Road death toll below last year after third ‘dangerous’ day

[rooster59]

Road death toll below last year after third ‘dangerous’ day

BANGKOK: A TOTAL OF 178 people were killed and 1,755 injured in 1,691 road wrecks in the first three days of the dangerous New Year period when accidents are closely monitored.

Most of the wrecks involved motorcycles and drunk driving, the Road Safety Centre said yesterday.

The figures were lower than the same period last year, when there were 190 deaths and 1,782 injuries in 1,737 road accidents.

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) reported 1,304 vehicles were impounded as a result of drunk driving since Christmas.

Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said almost 100 per cent of head injuries in road accidents during the three-day period was the result of people not wearing helmets.

Office of Police Strategy deputy commander Maj-General Krisada Surachetpong announced that only Samut Prakan province had zero reported road accidents in the three-day period, while 16 provinces had no road deaths.

Chiang Mai had the highest number of road accidents at 62 and the most injuries at 63, while Chon Buri province had the most deaths (eight).

On Thursday there were 622 road accidents that killed 74 people and injured 675.

More than 65,000 officials manned 2,104 checkpoints nationwide and they arrested 108,400 motorists for laws they had broken. Most did not have a driver's licence (31,039 cases) or failed to wear a helmet (29,706 cases).

Colonel Sirichan Ngathong, deputy spokeswoman of the NCPO, said from December 25 until Thursday soldiers at checkpoints impounded 1,212 motorcycles and 92 cars for drunk driving, while 9,569 motorcyclists and 4,323 drivers faced legal action.

Officials maintaining peace and order in the provinces implemented extra measures in a bid to boost road safety during the holiday period.

In Nong Khai province's Muang district, soldiers trucked drunks home from three locations on New Year's Eve until 6am yesterday.

At a traffic checkpoint in Uttaradit's Muang district, an Army doctor from Fort Pichaidaphak Hospital provided free acupuncture service for drivers travelling long distances - in a bid to prevent them from falling asleep behind the wheel.

Meanwhile, deputy police chief General Pongsapat Pongcharoen announced that owners of 4,960 homes joined the police's "house-sitting" project over the New Year break - 796 more than last year. Bangkok had 1,866 houses in the project, with Chok Chai Police Station |having the most (104).

Health Minister Piyasakol said nearly all the people sent to hospital for head injuries had failed to wear a helmet while on a motorcycle. He urged people to wear helmets, adhere to all traffic laws and refrain from drink driving.

He cited a 2014 World Health Organisation report that found Thailand had 24,000 deaths from road accidents - 70 per cent of them motorcyclists.

Piyasakol spoke while inspecting various hospitals' preparedness to handle emergency cases during this period. He thanked all personnel and rescue volunteers for their sacrifice.

As people continued to celebrate the New Year yesterday, some cautionary cases emerged.

In Nonthaburi, a retired civil servant alerted police after a bullet shot through the roof of her house 10 minutes after the countdown. Teen-agers were suspected to have hit the house while firing guns into the sky.

Meanwhile, in Muang district in Buri Ram, a grocery with a bamboo and grass roof was engulfed in flames yesterday morning after reportedly being hit by sparks from fireworks.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Road-death-toll-below-last-year-after-third-danger-30276000.html

-- The Nation 2016-01-02

[Pattaya28]

Sounds like a "pat-on-the-back" with only 178 road-deaths in the first 3 days.

All being closely monitored.

[ldiablo]

Wow, that's something to be proud of. A mere 12 less deaths than last year. Way too go guys. You should all be so very proud of this achievement.

Note the sarcasm.

Edited January 2, 2016 by ldiablo

[phitsanulokjohn]

This will be hailed a success,if this keeps up.

[Lupatria]

Wow, that's something to be proud of. A mere 12 less deaths than last year. Way too go guys. You should all be so very proud of this achievement.

Note the sarcasm.

12 people less? That's not even half of a truck load of foreign workers...

[upena]

All the numbers are pure fiction. #2 Thailand in road deaths with an average over 70 per day on normal days has fewer during drunk season. Right.

[lujanit]

Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said almost 100 per cent of head injuries in road accidents during the three-day period was the result of people not wearing helmets.

​I just don't understand this. Almost 100% could be significantly reduced if only the BIB enforced the wearing of helmets. I have seen police roadblocks targeting motorcy riders near where we live. The roadblock is often where the riders cannot see them until they are virtually on top of the cops. As soon as the riders see the cops they do a u-turn and race away. The cops never give chase.

Maybe the BIB should pay a fact finding tour to Vietnam and ask why nearly all riders wear helmets. Heavy fines and confiscation of bikes for multiple offenders really works there.

[Tatsujin]

What a bunch of <deleted >:

this year (so far): 178 killed, 1,755 injured in 1,691 wrecks

same period last year: 190 killed, 1,782 injured in 1,737 wrecks

Yes, it's made a massive difference.

[trogers]

Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said almost 100 per cent of head injuries in road accidents during the three-day period was the result of people not wearing helmets.

​I just don't understand this. Almost 100% could be significantly reduced if only the BIB enforced the wearing of helmets. I have seen police roadblocks targeting motorcy riders near where we live. The roadblock is often where the riders cannot see them until they are virtually on top of the cops. As soon as the riders see the cops they do a u-turn and race away. The cops never give chase.

Maybe the BIB should pay a fact finding tour to Vietnam and ask why nearly all riders wear helmets. Heavy fines and confiscation of bikes for multiple offenders really works there.

BIB are pious practitioners of Darwinism...

[BSJ]

Did someone say they will be polishing a turd soon?

[EyesWideOpen]

All the numbers are pure fiction. #2 Thailand in road deaths with an average over 70 per day on normal days has fewer during drunk season. Right.

This the best ongoing joke in Thailand . Standard daily road deaths are 70.

So normally 210 people would be killed in a three day time period. So actually

these holidays that the government misnamed as dangerous days are

actually safer days.....

[Hawk]

Whatever the cops do will make little to no difference, Thais love to drink.

On the 30th was at live band concert, 90% of the specators were seriously drunk, that included the village chief and a few government cronies. But all drove home.

On the 31st was at a company party by midnight few could stand up but they all drove home.

On the 1st was at a morning wedding, where over 50% of the guests were beyond messed up but around 12 midday they all drove home.

Again on the 1st, in the night, was a private party with music, singers again over 70% were totally drunk but again they drove home.

On the 31st around 7pm, a friend's father was hit by a speeding car and killed, (drunk driver) he was walking outside his house, in a small village.

Premature death is part of the Thai culture, just as drinking is.

[trogers]

Whatever the cops do will make little to no difference, Thais love to drink.

On the 30th was at live band concert, 90% of the specators were seriously drunk, that included the village chief and a few government cronies. But all drove home.

On the 31st was at a company party by midnight few could stand up but they all drove home.

On the 1st was at a morning wedding, where over 50% of the guests were beyond messed up but around 12 midday they all drove home.

Again on the 1st, in the night, was a private party with music, singers again over 70% were totally drunk but again they drove home.

On the 31st around 7pm, a friend's father was hit by a speeding car and killed, (drunk driver) he was walking outside his house, in a small village.

Premature death is part of the Thai culture, just as drinking is.

The natural Thai psychic embedded in their genes since conception to prevent overpopulation...

[sawadee1947]

only 60 cases per day/ Wow amazing improvement in comparison to last year. Now I know what's the meaning of: Thailand moves forward

[anon467848]

The number of deaths could actually be higher than last year, but that fact would never get published...that would be an admission of failure which never happens in Thailand.. Way to go BIB, best in the world..

[retarius]

So statistically identical then? No progress at all made in making the roads safer.

[Tchooptip]

Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said almost 100 per cent of head injuries in road accidents during the three-day period was the result of people not wearing helmets.

Here in Samui probably 80% of tourist and expats do not wear helmet! So What?

It could be it has less to do with the Thais being careless than human nature being careless, plus most of those people could not do that in their home countries without being arrested in the minutes. I see almost every days couples of tourists with a young child on a motorbike, the three of them without helmet.

Of course on TV bashing the Thais nature is national sport, otherwise one is classified a member of the Thai apologetic brigade

[roo860]

Come on Chiang Mai a good effort so far, can stay top of the league for accidents, not doing too well with fatalities though.

Edited January 2, 2016 by roo860

[diehard60]

Yea that is only the ones that have been reported.

[TheFishman1]

I don't believe because they can not count. TIT

[SOTIRIOS]

...obviously they are scrambling to 'save face'....

...that is all that matters....

...everything is pretend.....

...pretend that there are no problems really...and that Thais are blameless...

...it's not only the drinking...it's the attitude....

...so 'stop mostly motorcycles in a bid to get those figures down since we know most accidents and fatalities occur with motorcycles'...

...what about the p*ss-drunk car drivers that cut them off and send them to their deaths...

...the tattoo or amulet....or donation to the monk will 'see me through no matter what'....

...furthermore....to admit that one is drunk is a threat to his manlihood ...

[dominique355]

What a bunch of <deleted >:

this year (so far): 178 killed, 1,755 injured in 1,691 wrecks

same period last year: 190 killed, 1,782 injured in 1,737 wrecks

Yes, it's made a massive difference.

Statistical fluctuation, nothing more.

[MaxLee]

"Death toll below last year after third dangerous day"

I bet first of all, the police arrested maybe 50-70 % hand picked, poor or innocent victims, took bribes from influential personalities or from kids whose parents are influential, .... secondly I guess the ruling regime secretly have manipulated the press to reveal the statistics that this regime wants to see.... Haha, surprised????

Edited January 2, 2016 by MaxLee

[khwaibah]

253 killed. up 11.4%. Bangkok Post front page. Thats the way to do it Thailand show them who's boss.

[Dumbastheycome]

All the numbers are pure fiction. #2 Thailand in road deaths with an average over 70 per day on normal days has fewer during drunk season. Right.

This the best ongoing joke in Thailand . Standard daily road deaths are 70.

So normally 210 people would be killed in a three day time period. So actually

these holidays that the government misnamed as dangerous days are

actually safer days.....

True. But only because the emphasis is on preventing offences on these days. Which indicates that the enforcment is probably highly effective considering the averages for "normal" days. If the same rescources were deployed at the same level every day it might prove the point. But then............traffic flow would be reduced.... and drivers would suffer from restricktd moron stress syndrome......and road rage would ensue resulting in the usual cumulative fatatities.........