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

[Slain]

I started on a motorbike in the 70s UK and I had the same attitude that I would not die just by going fast and taking chances. I was lucky i had a few scrapes at low speed so no worries. 

What changed my attitude really was the continual road safety messages that were on the TV paid for by the government.  These went on for years and when the seat belts were fitted 'Clunk clip' was the slogan that stuck in your mind.  Later the drink drive slogans that seemed to be on tv about 3 times a day brought it home to me and most other people.

Of course this was all backed up by the police by continually enforcing the laws by fines or prison.  

 

I don't think even these things would have changed some people into thinking about safety, but because these things combined and went on for many years, everyone was aware of the outcome of ignoring.

Now of course in UK there are cameras everywhere so if you do something wrong i.e. dangerous you are very likely have to pay for it.

So what I am hoping is someone in government looks at what other countries have done and will realise what action is needed to prevent many people from dying or being injured for life.  Some one could be famous if they took this on.

[Seeall]

4 hours 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.

Covid affairs is more in the lime light in the world.....

[Seeall]

4 hours ago, Snig27 said:

+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. 

 

nearly got it right.. a threat to........

[digger70]

3 hours 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?

Yep , They Try to keep the numbers Down but they will still get the Gold Medal. 

[crickets]

If I could only get $1 for every near miss I have seen id be a rich man.

[toofarnorth]

2 hours ago, upena said:

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

I think they take deaths on the road literaly , in an ambulance or a hospital bed is dying somewhere different.

[Chongalulu]

Groundhog Day thread..

[Bangkok Barry]

3 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

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.

Not really. What does a trial benefit anyone? That's a Western concept. Far more practical for the victim or their family to receive financial compensation.

[ThailandRyan]

25 minutes ago, Leatherneck said:

Time to quarantine all drivers in Thailand.

They really tried when they had the lockdowns, and curfews, but you still had deaths from driving and well....

I wonder how many murders there have been since Covid and what the increased percentages are for all crimes as well as suicide....

[davidmann]

5 hours 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.

if they can control the Virus.  ,Why cant the control the road ,should be easier.  ? ,rest world controls the roads. ,but cant control the Virus. ,where are yo better of Europe. or Thailand ? 

[ThailandRyan]

2 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Not really. What does a trial benefit anyone? That's a Western concept. Far more practical for the victim or their family to receive financial compensation.

Prosecution and the knowledge that the offender will be in prison and not able to kill or maim anyone else.  However, as I stated that is not what happens here as for closure only money and moving onward solves that issue.  Morals and cultures throughout the world are different everywhere, and if we are to live in that country we choose to, its best to accept the way of life.  We can be as critical as we want, but at the end of the day we can never make any changes happen except in our own sphere of influence, and even then that does not always work.  Enjoy each day that your feet are firmy planted on the ground and you are not either under it, or spread upon it.....

[Magenta408]

Man-oh-man, and they worry over a few inflenza cases.  Go figure.

[Sambotte]

Makes year i and others say it :

Just f.. learn the BASIC DRIVING RULES !!!

It's just amazing (and it looks really really bad and stupid) how they make 5 or 6 ENORMOUS MISTAKES, all the time !

- Traffic circle (round about) : they stop in the middle... Clear signs on the road although, but they can not get it !

- Wrong way is a classic-classic for motorcycles

- Engage without stoping, slow but "hey it's me i should pass", they sometimes look once engaged

- Traffic light : ho but why don't we turn IN FRONT of the opposite cars : accidents GARANTEE with motorcycle coming sideway

- On the road : a motorcycle coming opposite way : but why should i not pass, motorcycle is so small he can surely move aside for me !

- Or pass without any visibility (small hill)... I even saw a police car doing that ! Any car coming opposite and it's a crash garanteed.

- Change of file without looking...

 

To the dis(credit) of Thai people : problem is from the Department of transport, clearly !

- Funny : test for colors is f. WRONG in some places (or all) : Green dark, green light, and red. No yellow but you are supposed to guess what they want here. Anecdotic though.

- How on earth can they make people watch hours of video, plus training, and the ONLY thing they learn is to use INDICATORS ???? Actually they mess up with that too many times...

- A Thai friend confirm me she does absolutely not know how to drive, but they gave her the license...

I would say the blame is on the Department. Nobody in this department to learn the BASICS and to make them teached ???

 

Looks really poor for Thailand. No one other country has such a problem. Even Vietnam, Cambodia, etc.

But hey, just a "few" dozens of thousand people dead and millions people injured per year, why should we care, , it's not a virus ???? Not in the breaking news everyday ????

[Skeptic7]

Nothing is "news" about this. Same same.

But BEWARE and TAKE COVER from the nonexistent virus in The Kingdom! 

[ubon farang]

58 dead covid 36 died in one day in road accidents dont make sense does it? Ok shut down the highways or dare might i say Make the bloody cops do there job Haha I just made myself laugh

[Ugly American 2]

But they are worried about covid! All BS! 

[Raphus]

Official government figures in vietnam are not much better either.

17,000 per year die onnthe roads.

[Peterphuket]

Not so big problem.

Covid!! That's the problem in LOS!

[TKDfella]

Well, I don't think they need a comparison with Covid 19.  If they get infected, can always blame on those those foreigners so it isn't their choice. With driving, it's their choice and they'll do what they d**n well want to...and blame it on road conditions. And those 'green grab' motorcyclists haven't don't care either.

[ToddinChonburi]

To much road construction is slowing the pace, still have time left to set a new record.  Lets go !!

[BritManToo]

Maybe they should open the borders, and lockdown Thai drivers instead.

60 deaths from COVID, 7,400 deaths  from Thai drivers.

Which one is more of a risk?

Edited July 16, 2020 by BritManToo

[khunkarl]

5 hours 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?

It's not strange it's just that it would not look good to make the true figures official.

[Pottinger]

Another "Campaign to raise awareness"? How about just confiscating everything that has more than one wheel?

[DUNROAMIN]

Watch it spike at the end of this month with proposed Songkran holiday.

[thailand49]

This has always been the epidemic here in Thailand the numbers year after year leads the pandemic!

[TERMINATOR3AB]

oK   looking at stats  Thailand  drives  are  very very bad  and the Gov should be ashamed   to alow this to continue

However  USA  is not much better   they have terrible drivers too  40,000   killed last year  

Yet they have a very efficient  police force  and traffic  tickets  are worth   about as much  as Thailand  tourist industry 

 

So   what is the Answer  DRIVER EDUCTAION    AND ENFORCEMENT   TOGETHER  

 

Lose   your licence   go to prison  make it  hard 

 

Australia  to date  1,100   dead   on roads   smaller   population but  000,s  miles  of fast roads  

Drink drive AU   Prison 

Speed AU   3 weeks  wages

Speed  again  LOSE  licence  

 

Speed   again lose car 

 

Well  only  1.100   dead this year  AU  so far  

So I feel this system  works  

OHH   andAustralians  are excellent  trained drivers     

[Thomas J]

When will the stores be closed, check points for intoxicated drivers, ban on alcohol sales, stop the flights with crazy foreign drivers, impose a curfew or any of the other crazy ideas to stop Covid that had 58 total deaths in Thailand.  

[kingofthemountain]

5 hours 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?

Thailand is already in the top 3 of the worst nations in the world

for the road carnage, maybe they don't want to be far in front of

the others leading the course with worse numbers ?

[fraggleRock]

After living here for so many years I have come to a self conclusion of where I don’t care how many Thai folks die on the roads - I am amused at the stupidity... because its clear Thais don’t care either ... if they chose to drive like idiots, drunk, without seatbelts, bold tyres, on the phone, sleep etc.. I just dont care, they deserve everything that comes there way... a total moral failure of society where they rarely help people but get there mobiles out to record it... a misfit country fed on xenophobic fodder and have no focus of anything or anyone but themselves, well Covid has exasperated the true Thai poor jungle republic mentality to the world..... this polished turd has been ‘found out’

[Jen65]

Am I supposed to be surprised?? Has Thailand really got any idea to deal with these shocking statistics? So far - NOT