webfact Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooked Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smedly Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitman Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 What's the difference? To get killed by a drunk driver or a sober driver who drives against traffic? Dead is dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
useronthenet Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Doesn't matter what type legislation is brought it, if it's not properly enforced, then really it doesn't have any value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smedly Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 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" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maoro2013 Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Well these people are victims one way or another and so are at the extreme end of the spectrum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worgeordie Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellhui1b Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisY1 Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 The sober drivers here drive the same as the drunks....! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borzandy Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smedly Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamgeorgeallen Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brer Fox Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon999 Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 (edited) 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, 2016 by Anon999 Added a comment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOTIRIOS Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 ...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'.....??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remus1830 Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smedly Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooked Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psimbo Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manarak Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BudRight Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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