Road carnage: January death toll goes through the roof

[Mark mark]

Let's hear a breakdown on these figures, Speed, Drunks, Unsafe, Cars, Trucks and Motorcycles, and how many were wearing helmets.  And well by provinces also would be good as well. And then we can keep on working on it.  Still, not at all a good figure on the face of it though.

[thaibeachlovers]

9 minutes ago, Mark mark said:

Let's hear a breakdown on these figures, Speed, Drunks, Unsafe, Cars, Trucks and Motorcycles, and how many were wearing helmets.  And well by provinces also would be good as well. And then we can keep on working on it.  Still, not at all a good figure on the face of it though.

Helmets only work at low speeds in a collision. Hitting an unmoving object at 60kph would probably cause death despite the best helmet in the world. The problem as I see it is speed where it is unsafe ( speed is fine on good roads with good visibility and little traffic ), and dangerous overtaking. That can only be solved with education. If fines worked, there would not be a single incident of speeding in my home country.

Education is up to the Thai authorities.

I'd also like to see every mangled vehicle displayed prominently as a reminder.

[Bangkok Barry]

The latest figures I found after a brief search shows that in one month Thailand had nearly as many road deaths as the UK did in an entire year, with similar population numbers.

 

Provisional estimates on personal injury accidents on public roads in Great Britain, for the year ending June 2017.

Reported road casualties, compared with year ending June 2016 show:

• a decrease of 5% in road deaths to 1,710

In 2016 just under 180,000 were injured, a figure Thailand can match in a bad week, certainly in a month.

[Bangkok Barry]

5 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

That can only be solved with education.

 

No. Common sense. If you are stupid enough to drive the way Thais drive then no amount of education would help.

[lvr181]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Road carnage: January death toll goes through the roof

Who would have thought? 

[thailand49]

14 hours ago, wotsdermatter said:

Please, tell us if you travel in Europe< Canada, and the USA, if you see many police "managing traffic" because when I travel in other countries it is a rare occurrence to see police unless they are hiding somewhere with their radar guns or controlling traffic at collision scenes, etc.  While Thailand has a poor record other countries do not necessarily fare better, regardless of reports from worldwide agencies.

I will try to answer that for you?  I've spent 40 plus year working with Department of Transportation.  No country can provide enough staff on and off the road to reduce death what the goal is to create enough of a DOUBT through specific enforcement that DOUBT if caught will cause the offender to lose something of value even their freedom that itself is a form of enforcement.

Here the police responsibility isn't the same in many countries, others countries for good reason take the penalty phrase out of their hands. Here enforcement is like 1% when it is 24/7 in others and that includes creating DOUBT. 

Majority of us comes from the West, take a moment to think about it how we have been conditioned to think for a moment we might get caught like running a red light or going over the speed limit that we might get caught on camera or radar that itself keeps people from breaking the law enough to not end the problem but reduce it which is what Thailand needs to do.

The reason this country can't seem to reduce the problem is because the government is the problem. They come from the same system how do you convince a government who has taken the vehicle and it's laws of driving from the West and convince them without them loosing face that a stop sign means stops, how to correctly execute a proper left and right turn without them loosing face by asking for help instead of taking annual money from the W.H.O. to fix the problem with check points in which the police have no priority as to what to check for since they themselves really don't see the problem and thereafter go home doing exactly what they are stopping others from doing.

People are dying it is a national epidemic the only way for the problem to be reduced is the PM, if he has any balls, give the whole process of fixing the problem to a outside enforcement body with total control to replace anyone who doesn't want to do their job! 

Declare Section 44, would be a start..  give me a call?  I think I care more about Thai people dying than this government.

 

[TKDfella]

While I do agree a better police presence might be a good idea but I have seen drivers, motorbikes jump red lights at major intersections where police are present (albeit in their little Sun shelter). Until there are heavier fines or even jail sentence plus driving ban, things won't change.

[FitnessHealthTravel]

It’s a very sad state of affairs. 

[White Christmas13]

40 minutes ago, WHYWHY said:

Maybe its time the Powers that Be start being Powers.

Not worrying about other stuff 

Grow a Pair and start looking at this Serious Problem 

Get out their and Police not taking kick backs do your job if in law enforcement.

Start looking for Selutions get your heads out of your a-- 

Look at other countries tail gateting is Illegal in most countries 

Over taking unless safe to do so illegal 

Using Mobile Phones illegal 

How about changing road speeds instead of one constant Speed Fast and Don't care

 

In Australia you get fined $ 372 and lose 3 demerit points just for

holding your mobile whilst driving

[transam]

Mrs.Trans and I were narrowly taken out yesterday by daft stuff....Mrs.Trans was driving but I operated the hooter as Thai folk don't seem to do that....

[marko kok prong]

44 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

will go out of my way to avoid the busy single carriageway roads

You'd have to add a lot of kms to your journey trying to get to Uttaradit from Lampang without using the very dangerous two lane road. They are widening it but won't be dual carriageway the entire distance for decades.

 

BTW, the most dangerous U turn, probably on the planet, is on the dual carriageway between Lamphun and Lampang.

YES the u turns of death,with three or four pickups/cars lined up together,nudging into the fast lane.

[yussiesamui]

Citius, Altius, Fortius...Road Olympics!

[Pattaya28]

Again incorrect stats... if the reported official stat is 22,000 road deaths a year, this stat is well below the average, therefore not correct. 

[stbkk]

Having lived and driven in Thailand for getting on for 20 years, I have no doubt that Thai driving is some of the worst in the world. However, to me that does not completely explain the carnage. 

 

For the last 6 months or so I have been working in Mumbai, and I'd say the driving skills and lack of respect for traffic laws are not much different to Thailand. I've seen numerous cars/motorcycles/bicycles weaving in and out of traffic, going the wrong way on roads, jumping red lights etc. etc., not so different from where I live in Bangkok, all told.

 

BUT: I have not seen one single accident so far, not even a small fender bender!

 

The two key differences I have noticed:

1. When there are cops around (not so often, but more often than in Bangkok) The drivers obey the traffic rules - all of them!

2. Indian drivers have consideration for safety, both their own and other peoples. When one of the (very frequent) idiot driving episodes occurs, there is a huge amount of horn-blowing and arm waving, but they ALWAYS make sure they do their best to avoid an accident (or injury).

 

Giving way happens all of the time - ABSOLUTELY NONE of the mindless 'I MUST GO FIRST' or 'GET OUT OF MY WAY' attitude that is (in my opinion) as much/more of a cause of the carnage as the complete lack of driving skills of your average Thai.

  

[Odysseus123]

2 minutes ago, Pattaya28 said:

Again incorrect stats... if the reported official stat is 22,000 road deaths a year, this stat is well below the average, therefore not correct. 

 Quite.

 

Having experienced a certain buzz at being "Numbah one" they are now desperately back peddling-honesty never being their strong suit-but 30,000 seems near enough.

 

There are absolutely NO REWARDS for honesty in the kingdom of the blind.

 

 

[EnlightenedAtheist]

17 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Actually, he could not have predicted and planned for an eruption 10,000 km away, could he? There was no weather app in 1815, btw! LOL (And "you" (TV members)  thought you know it all!)

 

But, we digress!

 

I think we need to have some kind of analysis about when and how these accidents take place and why. I would be astounded if they were happening at 9 a.m. on a weekday, for instance! Ah! There are police checks, but everyone feel they can avoid them. Social network anyone? Competing with road safety is the vendors of alcohol in restaurants (and the govn't tax revenues). Are govn't "solliloquies" bringing people to drinking more? LOL Therein lies the issue. What are the incentives for all parties involved to change?

 

I believe that it would take a generation or two to remove these bad habits from the culture, at best. No govn't programs is going to make a dent in any of it in a few months. Still, the trend is distressing. The problem is that many believe that drinking-and-driving is okay, that they can handle it, that they know their limit. The true alcoholic always does, but in truth he does not know or care. There are many alcoholics here. We should be fair though. There are alcoholics in all countries. Still it seems that drinking to get drunk is popular here (too). Still, anti-smoking programs in some countries were successful. It is possible to do it with alcoholism. It would demand excellence in teaching (a govn't program that is based on sound pedagogy and persuasion techniques) and it would take a number of reforms and services (Is a life worth a tuk-tuk ride? What if the restaurant had to pay it? What if police was forcing restaurants to act responsibly). Unfortunately, there are other bigger issues. Amazing Thailand! It is all amazing. Make-belief. Ultimately, it would take intelligent planning to offset revenue losses. Are the people in charge really experts or have they just paid for their status or their badges? Are they accountable? How? Have any heads rolled (metaphorically)? Is there anyone who will ever take the keys off someone hands? All this losing face culture has to go, but that is so ingrained. With cars having cameras and everyone having phones, maybe we should reward people who catch those bad drivers in the act. Fear of retaliation seems to be the other side of that losing face culture. The culture must change. It starts when they are young. It will take one or two generations, if it ever happens. 

 

I read the Chinese and the Indians are trying to address their smoking issues. It is a bit late, but they are doing something about it. Don't expect blue skies in Beijing tomorrow though. Oh! They are building a lot of nuclear power plants. I would prefer cleaner, renewables. In the meantime,... In the mean time,...

 

 

[selftaopath]

15 hours ago, Thian said:

In Europe there are undercover cops in cars who also have videocams at all sides. If you drive too close to another car or stay on the fast lane when the slow lane is empty they will give you a huge fine...for speeding they have camera's littery everywhere, the ticket will come to your home. They also use cars with computerequipment who can read licenseplates and check if the car is insured or checked for safety yearly.

 

They also register the licenseplate and do it again after 50 km or so, they then calculate the travelled speed over that distance and will send a fine if necessary.

 

There's no way to do drive like a Thai in Europe, you'll get stopped by police within 10 minutes...and there's no way to bribe them at all. When they stop you for an offence they also check the whole car if all is working properly, if not more fines are written.

 

What you see on the Thai roads every day is unbelievable for the Europeans. It can be a primetime tv=show for them to watch Thai traffic.

 

I really can't understand why Thailand let this all happen, they do have police but they won't do their job...and even a big general can't fix that.

Soon the whole world will make jokes about driving like a Thai...and they totally deserve it.

 

As I recall, if the cops didn't stop an errant driver then another one driver would; probably to punch the crap outta the errant one. More than one way to teach as lesson - some think. lol 

[lvr181]

40 minutes ago, TKDfella said:

While I do agree a better police presence might be a good idea but I have seen drivers, motorbikes jump red lights at major intersections where police are present (albeit in their little Sun shelter). Until there are heavier fines or even jail sentence plus driving ban, things won't change.

Because the 'offender/s' have no fear of the Police presence because they hardly ever do anything anyhow.  And that is another part of the overall problem. 

[midas]

5 minutes ago, lvr181 said:

Because the 'offender/s' have no fear of the Police presence because they hardly ever do anything anyhow.  And that is another part of the overall problem. 

Agreed. 

The best practical example of this is to stand outside the police box on the corner of Pattaya Klang and 3rd Road and watch the traffic tearing down 3rd at high speed on the wrong side of the double yellow line just to beat the right turn green arrow.

As there are long distance coaches parked on the left it means the traffic heading north west along 3rd road is reduced to just one lane and they have to take evasive action to avoid these jokers with their me me me attitude.

Occasionally the police officer will poke his head out of the window and then the window will slide closed again. This kind of dangerous driving occurs hundreds of times every day and the police do nothing.

 

[Redline]

17 hours ago, gunderhill said:

Excellent  news, well done Junta, well done Thailand, but basically well done Thai People.

It is interesting that they are worried about their shrinking population, especially young people, and they do nothing to stop the carnage.  They do pay for your child being born though 

[Humpy]

 Get rid of tinted widows, ecclesiastical nick-knacks dangling from rear view mirrors , windscreen and rear window stickers of all sorts blocking the drivers view . Rear view mirrors for all motorcycles and only two persons with helmets, on the bike. Road safety instruction in all schools. Better signage at roundabouts well before the roundabout and not on the roundabout ! The reason for the double and broken yellow road makings must be made clear. 

A 15 second TV road safety 'advert' should be shown with clips of idiot drivers and riders ... and the crash results including the mangled and lifeless bodies .

(The TV  road safety tips should not shown during the PM's weekly chat because very few watch it !!)

[prakhonchai nick]

17 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

same as a jumbo jet crashing every week of the year killing all on board- mai pen rai, they seem incapable of doing the most obvious things to change it. Apart from the usual stupidity why do they feel the need to be constantly changing lanes? sometimes every few hundred yards.

Far too many do NOT change lanes. They just stay put in the outside lane of dual carriagways, clear ahead.

[Stokakrishna]

congrats!!!!! THAILAND RULEZZZZ!!!!

[transam]

Road carnage in LOS lies squarely on the shoulders who are paid to police it...Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo question....Those who control the road BiB on the ground need to be asked some questions as to why their troops ain't out there...

[jvs]

21 minutes ago, Humpy said:

 Get rid of tinted widows, ecclesiastical nick-knacks dangling from rear view mirrors , windscreen and rear window stickers of all sorts blocking the drivers view . Rear view mirrors for all motorcycles and only two persons with helmets, on the bike. Road safety instruction in all schools. Better signage at roundabouts well before the roundabout and not on the roundabout ! The reason for the double and broken yellow road makings must be made clear. 

A 15 second TV road safety 'advert' should be shown with clips of idiot drivers and riders ... and the crash results including the mangled and lifeless bodies .

(The TV  road safety tips should not shown during the PM's weekly chat because very few watch it !!)

Yes you are right but this is Thailand,western ideas have no value over here.I gave up on trying our kind of logic here,it does not make sense to them.

[Artisi]

5 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Police and Government : Yes, deaths and accidents may be up but we've managed to stop and fine more tourists for the wearing the wrong coloured helmets than ever before ! And besides, it's hard to have more police on the roads when we need to parade 20 policeman on the TV for arresting a man smoking on the beach !

 

 

Not forgetting the 2 or 3 cars needed for  the all important duty of escorting a bus or two down the Hi way, or the more important job of blocking all the intersections, side roads and soi's while some hi-so is escorted by enough police to control half of Thailand, but then I guess there is bugger all else they are capable of doing. 

[jvs]

1 minute ago, transam said:

Road carnage in LOS lies squarely on the shoulders who are paid to police it...Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo question....Those who control the road BiB on the ground need to be asked some questions as to why their troops ain't out there...

Sir,i can only partly agree,until the people start caring about their own lives nothing will change.

 

[simtemple]

16 hours ago, wotsdermatter said:

While Thailand has a poor record other countries do not necessarily fare better, regardless of reports from worldwide agencies.

BS Look at the statistics. They speak for themselves. Road Safety Management in Thailand is an utter disgrace. They have the highest rates of road death and road trauma in the world. 

 

[transam]

11 minutes ago, jvs said:

Sir,i can only partly agree,until the people start caring about their own lives nothing will change.

 

Folk in LOS must be pointed in the right direction to see where they are going wrong by those who are supposed to show them via fines and accountability.....The West has had to do that...

[PatOngo]

1 hour ago, EnlightenedAtheist said:

Actually, he could not have predicted and planned for an eruption 10,000 km away, could he? There was no weather app in 1815, btw! LOL (And "you" (TV members)  thought you know it all!)

 

But, we digress!

 

I think we need to have some kind of analysis about when and how these accidents take place and why. I would be astounded if they were happening at 9 a.m. on a weekday, for instance! Ah! There are police checks, but everyone feel they can avoid them. Social network anyone? Competing with road safety is the vendors of alcohol in restaurants (and the govn't tax revenues). Are govn't "solliloquies" bringing people to drinking more? LOL Therein lies the issue. What are the incentives for all parties involved to change?

 

I believe that it would take a generation or two to remove these bad habits from the culture, at best. No govn't programs is going to make a dent in any of it in a few months. Still, the trend is distressing. The problem is that many believe that drinking-and-driving is okay, that they can handle it, that they know their limit. The true alcoholic always does, but in truth he does not know or care. There are many alcoholics here. We should be fair though. There are alcoholics in all countries. Still it seems that drinking to get drunk is popular here (too). Still, anti-smoking programs in some countries were successful. It is possible to do it with alcoholism. It would demand excellence in teaching (a govn't program that is based on sound pedagogy and persuasion techniques) and it would take a number of reforms and services (Is a life worth a tuk-tuk ride? What if the restaurant had to pay it? What if police was forcing restaurants to act responsibly). Unfortunately, there are other bigger issues. Amazing Thailand! It is all amazing. Make-belief. Ultimately, it would take intelligent planning to offset revenue losses. Are the people in charge really experts or have they just paid for their status or their badges? Are they accountable? How? Have any heads rolled (metaphorically)? Is there anyone who will ever take the keys off someone hands? All this losing face culture has to go, but that is so ingrained. With cars having cameras and everyone having phones, maybe we should reward people who catch those bad drivers in the act. Fear of retaliation seems to be the other side of that losing face culture. The culture must change. It starts when they are young. It will take one or two generations, if it ever happens. 

 

I read the Chinese and the Indians are trying to address their smoking issues. It is a bit late, but they are doing something about it. Don't expect blue skies in Beijing tomorrow though. Oh! They are building a lot of nuclear power plants. I would prefer cleaner, renewables. In the meantime,... In the mean time,...

 

 

I've been here for a generation and I think (honestly) they've degressed.