109 Dead, 1,300 Injured In Road Accidents - So Far

[george]

109 dead, 1,300 injured in road accidents

BANGKOK: -- A total of 109 people were killed and 1,300 injured in 1,193 road accidents throughout Thailand in the most dangerous first two days of the seven day New Year travel period.

The number of deaths is nearly 17 per cent lower than earlier projected while the number of injured persons was 15 per cent lower than forecast.

Transport Minister Thira Haocharoen said most of the accidents were resulted from drinking-related driving, 37 per cent, followed by speeding, 21 per cent, and cutting in front of other vehicles -- slightly over 10 per cent.

Most accidents involved motorcycles (86 per cent) followed by pickup trucks 7 per cent, and passenger sedans nearly three per cent (2.75 per cent), Admiral Thira said. Most of of the accidents occurred between 4 pm (1600 hours) and 8 pm (2000 hours).

The highest death toll in the past two days was reported in Nakhon Pathom west of Bangkok and Songkhla in the south, with six deaths in each province.

Adm. Thira said people are continuing to leave Bangkok and are on their way to upcountry to celebrate the New Year and they should take extra precautions while driving by not drinking alcohol, wearing helmets on motorcycles, using safety belts in vehicles, controlling speed, and cooperation with officials at check-points.

Highway police said traffic on highways in the past two days was quite smooth except on northeastern routes.

Chaisawat Kittipornpaibul, Permanent Secretary for Transport, said he would try to control the rising number of motorcycles, especially upcountry where most drivers are youths to young to qualify for driving licenses.

--TNA 2006-12-30

[TAWP]

How about adding 'premeditated' to any deaths or injuries caused by a drunk driver?

They willingly put theirs and others life at risk and should be sentenced accordingly.

[Richb2004v2]

There’s no money to be made by anyone in sentencing anyone for drink driving, so I don’t see that happening soon.

Put it down to Thai culture. They have their special ways of doing things, including drink driving. Ours is not to judge.

How about adding 'premeditated' to any deaths or injuries caused by a drunk driver?

They willingly put theirs and others life at risk and should be sentenced accordingly.

[KireB]

Ofcourse we can have our judgements and opinions!

It's a free world!

[loong]

Source http://www.grsproadsafety.org/?pageid=28

A terrible waste of life

exert from above link

Road Safety Situation

According to official statistics (police), 12,858 people were killed in road crashes in 2005. However the real number might even be higher. According to documentation from the health sector, the real death toll could be 20,000 or more if victims who die after being removed from the crash scene are included.

The primary causes of road crashes are the dangerous mix of motorcyclists and larger vehicles, alcohol impaired driving, and excessive speed. About 10% of road deaths happen during the two national holidays: New Year (6 days) December/January and Songkran (9 days) in April.

In 2005 the road fatality rate were 20.6/105 population and 5.09/104 vehicles.

According to Thailand's crash records, the main features of the country's road crash and injury problem are:

The working adult age group (25-59 years) represents the majority of those dying in road crashes (over 50%) followed by young people aged 15-24 years who account for 29% of the total fatalities.

Nearly 10% of all deaths occur during 2 holiday periods, New Year and Songkran.

45% of deaths in 2004 occurred on the national highways, half of them involving motorcycles

44% of the total number of road crash injuries in Thailand occur in Bangkok compared with only 6%of the country's fatalities

In average less than 17% of all injured used seat belts and less than 15% used crash helmets. Numbers are higher in Bangkok where enforcement is stricter

Of all injured : 75% are male

32% of the vehicles involved in crashes are motorcycles and 28% are cars

The Police identified excessive speed as the most common cause of crashes followed by unsafe passing and illegal overtaking

In Khon Kaen Province (Northern Thailand) 81% of total injured patients admitted to hospitals in 2002 were motorcycle injury victims. It is believe that this is likely to reflect the situation in other provinces too.

Hospital data indicates that over a third of injured drivers and riders had been drinking alcohol

While the actual statistics should be treated with some caution due to possible under-reporting, analyses indicate the primary causes of road crashes: excessive speed involving mixed traffic (also vulnerable road users), drinking and driving, dangerous overtaking and the poor use of helmets.

Edited December 30, 2006 by loong

[lookchin]

There's no money to be made by anyone in sentencing anyone for drink driving, so I don't see that happening soon.

Put it down to Thai culture. They have their special ways of doing things, including drink driving. Ours is not to judge.

How about adding 'premeditated' to any deaths or injuries caused by a drunk driver?

They willingly put theirs and others life at risk and should be sentenced accordingly.

good man, ours is not to judge, thuk thong na krap!

[lookchin]

Anyone, Anywhere take it easy on the roads if you are driving! If you are taking a lift with family or relatives here, think twice. My gf left today for the countryside, thankfully she got home safe. Her uncle drives like a nutter, and i didnt take up on his offer, i gonna take the bus ( and wait ). Subsequently for me I get to stay alone for new years. Her family probably already do not trust me for not being with them, but anyway i would like to see 2550 alive with new pants. There is a lot of bad traffic here now. Take it easy ok and enjoy the new year!

Have a big fat new year!

Lookchin

[Tony Clifton]

Did you have to flip a coin to decide between the bus or the uncle driving you? Odds are the same

[Berty]

Bangkok is always the best place to be during these times of madness.

[cdnvic]

Makes air safety worries on the way to Thailand seem trivial to the trip home from the airport.

[markuk]

its the same story every year, why dont they just ban all cars and motorbikes from the roads on these days!! bit far fetched i suppose but we wll know how much control this country needs!

[brahmburgers]

Which is crazier, New Year's of Songkran? It's a toss-up (of body parts). Thanks to Loong for the statistics. When I drive in Thailand - anytime of year, there's a mantra that plays in my head: "Ignorance and Rudeness make a bad mix." I could add 'extreme selfishness' to that equation, when we often see drivers in a hurry who care only for their own schedule - so they'll cut corners, run red lights, cut others off, ad nauseum. Someone in this thread said Bangkok is the safest place to be in particularly dangerous times like these. I venture that my 10 acres of rural tranquility in north Thailand are safer. Plus, I've got clean air, and about 20 different types birds chirping merrily outside my window. If Bangkokians want to pay 70 times more for their properties in gridlocked and gray Sukumvit/Silom - then that's their choice.

[george]

Update:

New Year death toll rises to 179

The death toll from road accidents in the first three dangerous days of the weeklong New Year holidays rose to 179, the permanent secretary for Interior announced Sunday.

Pongphayom Wasaphuti, a member of the Road Safety Centre, announced that on Saturday alone, 725 accidents killed 70 people and maimed 831 others.

The death toll stood at 109 at the end of Friday.

-- The Nation 2006-12-31

[ratcatcher]

There’s no money to be made by anyone in sentencing anyone for drink driving, so I don’t see that happening soon.

Put it down to Thai culture. They have their special ways of doing things, including drink driving. Ours is not to judge.

How about adding 'premeditated' to any deaths or injuries caused by a drunk driver?

They willingly put theirs and others life at risk and should be sentenced accordingly.

One killed, 10 injured when Chiang Mai-bound bus crashes into tree

Nakhon Sawan - An air-conditioned bus heading from Bangkok to Chiang Mai crashed into a tree in this northern province, killing one bus staff and injuring ten passengers.

Police said the accident happened at 2:30 am on the northbound Asia Highway in Nakhon Sawan's Muang district.

The bus staff, identified only as Yok, 18, was killed at the scene. Ten passengers were injured and rushed to a nearby hospital.

Passengers said they heard a loud noise from under the bus before it lost control and crashed into a tree on the roadside.

The bus driver fled the scene.

The Nation

Was he drunk? I doubt it as he successfully fled the scene. Very sad for the victims killed and injured. Holidays spoiled, families in mourning etc.

I hope we have a safer 2007.

[cdnvic]

The bus driver fled the scene.

I think there's a keyboard shortcut for that phrase at both the Post and The Nation

If Thailand ever goes to war all the other country will have to do is bump into the Thai tanks and the drivers will instinctively take off running.

[midas]

There’s no money to be made by anyone in sentencing anyone for drink driving, so I don’t see that happening soon.

Put it down to Thai culture. They have their special ways of doing things, including drink driving. Ours is not to judge.

How about adding 'premeditated' to any deaths or injuries caused by a drunk driver?

They willingly put theirs and others life at risk and should be sentenced accordingly.

But dont you think its just a little inconsistent that someones actions can directly cause the death

of another person in a drink driving incident - and they seem to get away with it in Thailand and yet

another person who possesses drugs for his or her own use can potentially be sentenced

to death - i just cant see the logic in those two different standards

[phillip2006]

I always wear a helmet drive safe but, it makes no difference what so ever as everyone else is driving like Evil Kenevil.

Another thing I have noticed is many of my Thai friends believe that you dont need a helmet if you are not going far. Up 2 the point that when me and the gf are about 5 mins from the house she will take her helmet off.

Also I have seen a number of Thais ( passengers for the most part ) carrying their helmets. It is easier 2 wear them than hold them. Has anyone else noticed this?

[cdnvic]

But dont you think its just a little inconsistent that someones actions can directly cause the death

of another person in a drink driving incident - and they seem to get away with it in Thailand and yet

another person who possesses drugs for his or her own use can potentially be sentenced

to death - i just cant see the logic in those two different standards

Using logic to explain Thai laws is like using physics to explain a Harry Potter film.