Thailand aims to lower road fatality rates by 80%

[webfact 79,217]

Thailand aims to lower road fatality rates by 80%



BANGKOK: -- The determination was announced after the department joined other relevant private sector’s networks yesterday in a campaign to reduce traffic fatality rates.

It determined to lower by 80% in five years, although the World Health Organisation (WHO) requires member states to lower fatality rates by half under the “Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety.”

Thailand ranked the second highest road fatality rate in the world after Libya.

According to WHO’s 2015 Global Status Report on Road Safety, a total of 14,059 were killed on Thai roads and highways in 2012, translating to a road death rate of 36.2 people per 100,000, a rate only surpassed by war-torn Libya, where 73.4 people per 100,000 died that same year.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said although Thailand came second in highest road fatality rates, but in term of motorcycle fatality rates, Thailand was on the top in the world.

It said motorcycle death rate in Thailand is 26.3 people per 100,000, causing over 200 billion baht damages in term of economy.

It said although Thailand has entered the fifth year after the United Nations has announced the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, the country still saw no improvement in road fatalities.

For the remaining five years, Thailand will seriously and strictly enforce the laws to achieve the 80% target as now that the road fatality issue was placed as a national agenda and law enforcement will be tightened.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thailand-aims-to-lower-road-fatality-rates-by-80


-- Thai PBS 2015-11-27

[AGareth2 6,646]

take away their keys

[richard_smith237 26,360]

A good move if the Authorities are genuine and not simply offering a 'sound bite'....

Improvements need to be realised at a 'cultural' level... the majority of road users need to be taught and understand consequence, which for the moment appears to be an alien concept.

A great start would be to have Televised Road Safety campaigns... When I see the Authorities using Televised Road Safety Campaigns we may then start to believe they are serious about this issue and not simply nodding to each other going through the motions in endless committee meetings...

[Seastallion 10,529]

"a total of 14,059 were killed on Thai roads and highways in 2012, translating to a road death rate of 36.2 people per 100,000, a rate only surpassed by war-torn Libya, where 73.4 people per 100,000 died that same year"

If my suspicion that Libyan road deaths were due to bombs and bullets, dodging bombs or bullets, or driving into bomb craters, then Thailand tops the list for worst road death toll.

[NongKhaiKid 35,404]

One of the safest places in the world must be right in front of Thai officialdom when they ' aim '.

[Artisi 15,825]

Is it April already - wow the year has really flown by.

[kingalfred 2,217]

"Lower by 80%?" Perhaps they need to begin by a smaller number or even better stop the year on year increase. How to do this? By enforcement!!!!

[Pattaya28 3,677]

14,059 fatalities ??

20,000+ fatalities "was" the statistic. So how and why has this been reduced by 30% ?

This 14,059 is a conveniently adjusted number.

An 80% reduction to be achieved. How is this possible ?

[Seastallion 10,529]

Zero tolerance and harsh punishments such as immediate impounding for speeding. A special force dedicated to road rule enforcement would pay for itself.

In conjunction with that, instead of several hours of "culture" at every school, a couple of hours of driving home the road safety message would be a good start.

Then tackle the karma/bad luck myth. Get all the wats to preach road safety and dispel the "If my karma is good, I can speed through a stop sign" myth. This sermon does not have to run counter to the normal teachings if it is seen as "Don't tempt fate".

THEN, of course, have a serious crackdown on unlisenced drivers, and a serious approach to new licenses with a comprehensive test on road rules.

In my city, it seems as if 90% of drivers do not know what a stop sign is for. As a result, the through traffic stops out of caution, because nobody stops for the stop sign!

[trogers 10,226]

Just start with first knowing about the Highway Code, and then Enforcing it.

We can see law breaking with impunity by motorcyclists every day, and nothing is done to enforce discipline.

Lawlessness is the cause of the high fatality on the roads.

[NongKhaiKid 35,404]

" Seriously and strictly enforce the laws to achieve the 80% now that the road facility issue was a national agenda... "

So if not a national agenda item serious and strict enforcement wouldn't be applied ?

Anyway since it's now of national importance who is going to be doing all this enforcement and please don't say the BIB .

[Hawk 2,393]

Thailand aims to lower road fatality rates by 80%"

Absolutely impossible!

[ramrod711 7,234]

Zero tolerance and harsh punishments such as immediate impounding for speeding. A special force dedicated to road rule enforcement would pay for itself.

In conjunction with that, instead of several hours of "culture" at every school, a couple of hours of driving home the road safety message would be a good start.

Then tackle the karma/bad luck myth. Get all the wats to preach road safety and dispel the "If my karma is good, I can speed through a stop sign" myth. This sermon does not have to run counter to the normal teachings if it is seen as "Don't tempt fate".

THEN, of course, have a serious crackdown on unlisenced drivers, and a serious approach to new licenses with a comprehensive test on road rules.

In my city, it seems as if 90% of drivers do not know what a stop sign is for. As a result, the through traffic stops out of caution, because nobody stops for the stop sign!

Don't forget the "face factor", I have Fortuner you have 10 year old Mazda, get out of my way.

[Fookhaht 3,266]

It will have to start with a reform of the police.

In my province the only traffic stops you see are to get 200 baht from motorcyclists without helmets--between 11am and 3pm, weekdays only.

No other cops can be seen anywhere else.

Meanwhile, drivers of cars, buses, and trucks break all the other laws with absolute impunity.

[GinBoy2 8,222]

I don't want to sound cynical, but in the years I've lived here I've lost count how many times I've read 'proclamations' like this and nothing ever changes.

The usual pattern is a few new laws will be announced, lots of fanfare then on to the next sound bite du jour.

I've also given up counting how many threads we have had on TVF, decrying, critiquing, haranguing, proffering advice, the list goes on and on.

I've said this before, but what the Hell...just enforce a few laws:

Helmets,

Lights,

Drive on the correct side of the road (at ALL times, even if it takes longer to get to your destination)

But history teaches me, that in 5 months, 1 year, 5 years we will be having the same discussion again, and again, and again