Thailand road carnage: 7,414 dead at the scene this year - 38 yesterday, 560 so far in July

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Thailand road carnage: 7,414 dead at the scene this year - 38 yesterday, 560 so far in July

 

Graphic: Daily News

 

Daily News reported that 38 people died at the scene of road accidents in Thailand yesterday.

 

This brought the number of victims so far this year to 7,414. 

 

The total for this month is 560. 

 

As part of their campaign to raise awareness of the carnage on Thai roads they reported on a collision between a Nissan and a Honda Wave motorcycle in Nong Pla Mor sub-district of Ratchaburi. 

 

Both the rider and pillion passenger were pronounced dead at the scene. 

 

Picture: Daily News

 

The media cautions that the figures represent only a fraction of the actual road deaths in Thailand because those that die in hospital or on the way are not included.

 

Senior government figures have admitted the death toll is in excess of 20,000 annually and some accident safety activists put the figure around 24,000 to 26,000.

 

 

Eagle-eyed readers will note that the Daily News infographic contained an error stating erroneously that the latest death toll referred to today, Thursday, when it was in fact yesterday, Wednesday. 

 

Source: Daily News

 

 

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[Henryford]

If the Government put 5% of the effort into road safety that they have into Covid it would save far more Thai lives.

[ThailandRyan]

Ok I will open up the can or worms for those who like to compare....Why are the Covid Deaths not in comparison here...because they have shut down the country from those infected, at least that's what they say.  However, they can never save the Thai's from there poor driving habits and a lack of true road enforcement of laws and drunk driving.  Almost got run over today by a Kerry Express deliver driver while I was walking on the sidewalk.  Guess the sidewalk is now a motorway once again, The Thai police officer standing in the intersection just looked away..

[Snig27]

5 minutes ago, Henryford said:

If the Government put 5% of the effort into road safety that they have into Covid it would save far more Thai lives.

+100

They simply don't care. Even simple things like enforcing crosswalks would make a difference. 

On the highways of the nation, vehicles and motorbikes weave like maniacs at speeds far above the supposed limits and zip is done about it even if the police are present. No care, no enforcement all.

Meanwhile people with a few banners yesterday are a threat to the nation. 

 

[ezzra]

I'm riding a motorcycle around Bkk and theses figures terrified the living daylight out of me, you can ride/drive 100% correctly and according to road rules but that doesn't shield you against other idiots and morons around you...

Edited July 16, 2020 by ezzra

[Sambotte]

As usual... to put in perspective with covid...

And pollution (thousand deaths just in Bangkok a year)...

And malaria, Dengue, etc. etc.

 

But road in Thailand yep, that's something.

They still have NO CLUE how to drive. They make half a dozen of ENORMOUS MISTAKES you can see everyday. Amazing...

[DrJack54]

I have always wondered why deaths that occur later in hospitals or even on the way to hospital are not included. 

Is there some strange reason for this?

[86Tiger]

Seat belts not needed.  Helmets not needed.  Baby seats not needed.

 

I am sure they all wear the covid mask.

[tracker1]

Why do you think when anyone of any importance travels on the road all intersections and the roadway is cleared by Police it isn't due to assassins or terrorists it's to avoid Thai drivers and the good chance of a collision !!!!

[rumak]

well,  everyone beat me to the covid comparisons.    you would think that with everyone wearing

a mask that the road fatalities would be way down !    

 

TIC  (tongue in cheek) .   you would be surprised to know that some here take everything literally 

[1FinickyOne]

57 minutes ago, ezzra said:

I'm riding a motorcycle around Bkk and theses figures terrified the living daylight out of me, you can ride/drive 100% correctly and according to road rules but that doesn't shield you against other idiots and morons around you...

is there a country on earth where it does? 

[Wiggy]

15 minutes ago, tracker1 said:

Why do you think when anyone of any importance travels on the road all intersections and the roadway is cleared by Police it isn't due to assassins or terrorists it's to avoid Thai drivers and the good chance of a collision !!!!

Interesting thought.

[skorp13]

But they are worried about covid 19

[ThailandRyan]

28 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I have always wondered why deaths that occur later in hospitals or even on the way to hospital are not included. 

Is there some strange reason for this?

In the States up until one year after the accident if someone dies of complications from those injuries then the accident is reclassified as a fatality and goes into the stats as such, same as if they died enroute to the hospital or after arrival. Thais have a strange way of looking at accidents with vehicles.  I asked my former BIL who is a RTP PLtCol, why they do not do full investigations in order to determine cause and fault, and he indicated that the insurance companies just look at it and settle things.  It is also why Trials here do not give the family closure, only a Wai and money from the offending party can. Yes I know it is utterly ridiculous.

[Daveyh]

This is not a news worthy story any longer ......... it's a fact of life if you live here. The mind set is completely wrong, fact, so how do you teach an old dog new tricks when these genes are passed down from generation to generation here. It will never change ......... I shudder every time when I see kids as young as 3/4yrs old standing between mum & dad on a motorbike going to market. Where is this kid going to get the knowledge to enable him to survive when he's older??? It just does not exist. We know 80% of fatalities on Thailand's roads are from motorbike collisions ....... it's the only mode of transport for most families here. No bus services or any form of public service is available to the public here. These figures although high are not acceptable to the rest of the world, but to Thailand they are or something would be done. They can try to improve road safety & they do, but it all reverts to the mindset problem that exists here ............ sadly that won't change anytime soon as the majority wins & think it will never happen to them ........ fact.

 

[Daveyh]

14 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

In the States up until one year after the accident if someone dies of complications from those injuries then the accident is reclassified as a fatality and goes into the stats as such, same as if they died enroute to the hospital or after arrival. Thais have a strange way of looking at accidents with vehicles.  I asked my former BIL who is a RTP PLtCol, why they do not do full investigations in order to determine cause and fault, and he indicated that the insurance companies just look at it and settle things.  It is also why Trials here do not give the family closure, only a Wai and money from the offending party can. Yes I know it is utterly ridiculous.

I agree with you that the thinking is ridiculous, but after the fact here it's always been a "mai pen rai" attitude as paying money & a wai seems the Thai way of closure. Living here is strange, but the culture is different & their outlook on life is different to most other countries. If we live here we must accept this as we live under their laws ......... which we never fully understand the logic.

[Emdog]

Getting back to "the old normal" although there is some catching up to do

[connda]

58 die this year of Corona and the country gets shut down the the economy is destroyed.  In the meantime they kill 37 people a day on the roads and nobody really give a rip.

Talk about mixed priorities.

[pineapple01]

Be more informative if they stated the Vehicle Types involved, Ask Wifes Friend who works  Casualty at Suphanbury, you get a simple answer. 90% Mo Cycles and Kids in pick ups, old folks run over crossing hi ways. The press only like Hi So Crashes that involve Cars , Old Nop isnt worth a mention on his Bicycle.

[Hank Gunn]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

I have always wondered why deaths that occur later in hospitals or even on the way to hospital are not included. 

Is there some strange reason for this?

Yeah, it’s called “face”, (aka, avoiding reality).

[cardinalblue]

I do see a number of motorcyclists wearing a mask but no helmet in CM...

 

monkey see monkey do...

[sammieuk1]

Is there is a link between diving a car or m/c and catching covid as it could be the key to ending this carnage ????

[upena]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

I have always wondered why deaths that occur later in hospitals or even on the way to hospital are not included. 

Is there some strange reason for this?

To keep the numbers down - save face - or tourists will stop coming

[86Tiger]

2 minutes ago, upena said:

To keep the numbers down - save face - or tourists will stop coming

I see what you did there....

[Greenhill]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

I have always wondered why deaths that occur later in hospitals or even on the way to hospital are not included. 

Is there some strange reason for this?

 

Yes!    It doesn't show the true picture and makes them out to better than they are!!    Much like the Covid figures!! It's all a question of distorting the truth & massaging the figures to 'your' advantage!!    An old marketing ploy!

[Winniej]

1 hour ago, 86Tiger said:

Seat belts not needed.  Helmets not needed.  Baby seats not needed.

 

I am sure they all wear the covid mask.

Idiotic isn’t it . They will sit with a child unrestrained in the front seat of a car but dare not go outside without a mask 

[lee b]

1 hour ago, 86Tiger said:

Seat belts not needed.  Helmets not needed.  Baby seats not needed.

 

I am sure they all wear the covid mask.

Forgot Licence not needed

[american2]

Active mobile police patrols, Radar guns. Traffic lights where needed.  Changes to U Turns.   Respect for others on the road instead of the current push your way through mentality.  Real penalties for the responsible.  A Government that truly cares to ake a difference.  Input from the insurance carriers.

[Pungdo]

They are just complete morons, nothing between the ears other than a vacuum, I was on my way to collect my daughter from school on my bike a couple of days ago, when a young moron flew passed me so close that his mirror clipped mine, just a little closer and it could have been handle bars clipping and I hate to think how that would have ended, probably with both of us biting the road ????

I was lucky to survive an accident on Sukhumvit Rd 4 years ago when an idiot with a very young girl sitting on the back of his bike, forced me into the gutter on the median strip, heaps of bark missing, 5 broken ribs and a broken shoulder blade was the result. ????

[kotsak]

16 hours ago, ezzra said:

I'm riding a motorcycle around Bkk and theses figures terrified the living daylight out of me, you can ride/drive 100% correctly and according to road rules but that doesn't shield you against other idiots and morons around you...

Exactly, I am driving a car here and I feel the same, even in empty roads I am waiting the moment some moron will jump out from nowhere.

In the rare opportunity I am a passenger in a vehicle I have the chance to have a look around and observe the surroundings, something I can't do while driving, you simply cannot take your eyes off the road here for a second. 

 

It's simply <deleted>.

 

Edited July 16, 2020 by metisdead
Profane acronym removed.