Motorbike accident deaths: Thailand number one in the world

[webfact]

Motorbike accident deaths: Thailand number one in the world

 

Picture: Manager (file photo)

 

BANGKOK: -- Experts at a conference promoting a motorcycle safety campaign have said that Thailand is number one in motorcycle deaths.

 

On average 5,500 motorcyclists die annually in Thailand and the figures are just going up and up despite measures to try and stop the increase.

 

And the problem is particularly bad among the nation's youth, reported Manager.

 

Some 2,500 under twenties are dying annually on the roads.

 

 

The experts have now called on manufacturers of bikes in Thailand to use available technology to limit speeds to 90 kilometers per hour.

 

They said that the problem rests with the fact that speed sells but also that speed kills.

 

It was stated that bike manufacturers were often obliged to install safety features for the export market that were not insisted upon for sales locally.

 

Thanapong Jinwong, a road safety advisor speaking at the launch of "Safety Bike" said that deaths in motorcycle accidents are going up and up unabated.

 

While the country has the dubious distinction of being number two in all road deaths per capita it was number one in motorcycle fatalities, he said.

 

"We have all the industrial capabilities with very little of the safety features," he lamented.

 

"There needs to be more regulations for bikes slated for local sale", he suggested.

 

While the experts accepted that driving habits and helmet use were vital the actions of the rider were only one part of the deadly equation.

 

Campaign leader Wanchai Meesiri said: "Everyone always points to the riders themselves but we also need to look closely at the vehicles and the roads".

 

Dr Jinda Jaroenpornphanit said that everyone concerned needs to get to the root causes of the problem.

 

"At Songkran over the last ten years we have seen no lessening of accidents despite so called safety campaigns," he said. "In fact the deaths continue to rise".

 

He said his own students had died and he was tired of seeing the needless death of people, many of whom were very young.

 

He had studied for seven years in Japan and it was a source of shame to him when people there pointed to the fact of Thais not wearing helmets, using the sidewalks or going the wrong way down roads.

 

While he accepted the responsibility lay with riders it was also very important not to forget the responsibility of the manufacturers.

 

"As much as driving habits we need to look at the vehicles themselves. Computer technology exists to limit speeds".

 

He said that 90 kilometers was too fast but if there was a cap on that speed as well as a campaign to slow motorcyclists down to 60 kilometers an hour that would have a dramatic effect on the figures.

 

He suggested that arguments that motorcyclists need high speeds to overtake were groundless.

 

A combination of driver training, helmet and safety gear usage, stopping drink driving and the cooperation of manufacturers was what was needed to begin to address the death toll.

 

All were in agreement that continuing to follow the path of recent years would have no success and result in the unnecessary death of thousands of people in the years to come.

 

Now was the time for a rethink and change, they said.

 

Source: Manager

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-04-11

[Thaiwrath]

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thailand is number one in motorcycle deaths.

 

And, probably number one in collecting fines for not wearing a helmet.

Just about puts thing in perspective !

Edited April 11, 2017 by Thaiwrath

[clockman]

I knew they would be No1 at something!

[boomerangutang]

Let me count the ways.......

[dcnx]

Well done, Thailand. Another achievement to be proud of.

[KhunBENQ]

Experts needed to find such an ingenious solution?

Some x% of accidents might be affected.

Completely away from the real problems.

 

 

[tracker1]

Here we go again blame the manufacturers because there is nothing wrong with the riders naturally !

[Misterwhisper]

Yes, sure (yawn), it's solely speed that kills, not the non-existing driving skills among motorists and their total disregard for their own safety and that of others (yawn again).

 

A motorbike crash can be just as deadly at 40 kmh as at 60 or 90. Ask any expert. But not Thai "experts", of course, because they know s**t (as glaringly obvious from the OP). 

[ajarngreg]

The experts have now called on manufacturers of bikes in Thailand to use available technology to limit speeds to 90 kilometers per hour.

 

Just falling on your head from a bicycle can kill you. Nothing makes any sense if people do not wear good helmets. Not the plastic crap ones. 

 

 The educational system is also at fault. Watch three kids driving to school on one bike and neither cops nor teachers do anything? 

 

  Would such a speed limit prevent accidents? I doubt it. 

 

 

      

Edited April 11, 2017 by ajarngreg

[ajarngreg]

3 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

Yes, sure (yawn), it's solely speed that kills, not the non-existing driving skills among motorists and their total disregard for their own safety and that of others (yawn again).

 

A motorbike crash can be just as deadly at 40 kmh as at 60 or 90. Ask any expert. But not Thai "experts", of course, because they know s**t (as glaringly obvious from the OP). 

 

They know a lot of s.it...

[jaltsc]

“the figures are just going up and up despite measures to try and stop the increase…There needs to be more regulations for bikes slated for local sale…”

 

More useless statements and "efforts" that are used to try and make it look as though Thailand is addressing this problem.

 

The main reason for all these deaths is that Thais do not know how to drive. Period. There are no adequate driver training programs and driving tests. There is no uniform enforcement of laws to control, speed, underage drivers, ignoring traffic signals, driving in the wrong lane, ignoring right of way, etc. 

 

As long as the Thai authorities spend all their efforts to make it looks that they are addressing this problem instead of taking effective action to stop the carnage, nothing will change. 

Edited April 11, 2017 by jaltsc

[cloudhopper]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwinism

[SiamBeast]

Charles Darwin explained this in a very long but simple therory about natural selection.

 

The problem isn't the enforcement, the speed, the booze, etc. the problem is just stupidity.

[vadid]

Imagine how much higher the death rate would be if they didn't use the sidewalk. Come on guys, get onto the road, make that number one spot secure.

[kkerry]

Vietnam solved the problem of people not wearing helmets by confiscating the bikes of those who didn't comply.

This does of course require a police force that can't easily be paid off, and who will enforce the law, so might not be possible in Thailand...

[wvavin]

Must be those Japanese bikes but assembled at Burma. Definitely is not the fault of the riders.

[silverhawk_usa]

So the same motorcycles, with the same current speed capabilities do not run up the massive death toll in other countries. But in Thailand limiting the speed of the bike is the solution.  I don't think so. 

[akirasan]

Speed kills?

Pulling out of an intersection onto a main road without looking or stopping kills

Riding with no lights at night kills

Riding the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic kills

Not wearing a helmet kills

Get all these sorted out first then start worrying about what speed people are doing...I've never seen such moronic behaviour anywhere in the world as I've experienced on the roads here. 

Edited April 11, 2017 by akirasan

[dabhand]

Not downplaying the horrendous motorcycle death toll in Thailand in any way but these 'experts' need to review their findings regarding which country is No.1

 

Even going back to 2011/2012 the figures for India show deaths at approx. 33k with 23.2%(2012) of 142k(2011) fatalities being 'two-wheeler' related.

http://www.jotr.in/temp/JOrthopTraumatolRehabil611-726248_020102.pdf

 

Makes a good headline, but seems to be lacking in the facts department.

[evadgib]

Audible indicators & an immobilizer preventing bikes (or CARS!) being driven with less than it's full compliment of functioning bulbs would be a good start; as would...

 

Edited April 11, 2017 by evadgib

[Moonlover]

56 minutes ago, webfact said:

At Songkran over the last ten years we have seen no lessening of accidents despite so called safety campaigns," he said. "In fact the deaths continue to rise".

There, some one 'up there' has noticed what we've saying on this forum for years! but will it change anything?

Edited April 11, 2017 by Moonlover

[gandalf12]

So you cant get killed at 90kph? Really?

[ChakaKhan]

23 minutes ago, vadid said:

Imagine how much higher the death rate would be if they didn't use the sidewalk. Come on guys, get onto the road, make that number one spot secure.

Got in argument today with a thai how she says we walk in the street-

I do but i think the chinese are a bit more to blame---however i pointed

out i wouldnt have to if the sidewalks were in good order and werent

LOADED UP with cars--mbikes and vendors sellins sh*t--no response...

[gandalf12]

45 minutes ago, ajarngreg said:

The experts have now called on manufacturers of bikes in Thailand to use available technology to limit speeds to 90 kilometers per hour.

 

Just falling on your head from a bicycle can kill you. Nothing makes any sense if people do not wear good helmets. Not the plastic crap ones. 

 

 The educational system is also at fault. Watch three kids driving to school on one bike and neither cops nor teachers do anything? 

 

  Would such a speed limit prevent accidents? I doubt it. 

 

 

      

It would if the speed limit of the bike was fixed to a maximum of 1kph otherwise not a chance

[ChakaKhan]

Of course the forest for the trees

 

Maybe i need to be the guy to SELL those

useless gadgets to limit speeds--just to have

thais hack into it to bypass it....just like the guy who

sold all the schools tablets--hows that working out???

 

Thailand is proud to say that all the students are masters of candy crush!!!

[Dmaxdan]

A friend of mine recently knocked a motorcyclist off their bike. This was the all to common classic undertakeing manoeuvre at speed of a vehicle turning left off the highway. Luckily the guy wasn't seriously hurt. But what was interesting was that the police told him that a motorcyclist has every right to undertake a car turning left even if the vehicle is halfway through the manoeuvre! 

 

Mind boggling..........

[heybruce]

21 minutes ago, dabhand said:

Not downplaying the horrendous motorcycle death toll in Thailand in any way but these 'experts' need to review their findings regarding which country is No.1

 

Even going back to 2011/2012 the figures for India show deaths at approx. 33k with 23.2%(2012) of 142k(2011) fatalities being 'two-wheeler' related.

http://www.jotr.in/temp/JOrthopTraumatolRehabil611-726248_020102.pdf

 

Makes a good headline, but seems to be lacking in the facts department.

India has 1.25 billion people. Thailand has 67 million.  On a per capita basis Thailand has three times the motorcycle deaths as India.

[evadgib]

6 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

A friend of mine recently knocked a motorcyclist off their bike. This was the all to common classic undertakeing manoeuvre at speed of a vehicle turning left off the highway. Luckily the guy wasn't seriously hurt. But what was interesting was that the police told him that a motorcyclist has every right to undertake a car turning left even if the vehicle is halfway through the manoeuvre! 

 

Mind boggling..........

How about his insurers? 

[chicowoodduck]

How about removing the horn?  That way all the Thai riders will not be using them to run the red lights.....geez....?

[Moonlover]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

On average 5,500 motorcyclists die annually in Thailand

I'm confused. There's nothing unusual in that, when it comes to this topic, but take a look at this pie chart.

 

It shows that motorcycle deaths amount to 73% of the total here in Thailand.

 

It seems to be the accepted norm that Thailand has an annual RTA death rate of 24,000 per annum. 73% of 24,000 is 17,520 M/C related deaths.

 

The lead story states that there are 5,500 M/C related deaths per annum.

 

So who's hiding the rest?

Edited April 11, 2017 by Moonlover