61 people killed EVERY DAY: More damning stats reveal the carnage on Thailand’s roads

[rooster59]

61 people killed EVERY DAY: More damning stats reveal the carnage on Thailand’s roads

 

 

 

New statistics released by the Don’t Drink Drive Foundation have revealed that the number of people killed on Thailand’s roads have soared in 2017.

 

The Foundation says that almost 2,500 more people were killed on Thailand’s roads already this year, compared to 2016.

 

On average, 61 people are killed every day on Thailand’s road, the Foundation said.

 

In 2016, 9,666 people were found dead at the scene of a road accident. However in 2017, this figure jumps to 12,078 people killed.

 

And that figure is likely to be considerably higher, with the latest stats only accounting for people who were pronounced dead at the scene of an accident, the Thai News Agency reported.

 

The stats don’t take into account people who died on the way to or later in hospital having been involved in a road traffic accident. The Foundation said this is because those stats will not be available until the end of the year.

 

Earlier this month it was revealed that the total death toll in 2016 was 22,356 - that was 2,877 up from the figure for 2015 which was 19,479.

 

With these latest stats being released in November, also not included are figures for the new year holiday, which along with the Songkran festival normally sees a spike in road accidents and fatalities.

 

The damning statistics come despite government officials introducing numerous measures to try and reduce fatalities on Thailand’s roads. One such measure introduced earlier this year was to ban people riding in the cargo area of a pickup truck.

 

However, the report by Thai News Agency highlights the number of minivans, which have also been the subject of increased regulation this year, being involved in road fatalities in Thailand.

 

There were 217 minivan accidents between January and September in 2017, compared to 226 in total in 2016.

 

The report says that already this year 107 people died in accidents involving minivans, compared to 130 deaths in 2016.

 

However, it is not known if these stats include the 15 people who died in minivan crashes in Singburi and Saraburi on Thursday and Friday last week.

 

Poor maintenance of minivans, bursting tires, fires, drivers falling asleep while driving and speeding were among the main causes of minivan accidents.

 

Foundation secretary general Dr Taejing Siripanich said Thailand’s traffic laws and the mindset of drivers were to blame.

 

He said that drivers in Thailand regularly drive under the influence of alcohol, use their smartphones behind the wheel and show little consideration for others when driving.

 

He also said that people are not afraid to break traffic laws and called on police and associated agencies to get tough on drivers who break the law.

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-11-26

[George Bowman]

[DavisH]

talk talk talk....let's see some action!

[canuckamuck]

Worst drivers in the world, that is an amazing achievement, considering how horrible people drive in some other countries.

It boils down to no sense of caution coupled with no law enforcement. The only way you can charged with dangerous driving here is to have an accident. Otherwise, Somchai's your uncle.

[darksidedog]

Shocking and disgraceful that despite the Governments "best" efforts the numbers of dead keep rising. Aside from the obvious total lack of traffic law enforcement, the article is entirely correct in asserting that Thai people have totally the wrong mindset when it comes to driving. Laws don't apply to them and they will drive fast, recklessly and drunk, and fat chunks of them think that it is fate that kills people not poor driving. It is that attitude that needs to change, but it is unlikely to do so quickly, if ever.

[mtls2005]

I think there is still some confusion regarding the under-reporting of statistics. For example, they may only be counting those found on the road dead (FORD) and not those who subsequently pass away from injuries.

 

On the plus side, the percentage of people who believe road survival/death is up to "fate" (the 'add more amulets crowd') is down to 32% form 50% just a few years ago. So that's progress.

 

 

 

[Peterw42]

I presume a large percentage of accidents would be when bikes and cars/pickups collide, Maybe a step in the right direction would be separating them. Bikes only for small soi's, suburbs etc, dedicated bike lanes on major roads. It works on the express-ways as bikes are not allowed and no bike car accidents.

[ezzra]

When i travel long distances, what i don't see on the roads is police

presence on bikes and cruisers, and when i see them, they pay no

minds to the traffic around them, you can fly by them speeding and

you'll not get stopped, a lot more police cars and bikes needed to be

patrolling the roads keeping drivers honest, stop and search for alcohol

and drugs use, and heavy fines on the spot for badly behaving drivers, 

put the fear in the hearts and minds of all drivers, show of force urgently

needed, not just the occasional  road blocks....

[Cadbury]

Congratulations PM Prayut for this deplorable achievement. Take a bow!

The PM has by self appointment made himself responsible for everything in Thailand. As such the buck stops with him for the road toll simply because he has NOT enforced those with the authority  to do something positive to reduce the toll. 

If the police spent more time doing their jobs instead of gazing at their smartphones or posing in groups for self congratulatory photoshoots then maybe some lives would be saved. 

[Cadbury]

32 minutes ago, DavisH said:

talk talk talk....let's see some action!

Action in Thailand translates to "form a committee". 

[YetAnother]

50 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

and show little consideration for others when driving.

cultural, can't fix that

[Russell17au]

19 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

Congratulations PM Prayut for this deplorable achievement. Take a bow!

The PM has by self appointment made himself responsible for everything in Thailand. As such the buck stops with him for the road toll simply because he has NOT enforced those with the authority  to do something positive to reduce the toll. 

If the police spent more time doing their jobs instead of gazing at their smartphones or posing in groups for self congratulatory photoshoots then maybe some lives would be saved. 

it is not just PM Prayut, this has been going on long before him it has become part of Thai culture. What is needed is a much better approach than just road check points it needs those police out patrolling the roads in cars and on bikes with much higher fines where the police write out a ticket and it is paid into a central place and the money not put in the pockets of the police officer. So there are 2 separate issues here 1: more police on the roads patrolling and issuing tickets. 2: corruption in the police force. Both these issues need to be fixed and then the numbers might drop

[Thian]

23 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

Action in Thailand translates to "form a committee". 

A committee who will do a total crackdown for 1 whole week. In this case they will have many roadblocks where they fine motocycles who are willing to stop for them.

 

After the week it's same old....

 

It's all because of the lazy police....61 killed on the spot on the road EVERY DAY...thank you police, when will you go for the worldtournament candycrush??

[Thian]

3 minutes ago, Russell17au said:

it is not just PM Prayut, this has been going on long before him it has become part of Thai culture. What is needed is a much better approach than just road check points it needs those police out patrolling the roads in cars and on bikes with much higher fines where the police write out a ticket and it is paid into a central place and the money not put in the pockets of the police officer. So there are 2 separate issues here 1: more police on the roads patrolling and issuing tickets. 2: corruption in the police force. Both these issues need to be fixed and then the numbers might drop

The police will first need new bulletproof vests for that....

[sfokevin]

#thoughts&prayers 

[craigt3365]

52 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

Worst drivers in the world, that is an amazing achievement, considering how horrible people drive in some other countries.

It boils down to no sense of caution coupled with no law enforcement. The only way you can charged with dangerous driving here is to have an accident. Otherwise, Somchai's your uncle.

They are far from the worst drivers in the world. Quite good considering there is barely any police dealing with traffic violations and can literally do anything you want. The only risk is a small fine typically paid on the spot. No records of the infraction.

 

It's all about the police.

[faraday]

2 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

They are far from the worst drivers in the world. Quite good considering there is barely any police dealing with traffic violations and can literally do anything you want. The only risk is a small fine typically paid on the spot. No records of the infraction.

 

It's all about the police.

Who do you think are the worst drivers?

 

[canuckamuck]

8 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

They are far from the worst drivers in the world. Quite good considering there is barely any police dealing with traffic violations and can literally do anything you want. The only risk is a small fine typically paid on the spot. No records of the infraction.

 

It's all about the police.

Are you talking about their ability to drive a car with skill, or their ability to drive their car with wisdom, care, and attention? I think they are mostly highly skilled, you have to be to survive. But the chances they take...

[jenny2017]

. Poor maintenance of minivans, bursting tires, fires, drivers falling asleep while driving and speeding were among the main causes of minivan accidents.

 

    Poor maintenance of motorbikes, bicycle tires, no helmets, three people on a motorbike while driving and speeding were among the main causes of motorbike accidents

 

   

 

   

 

     

 

[moonseeker]

No education, no respect for anything or anybody. And Pattaya seems to be the hub of street maniacs. Deplorable... No hope it will ever change. And still many call it paradise... Amazing.... MS>

[Cadbury]

20 minutes ago, Russell17au said:

this has been going on long before him (Prayut) it has become part of Thai culture

Agreed but PM Prayut has been in the chair now for 3+ years and it is him alone who has created a world record in road deaths for Thailand. He is the one ultimately responsible and he is the one who is doing practically nought to reduce the toll.

You suggestions are valid and would help. If only the PM would act to force those people to do their jobs. He seems to be able to enforce everyone else in the country to do as he wants.....why not the police? A protected species?

[yoon01]

Highway 1095 in Mae Hong Son, the race season for heavy bikes, mini vans and tourist with Bangkok plates is open again. Sunflower, Christmas.. 

[midas]

58 minutes ago, ezzra said:

When i travel long distances, what i don't see on the roads is police

presence on bikes and cruisers, and when i see them, they pay no

minds to the traffic around them, you can fly by them speeding and

you'll not get stopped, a lot more police cars and bikes needed to be

patrolling the roads keeping drivers honest, stop and search for alcohol

and drugs use, and heavy fines on the spot for badly behaving drivers, 

put the fear in the hearts and minds of all drivers, show of force urgently

needed, not just the occasional  road blocks....

" a lot more police cars and bikes needed to be  patrolling the roads "

 

It's never gonna happen. They will continue to devote the police resources to fining foreigners for not wearing a crash helmet

[AhFarangJa]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

The damning statistics come despite government officials introducing numerous measures to try and reduce fatalities on Thailand’s roads. One such measure introduced earlier this year was to ban people riding in the cargo area of a pickup truck.

 

Yes, it was introduced, then they did a quicker u-turn than a minivan on a motorway, .......because people complained......was it not re-worded to say.....'OK then you can ride in the back........but no more than six  people.'........pathetic......

[Shoeless Joe]

And it's not only Thai drivers / riders who are the culprits.

 

I see many middle-aged (and older) farangs struggling to cope with the large motorbike they've felt compelled to buy to try and recature their youth (take a trip to Pai and you'll see what I mean). Then there are the farang riders of smaller motorbikes with no crash helmet, driving "Thai style" on the wrong side of the road.

 

The groups of cyclists who believe that they have the right to cycle 2 and 3 abreast along the road (not forgetting the vegan lunatic(s) recently cycling thoughtlessly on the wrong side of the road from Doi Suthep temple!)

 

Chinese (and other) tourists who treat a road as though it's a footpath, stopping to read maps etc and putting themselves and others in danger.

 

Finally and not withstanding all of that, there the farang car drivers who (either wittingly or unwittingly) get involved in dangerous, confrontational situations because they just have to prove a point, rather than encouraging a poorly driven car to get as far away as possible.

 

And yes, I probably drive too quickly (that's what my wife says) but for the most part and like many others, I try to have some thought and consideration for other road users.

 

Regards,

 

Joe

[cms22]

Sorry if it offends but as a UK chap who has lived/driven in Thailand for nearly two decades I actually am convinced that Thai people (and, of course, I speaking generally) can attribute their horrendous driving skills, complete lack of spacial awareness, and complete lack of consideration for other people to a lack of common sense, IQ and general education.

People are thick. They fail to understand the basic rules and general principles of driving and they die (or cause others to die) on the roads.

Sorry if offends but I believe it to be true.  

C

[BigBadGeordie]

1 hour ago, mtls2005 said:

 

On the plus side, the percentage of people who believe road survival/death is up to "fate" (the 'add more amulets crowd') is down to 32% form 50% just a few years ago. So that's progress.

That's because the "missing 18%" have died in road crashes during the intervening period.

[White Boong]

Legally culling the population?

Sad for the huge loss every week but something has to be done

[masuk]

1 hour ago, Cadbury said:

Action in Thailand translates to "form a committee". 

The only action I ever read about is when Senior police are transferred to office duties.

[burgdawg]

yes, kon Tai are very good drivers, but drive TOO FAST with no margin of safety.....little margin for error.

When the power of the amulets run out---it is human carnage and sad for all families involved.