drive drunk. Drive without seat belts. Speed. Ride without a helmet.

[jacky54]

well they got plenty of horror footage to work with, need to start with a real driving test

[scorecard]

It's certainly a commendable goal, but not only will it not be reached, I seriously doubt they will reduce deaths by 5%, let alone 80%. That is just plain fantasy for the mentality of this country.

Other countries have good systems that have been developed over many years to make roads safer and make drivers want to obey the laws. Thailand has way too much work to do to reduce deaths by even a fraction of what their targeted goal is. It must be made VERY painful financially for all drivers to break the law.

It requires a comprehensive linkage of several departments all communicating with each other about driver records. It takes insurance companies that charge premiums based on driving records so they must have access to driving records kept by the Department of Motor Vehicles or Land Transportation Office. It must be made impossible to register a car unless they have insurance. Finally, it takes roving patrols of police in cars and on bikes on the roads EVERYWHERE ready to pull over any and all violators and ticket them. Only then will Thailand make the dent in deaths they are looking for, but they DO NOT have the will to do this. They won't even scratch the surface.

All of the above, well said.

Plus enormous amounts of diversified education using media which people actually watch and starting at perhaps M1 level, and taught by people who have the skills to get the attention of the various age groups. I often ask my bachelor and masters students:

- Who has read a newspaper in the last week, etc? Usual response - nobody.

- Who has watched a news program on TV in the last 2 days / 7 days etc? Usual response - nobody.

[djayz]

You cannot change the mindset and behaviour of an entire nation within 5 years - simply impossible.

It never ceases to amaze me just how many PARENTS/ADULTS drive recklessly with children on bikes/in cars. They are, in effect, indirectly telling their children that it's ok to take short cuts, drive/ride on the wrong side of the road, ride/drive intoxicated, etc. Start changing the PARENTS/ADULTS driving skills and let them be role models for their children.

[UTH001]

I have said it before and I will say it again teach the youngsters now teach them in school and give it television coverage so that it reaches a wider audience there are too many people speeding around on motorbikes not just thai people but also farangs they should be stopped.

I fully agree with you on that but what I don't get is this: I am sure pretty much everybody knows somebody who has either been killed or at least badly hurt in an accident. And STILL nothing changes,nobody learns anything from that? Parents don't seem one bit concerned about how their offsprings drive on the roads, difficult to understand.

A friend from BKK just called to say that he was on a motorbike taxi on his way home near Lumphini, a motorbike run a red light in front of him, hit a car and ended up at least badly hurt on the road. Running a red light in peak hour traffic? Playing Russian roulette with traffic, I wonder? Or just being utterly stupid?

Edited November 27, 2015 by UTH001

[oldsailor35]

1/ Random drug testing for heavy haul vehicle/ public transport drivers as well as medical examinations. Major consequences for driving while impaired.

2/ Speed governors on the vehicles for these drivers.

3/ Punishments befitting the infractions for the drivers and company.

4/ Specialized training for these drivers with the company responsible for refresher courses.

5/ Vehicle safety checks on a regular basis as well as emission tests for obviously mistuned engines.

6/ Increase penalties for hit and run to significant jail time.

These steps would help but Thailands work is definitely cut out for them.

Never heard of doing a test and getting a driving licence then ?

[lowbo]

never happen...until law enforcement enforce laws, vehicular accidents will remain unchanged. I have never seen a driver stopped for moving traffic violations!

[Artisi]

I arrived in Thailand from England at the beginning of May and driving was a real culture shock. So, what, in my humble opinion, are the differences between here and the UK which has one of the lowest death rates in the world.

1. The state of the roads. I would never dream of going out on my scooter at night. Too many unseen potholes to drive into.

2. Unsafe vehicles with no apparant MOT test or its equivalent (MOT is a safety test carried out annually on all vehicles more than three years old).

3. Dogs sleeping on and chickens crossing the road. No more to be said.

4. Failure to abide by even the most obvious traffic laws. Driving on the wrong side of the road being the most obvious.

5. Underpowered and badly maintained lorries (trucks). Also speeding trucks on downhill sections.

6. Driving without a license. Presumably most unlicensed drivers have never received instruction or taken a test.

7. Riding motorcycles (and probably cars too) whilst underage.

8. Riding a motorcycle whilst carrying an unsafe load (I include in this small children).

9. Driving under the influence.

10. Totally inadequate enforcement of the road traffic laws.

I could go on all day, but those, to me, are the most obvious safety factors. It's a pity no-one with any clout will read this. Unfortunately, most of the people who make and enforce(?) the laws have probably never driven abroad. Almost certainly not in one with a much safer record than Thailand. I know what I say will make no difference, but at least I got it off my chest.

Welcome to Thailand the hub of everything except common sense...

[Canuk23]

Thailand aims to lower road fatality rates by 80%

Most Thais got they're driving permit without ever passing any kind of test, they don't know the rules

or have any care for them.

Stop selling gas !!! go back to bicycles !!!

[bangon04]

"Lower by 80%?" Perhaps they need to begin by a smaller number or even better stop the year on year increase. How to do this? By enforcement!!!!

Another day, another pointless announcement.

If they said 8 per cent it might sound a little less ridiculous.

Having a functioning police force might achieve this.....

[CarolJadzia]

It's interesting to hear so many who always start mentioning enforcement when it comes to improving road safety.

The problem is that in other places around the world road safety professionals are finding 'Enforcements' limitations while in the LOS everyone thinks it is the answer to all ills.

Currently the Thai motorcycle test is equivalent in standard to the UK Compulsory Basic Training course which anyone wishing to ride on UK roads has to undertake, only as the name suggests in the UK this is training not testing. The CBT also includes a two hour road ride. It has always seemed to me to be the wrong way round. In the UK where rules are strictly enforced we offer a training course, while in Thailand where avoiding confrontation and loosing face are more important there is a test at the same level.

If someone with no experience then wants a full motorcycle licence we will offer them at least a five day road riding training course to get to the UK test standard. Even after five days of training a high percentage still fail the test. We also have stepped testing in the UK, you have to be over 24 to pass a big bike test. 21 if you can show three years experience on a mid range bike first.

But even with all the training UK motorcycle accident rates are still disproportionally high. In fact they have gone up since the introduction of stricter testing and stepped licensing. That is leading us to look for new ways to address the issues.

But in the LOS there is not even basic standards of training, people learn to ride motorcycles at a young age as it is often the basic family transport. They are not shown even the basics such as how to apply the brakes correctly. This even goes through to big bikes. I came across a Thai video the other day showing a Sports 'Big Bike' rider demonstrating braking. Only his suggestion of "rear brake first" goes against international recognised standards and the physics of how a motorcycle under braking will react. Here is a guy from a Thai race school teaching people to do things wrong.

The Land Traffic Act does not help either. It reads like a badly translated UK highway code with many of the important bit's missing and other points leading to confusion. The standards of driving in any country are laid down by the test, as the test standards in Thailand are so low and open to corruption then people who have not been trained properly to do otherwise will revert to what they know, this leads them to play by pedestrian rules. This then leads others to adopt other tactics for self preservation such as not stopping to wait to turn and choosing to cross a junction early.

Expecting Thai Police to start enforcing laws they often do not understand is not going to have much success as the evidence already shows. Just enforcing laws that do not address cultural issues will always lead to problems. In Surat Thani I have witnessed many youngsters riding home from school on scooters, mostly not helmeted and often three or four up on one bike. Yes one Police officer could address one school, but that will not address the issues of how the kids get to and from school every day, it will only lead to confrontation which most Police officers will try to avoid.

If Thailand is to reduce it's accident figures it is going to need some huge changes in driver and rider training. 70% of Thai Road Fatalities are motorcyclists but that does not mean they are caused by the riders, only that riders are more vulnerable and will often come of worse.

What is needed is huge changes to driver and rider training. A higher standard of Training and Testing for commercial vehicle drivers and specific vehicle training for HGV, PSV ect. Also the cultural challenges need addressing such as reincarnation, the belief in spirit protection and the wish to avoid confrontation, all make the issue far harder to address. Proper provision of on-road rider and driver training rather than the current off-road simulation centres would be a good place to start.

Retraining a nation is a tall order, but focusing on high risk groups such as youngsters on motorcycles and commercial vehicles would be a start. A proper training scheme to teach people the basics in how to survive on the roads rather than just how to pass a test.

For me I watch with interest, I have been here before and watched in develop. Rider training has come a long way in the UK over the past fifty years. We have learned many lessons along the way - and made many mistakes. Let's hope Thailand learns from the lessons as well.

https://youtu.be/atDFqxHLctE?list=PLD28U3l47mf2PmX_3JivcaUMfCkQUO5Va

[Bababooey]

How about using Section 44 powers to make it illegal to throw a bucket of water in the face of a motorbike driver?

[sanukjim]

So, This could only means that 80% of Thai drivers will not be driving in the future ?

[lonewolf99]

In a country when it rains the people drive faster they have no chance of reducing the death rates.

Just watch what happens when it starts to hammer it down. They ride the motorbike faster with one hand the other to shield thier face from the stinging rain and the car/truck drivers join in with the exponential increase in speed related to how hard the rain is comig down..... I have never seen this anywhere else on planet earth...

The real nut cases are the Farrangs who have adopted the local ways of driving. Not just riding with their kids with no helmets on bikes. I have even seen them trying to carry TV's, microwaves, a large pine table on a sidecar and the best one was a lawnmower on a motorbike....

And what about the Harley boys with the leathers and the agricultural noise level they like to blast out between traffic light races...so not all the stats are Thai deaths.

Personally I am all for the death rate remaining as it is, especially when it is drugged up drunken show off morons who come a cropper. I care not a jot for them but feel sorry for the folks who might get in their way and the people who have to clean up the bloody mess.

I have had specialist training in driving at an advanced level and also driven now in Algeria, Suadi, Qatar, Brazil, France, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Australia and of course here in Thailand and witnessed driving in dozens of other countries and it was no surprise to me when the figures came out that this is the worst place by far. The only other country that I know that could come close is China.

The only reason they are talking about this 80% is because they cannot avoid or ignore the global shame so use the TAT calculator to come up with a even madder number.

[Mot Dang]

Can't be done given today's resources, and the attitude of the police force (first eliminating corruption in the force). To drop road fatalities by 80% will mean a total overhaul of the national psych, which is firmly based on selfishness, greed, materialism and "couldn't care less attitude" to their fellow Thai. Thai attitudes on the road are just a part of the new "Thainess".

How do you overhaul of the national psych. By shock and awe. Ensure the guilty are hit substantially in the hip pocket. Fines must be the same across all social groups. Anger management training. Realistic breath testing. Red light cameras. Staggered licencing systems according to abilities, Instilling responsibility to their fellow countrymen.

Edited November 27, 2015 by Mot Dang

[foundy]

"the country still saw no improvement in road fatalities."

...meaning that they are looking for more fatalities..???

One very serious issue that needs to be dealt with is that Thais are very impatient and hot headed drivers, so until they can address this typical character in Thai society, there will be no reduction in road fatalities.

Being patient, courteous and considerate to other road users is the first stage of training then how to drive defensively is the second stage. Until these methods are adopted by driving schools and license test centers, there will be no decrease in the road carnage.

[northernphil]

This has to be one of Tommy Coopers jokes,first the police sit out side every school and just see how many got helmets on,second see if they have a licence i can tell you now none,and why because stupid thai parents cannot be bothered.

school children are to young to have a license and the police do not worry about them as they do not have any money . what's the point of stopping someone if they can not pay the fine, it is just a waste of time and energy

My TW said much the same about 10 years ago. Old boy wandering all over the road on his 20 year old Honda 2t .I asked TW why don't the police stop him ? He probably has no money. So if you have no money you can drive with impunity.

[tingtongfarang]

As it seems stuff to save lives on the road in LOS is on deaf ears, instead of folk watching a bloke every night taking over the tv channels just talking stuff, why not do the same to show where the populous are really going wrong with their road sense...

Its my observation that they also dont watch or listen to that bloke, same reason road safety campaigns would not work on the tv, they only seem to watch lakorn and as soon as anything else comes on the screen the mute button gets pressed and they begin to talk about food or whatever, news in thailand or even less world events do not interest them, maybe someone grabs the remote when a report comes on about the ufun scam...but only the ones who lost a bundle on it,

The only thing which would make a difference on the roads here is traffic law enforcement and meaningful penalties plus heavy fines,

Some on this forum seem convinced that police reform is the answer, i am of the opinion this is a non starter, regardless of salary or training,

Many think the police have no interest in law enforcement because they are paid a pittance and on top have to buy a uniform, gun, motorbike, non of these people question why any of the rtp had an interest to become police officers in the first place, i give you a tip..its driven by financial gain through corruption and not being accountable themselves or family members for any laws they break, by nature the conditions of the rtp attracted the wrong people.

[fxe1200]

The article is not correct. The estimated figure by the WHO of 24.237 deaths translates to 36.2 deaths per 100K people. The number reported by the Thai authorities is 14.059 deaths. The difference is due to two facts: 1. All other countries report their death toll including those, who die in a hospital or up to 30 days after, due to the injuries of the accident. Thailand reports only those, who are dead on site. All injured persons, who die on the way to the hospital or up to 30 days thereafter, are not being reported. 2. The WHO also estimates a certain percentage of deaths not being reported, due to "private" arrangements in between the perpetrator, the relatives of the victim(s) and the authorities, to achieve higher compensations and to avoid jail time and/or loss of the license.

Edited November 27, 2015 by fxe1200

[wvavin]

Probably we should expect some photoshoots of the rich & famous or people with very high social standing promoting this campaign very soon. Thats about all and be forgotten because the aim of any campaign or events is always the photographing to let the public know who & who and who dresses what!

[thailand49]

As many have said here it is not going to happen. I've been here for a long time and see more than my share of accident and too many death. The problem is much deeper than the W.H.O thinks. The major problem are the people running this country and making promises they can't keep because they all come from the same system of driving school. Until they learn and understand why a particular rule exist and how it is properly excuted it will never change. Until the people in charge of enforcing laws and rule understand it themselves it will never change! One might ask the W.H.O. start to dictate to Thailand instead of allowing them to put up signs! Funding should have been cut years ago unless progress is made.

They need outside help not he same old same old spinning their wheels. The greatest resources is being killed day in day out so sad.

Officials need to starting practicing what they preach!

[lostmebike]

What a load of rollox!

Enforcement... hilarious.

[sz1a]

It's an easy, tried and tested fix!

1. Enforce speed limits regularly and everywhere
2. Remove dangerous intersections such as u-turns on the freeway (duh)
3. Improve road safety awareness tied to driver's licence, make driver's license more difficult to obtain
4. Make compulsory road safety awareness seminars followed by a test and reduce the insurance premium for those who attend and pass the test

[flyingdoc]

1. Enforce drink driving laws.

2. Stop under age driving and riding motorbikes.

3. Get rid of this soft light policy on Thai cars at night.

[siliconvalley]

Tell them no such thing as reincarnation

[spidermike007]

I hope they are serious...

It will be difficult, but I do hope they do it...

The current administration? Serious about progressive policy? Serious about safety? Are you serious?

[crickets]

I can see it now. Thailand runs out of petrol, road deaths down 80%.

[SOTIRIOS]

....start with quelling it....and hold out on the 'great pronouncements'....