Drunk driving and speeding were blamed for over 78 percent of road accidents

[dageurreotype]

3 hours ago, does said:

Given the cause of most accident, alcohol is the root problem.

 

No. Speeding and stupidity is. Oh and entitlement. Me first.

 

[alocacoc]

4 hours ago, arithai12 said:

The root problem is that driver licence tests are a joke.

 

That's correct. The majority if Thais just can't drive motorized vehicle. They have no clue about it.

[MorristheRunt]

Awareness!  or lack of it.....Thai people simply don't have it, whether on foot, bike or behind the wheel. 

[puukao]

I was killed by a drunk driver.  My family got 400 baht.  

 

I took my family on a trip last weekend, knowing how dangerous it was.  We all died.  9 kids under the age of 11.

 

but we got cheap food!!!

 

it amazes me how people risk their families lives on these roads, just to save money!!!!!

 

 

[JAG]

2 hours ago, Ace of Pop said:

Unmarked Cars certainly do have a bigger deterrent factor in the World,but here I'm not sure they would .


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

No "pose value" anyway.....

 

Interestingly there is a "Highway Patrol" police unit near here. They have half a dozen or so big cars - huge shields emblazoned on the doors, big flashing light units on the roof etc....

 

The only time I have ever seen them on the road is "top and tailing" a motorcade.

[Sphere]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Drunk driving and speeding were blamed for over 78 percent of road accidents

 

Congrats....they've got 50% of the "drink - don't drive" slogan right.

[MorristheRunt]

6 minutes ago, JAG said:

No "pose value" anyway.....

 

Interestingly there is a "Highway Patrol" police unit near here. They have half a dozen or so big cars - huge shields emblazoned on the doors, big flashing light units on the roof etc....

 

The only time I have ever seen them on the road is "top and tailing" a motorcade.

We had this where I live on New Years eve, people who we cant talk about were in town, the roads were closed for 20 mins whilst they passed through...utter chaos and more BIB in one area than I have ever seen

[trainman34014]

2 hours ago, CGW said:

Be interesting to see the true statistics for a "normal" weekend, how many people die and are injured when it is not a holiday time and what is the increase in accidents during the NY period?

 

 

Would be interesting to see 'true' statistics in this country....period !

[Grubster]

I think one of the biggest problems is that when something bad happens most Thais attribute that to bad luck, even if they were drunk driving on the wrong side of the road speeding. They don't think in terms of illegal, irresponsible or stupidity. Just luck.

           Kind of like when some of my buddies say "unlucky" when I hit a horrible golf shot.

[gemguy]

3 hours ago, does said:

I think you misunderstand my point. I am talking about the main cause. If alcohol was banned, there still would be deadly accidents. But statistically, see below:

 

 

Drink driving was the major cause of road accident, accounting for 48.86%, followed by speeding (33.3%).

http://www.chiangraitimes.com/the-4th-day-thailands-new-year-holiday-reports-199-dead-2099-injuries.html

 

 

 

 

 

Another factor of course is the sheer amount of motor vehicles on the road.

A recent motor trend related news article claimed that 2.4 million vehicles were purchased and further adding to the number of vehicles on the road in just this last year....and all the further more road related incidents and events. 

I sometimes joke with Taxi cab drivers about just how many of those drivers buy a drivers license with the car purchase and provided to them regardless if they have ever driven a motor vehicle or not, while many have no experience at all...None....and that same day merrily driving about while you can surmise that many ( more than a few ) of them are going to be drunk drivers as now they have a means to cruise about from drinking venue to drinking venue and or drive home drunk after a night out celebrating the addition of the new car in their life......so dinner and drinks are in order...lol

Later on,  it simply becomes a matter of routine conduct on their part with no fear of the law and or any of the implications to be considered.

 

Cheers

 

[Beats56]

5 hours ago, licka said:

Speeding and alcohol account for most accidents ALL year round

Do we really need education ministers and others to tell us this

 

Seems no one is listening

 

[Laughing Gravy]

Yes and in the 16 years I have been here it is the same every year and nothing is ever learned from it. The same at Songkran so if I sound pessimistic and don't expect anything to change do you wonder why.

[snoopy21]

6 hours ago, arithai12 said:

The root problem is that driver licence tests are a joke.

The driver's irresponsible attitude is also one of the root problems. It is not rare to see the motorcyclists driving opposite direction in a One way road or Soi.

[licka]

13 minutes ago, Beats56 said:

Seems no one is listening

 

I guess its in their upbringing

See dad and granddad drive pissed with family = it must be ok so I can do 

[NCC1701A]

Breaking News:

"Thai government discovers drunk driving and speeding is dangerous.

Announces they will inform the rest of the world of their discovery."

[Basil B]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

Drunk driving and speeding were blamed for over 78 percent of road accidents

 

Probably a higher percentage were Thai drivers... and apart from drinking alcohol the Thai standard of driving is a major factor...

[sioux2012]

after reading all the posts from our " must comment TV panel" of experts.

I now see what the ROOT of this problem is:

1. drunk while in control

2. Speeding

3. stupidity

4. corruption

5. lack of law enforcement

6. Education

7. Licence test is a joke

8. lack of vehicle maintenance 

9. Not looking

10. Mai pen rai attitude

11. impatience

12. to many cars on the road.

 

well well well, I can see why the officials are having a hard time pin pointing the root of this problem.

If our panel of TV experts cant agree on at most 3 problems to tackle head on first, how do we expect the Thai government to?

 

Enjoy it, this is Thailand... you live here because your countries didn't appeal to you and Thailand offers you all a better life style.

If it didnt.....Why are you here? or is it you are not allowed back to where you are from (more truth in that, than one wants to admit)

 

[dcnx]

Some people are just not mature or mentally evolved enough to handle motor vehicles. 

[Jonmarleesco]

20 hours ago, webfact said:

Drunk driving was blamed for 43.86 percent of the accidents while speeding was blamed for 33.29 percent of the accidents.

In short, the usual 100% ratio of stupidity.

[spidermike007]

On 1/2/2017 at 4:33 AM, leeneeds said:

We have had two deaths so far in my local village, one a drunk motor bike rider, the other death was a pick up slamming into a motor bike,

the driver of both the pick and motor bike were sober, ( NOT LOOKING ) both proportionately to blame,

 

When the skill set of driving a vehicle is non existant prior to getting access to a licence making the driver / rider legal 

The carnage will continue,  Having a Thai friend who was picked up on the 25th for being drunk behind the wheel, he was locked up overnight

released in the morning, faced court the following day paid 6000 baht fine and had his license returned,

 

Living and being part of the culture in Thailand has some totally fantastic aspects, 

and some totally bewildering ones , 

 

 

 

This is exactly what I have been talking about. They are not serious about this problem, at all.

More jawboning, from the master himself. If he was serious about protecting his people, he would have done it from day one. The RTP are not interested in traffic safety, and the government has no interest in public safety. And the carnage continues, and Thailand continues it's place as number two in the world (after war torn Libya) for road deaths per capita. At least they are number two in something! There are a hundred things that could be done to protect the people, and prevent more accidents. Start with law enforcement, and the enforcing of laws that are already on the books. Serious fines for speeding, impounding of vehicles, with serious fines for drunk driving, long prison terms for manslaughter, caused by drivers who carelessly mow people down, regardless of how influential or connected, or wealthy they are. Incease the penalties severely for fleeing the scene of an accident. I do not think there is currently any penalty for that. And how about a really novel idea? Have the highway police actually patrol the highway, instead of playing cards in the office. The only time I ever see them is after an accident. There is a concept known as a deterrent, which is virtually unknown in this country.

 

You make obnoxious behavior, dangerous behavior, and careless driving on the highways punishable, and people will think twice about doing it. Every single time I am on the highways I see people doing things they would never even consider doing in California, as the consequences are simply too high. Here they know they can get away with almost anything. They know Little P. and the highway police are not serious people. 

[outsider]

So druhk driving and speeding are not the cause of accidents during other times of the year?