Groups demand tougher drunk driving penalties

The Nation 

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The Drunk Driving Victims’ Network and Alcohol Watch, led by Jetsada Yaemsabai, filed a petition at the Justice Ministry permanent secretary’s office calling for heavier punishments for drunk drivers, including prosecution for attempted murder.

 

As well as requesting that a Traffic Court be established to deal with |road accidents, they also suggested that restaurants, pubs and bars should be held responsible for customers who drive after leaving their premises under the influence of alcohol.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Groups-demand-tougher-drunk-driving-penalties-30297367.html

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2016-10-11

Punishment, revenge, great stuff. Education and prevention doesn't seem to be very high on the list. Every year around Song Kran and Christmas we get threatened with increased surveillance and punishments. Looking at statistics it hardly seems to make any difference, headlines like "23 killed over the holidays, this must stop" forget to mention that according to statistics on average 27 a day are killed on the roads.

As far as I can see, the only road education most Thais get is when they sleep through a video at the driving license centre.

Instead of showing villagers complaining about the state of their roads, maybe a few videos showing selfish and dangerous behaviour together with a few hospital visits might be more sensible?

I'm dreaming of course.

more nonsense, as cooked suggested above - education is key along with proactive police work - stiff fines - driving banns - heavy jail terms for repeat offenders and those that cause fatalities - confiscation of vehicles should also be a consideration for repeat offenders

What's the difference? To get killed by a drunk driver or a sober driver who drives against traffic? Dead is dead.

Doesn't matter what type legislation is brought it, if it's not properly enforced, then really it doesn't have any value.

37 minutes ago, fruitman said:

What's the difference? To get killed by a drunk driver or a sober driver who drives against traffic? Dead is dead.

They are both offences but one is were the driver in charge of the vehicle willing and severely incapacitates his/her ability to control the vehicle - that is a huge difference, if you don't get it then are really are a "fruit man" 

Well these people are victims one way or another and so are at the extreme end of the spectrum.

Killing someone with a motor vehicle,while under the

influence of alcohol or drugs,should be no different 

from taking someone's life with a gun,knife or club,

and the sentences must reflect this,with no exception

for HiSo drivers,that also has to stop.

regards worgeordie

40 minutes ago, smedly said:

They are both offences but one is were the driver in charge of the vehicle willing and severely incapacitates his/her ability to control the vehicle - that is a huge difference, if you don't get it then are really are a "fruit man" 

how many thai drivers are sober they only have two speeds walking pace and death race they cant even

talk and drive they thing lights and indicators are for decoration and cant decide which lane there are in 

 

The sober drivers here drive the same as the drunks....!

4 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

The sober drivers here drive the same as the drunks....!

Great, but how to know if the driver is drunk or not.

primary causes of accidents in Thailand IMO

 

The top 3 in no particular order and often a combination of them

 

- Mobile use

- Under the influence of Drink or Drugs

- Speeding  

 

Coupled with the rest

- poor driving skills

- poor law enforcement

- poor maintenance of vehicles especially mass transport buses etc

- stupidity

- corruption

well as long as the rich can still buy their way out of any punishment then they might be able to bring in stiffer penalties.

So now it is restaurants and bars that are to blame for road accidents and deaths. Nothing to do with the individuals themselves as the restaurants and bars apparently physically force these weak willed drivers to drink their booze. This is the same sort of logic that blames rain for most of Thailand's road carnage. The only difference is that you can't sue the rain. 

 

This group is simply introducing a new angle as a revenue stream to help overcome their sorrow.

2 hours ago, smedly said:

primary causes of accidents in Thailand IMO

 

The top 3 in no particular order and often a combination of them

 

- Mobile use

- Under the influence of Drink or Drugs

- Speeding  

 

Coupled with the rest

- poor driving skills

- poor law enforcement

- poor maintenance of vehicles especially mass transport buses etc

- stupidity

- corruption

You have missed a few others.

Exiting from the left without looking

Running red lights

Talking to passengers

Turning right from the inside lane without indicating

Turning left from the outside lane without indicating

Assuming entering a roundabout from the left has priority

Driving on the wrong side of the road

Driving without lights in the dark and/or in the rain

Not having working headlights/rear lights

Driving with a child standing on your lap

Driving at <20kph in the outside lane and when the inside lane is empty (sometimes window shopping)

Stopping halfway across a traffic lights controlled junction to let traffic from the left enter

 

Edited October 11, 20169 yr by Anon999
Added a comment

...didn't they announce that they would confiscate the vehicles of drunk drivers....???

 

....and as for those that seem to ....'have the power to refuse being tested'.....???

So they want the bars to be responsible how crazy is that. Dont like drunk drivers but the local authorities should be able to be prosecuted for bad roads a friend's kid was killed due to bad roads. 

1 hour ago, Anon999 said:

You have missed a few others.

Exiting from the left without looking

Running red lights

Talking to passengers

Turning right from the inside lane without indicating

Turning left from the outside lane without indicating

Assuming entering a roundabout from the left has priority

Driving on the wrong side of the road

Driving without lights in the dark and/or in the rain

Not having working headlights/rear lights

Driving with a child standing on your lap

Driving at <20kph in the outside lane and when the inside lane is empty (sometimes window shopping)

Stopping halfway across a traffic lights controlled junction to let traffic from the left enter

 

I didn't go into too much detail, most of what you have listed is the product of poor driving skills/training - lack of law enforcement and stupidity

On 11/10/2016 at 10:28 AM, smedly said:

primary causes of accidents in Thailand IMO

 

The top 3 in no particular order and often a combination of them

 

- Mobile use

- Under the influence of Drink or Drugs

- Speeding  

 

Coupled with the rest

- poor driving skills

- poor law enforcement

- poor maintenance of vehicles especially mass transport buses etc

- stupidity

- corruption

Anyone noticed that very few Thais wear spectacles in comparison to other neighbouring countries?

I would replace the word stupidity with selfishness.

 

So the general consensus above seems to be 'do nothing and fiddle as Rome burns'- perfect.

 

Raise fines to an effective level, confiscate vehicles and punish the parents of under age drivers who allow their children to drive on the public highway

 

 Also stop the cops from taking on the spot fines of b20k for those 'thaigeezers'  and others who think it is acceptable to buy their way out of a drink driving offence.

 

As with anything education and evolution is the way ahead, not revolution.

On 11.10.2016 at 10:28 AM, smedly said:

primary causes of accidents in Thailand IMO

 

The top 3 in no particular order and often a combination of them

 

- Mobile use

- Under the influence of Drink or Drugs

- Speeding  

 

Coupled with the rest

- poor driving skills

- poor law enforcement

- poor maintenance of vehicles especially mass transport buses etc

- stupidity

- corruption

 

I think stupidity beats all other items on the list by far, and is the determinant factor rather than mobile use or speeding by themselves.

For example, nothing much will happen when speeding on a low traffic highway, but stupidly speeding on a busy road is dangerous. Same with mobile use - using a mobile while stopped at a red light is not permitted but it's not dangerous, while stupidly using a mobile while driving is very dangerous...

 

Thai drivers need to be drilled. Enforcement needs to get much harsher on a few non-negotiable points, such as running red lights.

What are they waiting for to install cameras on top every busy crossroads, this would be a huge money maker.

Also driving without a license and without insurance.

Compulsory insurance coverage needs to be extended.

 

Thailand has this group forming a major part of the population who thinks school is uncool, learning is uncool, following rules is uncool and think only about "me first" ... they need to be re-educated in regards to driving and many other things too.

 

 

Doesn't "attempted murder" have to be against a particular person and not just "everyone?" I don't know this part of Thai law but I don't think a crime victim can be named so indiscriminately.