First day Thai road safety campaign claims 39 deaths

[webfact]

First day road safety campaign claims 39 deaths

BANGKOK: -- Thai transport authorities kicked off a weeklong campaign to reduce highway accidents during the New Year festival with 39 people killed and 456 injured in the first day of the campaign.

The week long campaign dubbed “the seven dangerous days” ran from today until January 5.

In the first day of the campaign, 439 cases of traffic accidents nationwide were reported, with 39 people died and 456 injured.

Drink driving is blamed for the main cause of most fatal accidents, or 26.94%, and speeding 19.56%.

Motorcycle is also the vehicle that was engaged in most fatal accidents or 89.22%.

Highways with straight sections recorded the highest fatal cases or 65.24%, followed by highways 36.89%, and rural or secondary roads in villages and districts, 30.39%.

Most accidents happen between 4 pm-8 pm, and most casualties are in working ages.

Chiang Mai remains the province with the highest risk of road accidents. A total of 17 cases was reported on the first day, and with the highest injuries of 19 persons.

Mukdaharn registered the highest death toll in the first day with four deaths.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/first-day-road-safety-campaign-claims-39-deaths


-- Thai PBS 2015-12-30

[ldiablo]

And thus the carnage begins.

[graemeaylward]

Well that looks like a reduction on last year's first day, so maybe the new tough stance on drink driving is having a slight effect! For reference, here are last year's full stats for New Year 2014/15 compiled by Richard Barrow.

7 Dangerous Days on Thailand’s Roads:
Day 1: 58 deaths (39 last year)
Day 2: 70 deaths (47 last year)
Day 3: 60 deaths (75 last year) *1
Day 4: 37 deaths (48 last year) *2
Day 5: 33 deaths (57 last year) *3
Day 6: 42 deaths (xx last year) *4
Day 7: 40 deaths (xx last year) *5

*1 One person injured on an earlier day succumbed to their injuries
*2 Four people injured on an earlier day succumbed to their injuries
*3 Seven people injured on an earlier day succumbed to their injuries
*4 Seven people injured on an earlier day succumbed to their injuries
*5 Six people injured on an earlier day succumbed to their injuries

For the full article http://www.richardbarrow.com/2015/01/full-road-accident-statistics-for-new-year-2014-2015-in-thailand/

[Hawk]

The next 7 days will be the same mayhem as every other year. Thai people love to drink, and are normally too drunk to realize that they are totally unfit to drive. Some never realize that fact because they die.

[iReason]

"First day road safety campaign claims 39 deaths"

Better scrap that campaign. Pronto.

This is going to require a committee and several subcommittees. Toot sweet.

[phitsanulokjohn]

Never mind down on last year thus far.Still appaling statistics.

[stickylies]

In minivan as i type. In pethburi on petkasem. Driver wise and sober. Stopped at free Nescafe and red bull merch stands where people were cheering and providing water too, free of charge. Traffic is okay heading south and even less crowdy in other direction. Several police checkpoints at random locations, good! Fingers crossed they can keep it civil the next days and good luck at the coppers in the 35C heat.

[Youaredoomed]

All seems calm on the Bang Na Trat road too.

safe travels stickylies....

[Khunangkaro]

Right place, right time... Safe...

Just now back home from the market.

More traffic than usual, no problems.

Best wishes for all of you, now and for years to come.

Drive safe, stay cool, don't drink/drive.

Issaan.

.

[dcpo]

If you look at the statistics for road deaths per year on Wikipedia (which are apparently taken from a WHO report), 39 deaths is significantly below the mean for road deaths in a day in Thailand. Similarly with Songkran, at the very least there does not appear to be any evidence that these holiday periods are more dangerous on the roads than others, and if anything they appear to be less so.

[upena]

Like every year, numbers are pure fiction. Stats are almost exactly the same yet the Royal Thai Police never address the data.

[English 1]

The main reason apart from Drink is that Thai are very impatient and hate waiting one second for anything.

[soalbundy]

Isn't this down on the usual daily toll ?

[bbbbooboo]

hmmmm....i'm not going to hold my breath over the outcome of this "thai road safety campaign", which in itself seems to be an oxymoron. Hopefully there will be a reduction in the usual slaughter and carnage.

[Artamus]

Highways with straight sections recorded the highest fatal cases or 65.24%, followed by highways 36.89%, and rural or secondary roads in villages and districts, 30.39%.

That's a nice statistic. Err, I make that somewhere around 130% of the total 100%. Good way to fudge the statistics.

Also, anyone seen any roads without straight sections?

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

And so the BS begins.

Thailand averages about 26,000 road deaths per year. That would mean that about 70 people on average are killed every day.

Either these death rates they throw around on Songkran and New Year are complete BS or every year the death toll around these holidays is far less than the typical daily average.

If this is the case then why do they refer to these holidays as the dangerous days? They should be called the safest days as the average death rate appears to be half the daily average.

[SOTIRIOS]

...how do injuries compare...and number of accidents....

[Jim walker]

And all we do now is await the announcement from the Junta that their safety campaign was a resounding success deaths on the Thai roads slashed by whatever number you want to here.

[Sydebolle]

The next 7 days will be the same mayhem as every other year. Thai people love to drink, and are normally too drunk to realize that they are totally unfit to drive. Some never realize that fact because they die.

Don't get me wrong but most are unfit to drive when sober ...........

[FredNL]

Welcome to the safest period in Thai traffic. Together with Songkran there are less accidents with deaths than average*.

*on normal days

[Ceruhe]

Don't get me wrong but most are unfit to drive when sober ...........

There is nothing to get wrong, speaking the truth is a thing that does not need to be excused lol

Then again, we do, however, need to highlight the most part, before anybody feels like to single out their 1:1000 exception thinking how it's the norm.

[cooked]

More BS, same as last year. According to statistics (Google it if you don't agree) 80 people in traffic accidents die EVERY F***ing day in Thailand, a high proportion of them being motorcyclists. Don't believe anything that comes from the Road Safety Council or whatever it's called here. I have in four years seen only ONE road safety spot on Tv and that disappeared pretty quick.

[Emster23]

"Drink driving is blamed for the main cause of most fatal accidents, or 26.94%, and speeding 19.56%."

Just think what they could do if they actually had police patrol cars, speed traps and real penalties for those 2 categories.

[natway09]

Motorcycle deaths 89%, everybody in the village drinks that bloody Lao Khao by the gallon because it is taxed on volume not alcohol content

so it is cheap wobbla.

The Government should tax it properly & put the collected monies into the 30 Bht scheme.

But, hang on a minute, who holds the licences to make this poison????? Silly me

[Davyro]

I don't understand why many Thais can sit for hours in a Temple or in a café or bar, yet once they get behind a driving wheel they 're in a mad steamin' rush ? Can't wait for a red light to turn green. Mini van drivers are to be seriously avoided at any time of year !

[arminbkk]

The main reason apart from Drink is that Thai are very impatient and hate waiting one second for anything.

Even though they are the total opposite when they walk.

[Tanlic]

No doubt drink causes accidents but in a country where 12 year old silly little girls fly about the country villages with no licence,flying out of side streets on to the main road and never thinking someone might be overtaking and hit them head on...or the farmers with no lights on their tractors driving home when it is pitch black...police not giving two hoots then suddenly you expect people who ignore traffic laws every day to suddenly start to obey them....no chance

[fxe1200]

And so the BS begins.

Thailand averages about 26,000 road deaths per year. That would mean that about 70 people on average are killed every day.

Either these death rates they throw around on Songkran and New Year are complete BS or every year the death toll around these holidays is far less than the typical daily average.

If this is the case then why do they refer to these holidays as the dangerous days? They should be called the safest days as the average death rate appears to be half the daily average.

You forgot one thing: Thailand is the only country, which does not count injured, or almost dead people, which are driven to the next hospital and die there, or die due to their injuries up to 30 days later. As soon, these persons are driven away, they will not enter the Thai road deaths statistics. Therefore, true numbers could be obtained in April at the earliest.

[mrfill]

The main reason apart from Drink is that Thai are very impatient and hate waiting one second for anything.

The impatience is from being held up in their quest for another drink...

[pwtmansions]

60% of deaths are bikes. Enforce the helmet laws. Start education at junior school.