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  • Thailand roads : 80 lives lost every day


    James Austin
    James Austin is a journalist and fiction writer living in Thailand
    Mar 27, 2015


    A Thai police officer takes photograph of the charred wreckage of a passenger van that crashed in Chanthaburi province last year killin eight people and injuring 13 more.
    Pic: AP.

    Another week in Thailand, and with it another spell of fatal traffic accidents: Three Chinese tourists died after a bus plunged down a hill in Phuket on March 25, and seven migrant workers from Burma (Myanmar) were killed the day before when the truck carrying them was hit by a train in Chiang Mai. These were the headline-making accidents, on average around 80 people died each dayranked second in the worldwas killed when he was hit by a truck in north-east Thailand in February this year, and British couple Peter Root and Mary Thompson, were killed when they were hit by a truckbending down looking for a hat when he hit the pair. He was given a suspended two-year prison sentence and fined around $30.


    British cyclists Peter Root and Mary Thompson were killed by a pick-up truck east of Bangkok.
    Pic: AP.

    In most parts of the world traffic deaths and injuries are increasing, according to the Bloomberg Global Road Safety Program, and Thailand is no exception. In 2009 WHO reports state that death per 100,000 people was 19.6 promoting and initiating road safety, that number shot up to 38.126% of road deaths in Thailand, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In an interview with Chiang Mai CityNews, rescue services told the reporter that alcohol was involved in as much as 80% of road accidents.

    Thailand has never enforced its drink driving laws to any notable effect. While for the last few years police have somewhat cracked downstand-out case in this respect is Vorayuth Yoovidhaya, the Red Bull heir, who was charged with drink driving in 2013 when his Ferrari mowed down and killed a policeman in Bangkok. He was never jailed for the offense and its unknown how the trial has progressed. While this is an unusual case, it is widely accepted in Thailand that people with enough wealth to have connections, will be granted some kind of leniency if they are ever pulled over by the police. Harsher drink-driving laws, implemented fairly, would certainly help reduce the number of road accidents in Thailand.


    Vorayuth Yoovidhya.
    Pic: AP.

    Campaigns have been set uponly 43% of motorcyclists regularly wear helmets), but lately police have also been checking to see if riders have licenses, or even fining them for illegal modifications on their bikes.

    There is some controversy surrounding these roadblocks, relating to the on-the-spot fine, but also to their effectiveness in tackling the damage done by road accidents. One point is that any kind of helmet can be worn, and often they are nothing more than a hard hat that you might see on a construction site. Unfortunately a crash helmet that met with standards in most Western countries would be unaffordable to most Thais even if more stringent standards applied to Thailand. Thailand, in the footsteps of Vietnam, could take advantage of the Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) FoundationAlthough in 2014 more questions were added to the test to try and improve safety standards, the practical part of the test involves nothing more than seeing if you can actually operate a vehicle. A possible solution, as most people would not be able to afford driving lessons, would be driving education in high school, or at least a more thorough practical, not theoretical driving test.

    In the above CCTV footagenews presenter puts the cause of deathdrivers are running red lightsMore than human error

    Bus crashes are common in Thailand, and frequently large numbers of people are killed. Regarded as one of the worst accident black spots in the country is the road between Mae Sot and Tak in the north of Thailand. In 2014 alone there were a streak of accidents, all of which consisted of buses leaving the road and falling down steep ravinestruck crashed only 500 meters away300 hundred crashes on this stretch of rugged highwayaccording to a 2008 reportand as this article shows
    http://thailandchatter.com/showthrea...ll=1#post45112

  • #2
    Every one knows why the toll is so high, the lack of political will to ensure a functioning enforcement regime is No1, the rest follow on from there a lazy, and stupid feckless police and I could go on, but at the risk of boring a one of CT finest contributors I wont.

    Comment


    • #3
      I think the US has about 105 per day. Why are US roads so dangerous?

      Personally, I can't see the foreigner's fascination with Thai road safety. This is Thailand and I chose to live here, warts and all.

      Comment


      • #4
        Make Thailand exactly like any of the overregulated Western pits farangs in T. have escaped from, and it would be a lot safer to take a bus or ride a bike.
        Originally posted by Ergenburgensmurgen;n186588
        What are you talking about, I don't post on Teakdoor.


        https://thailandchatter.com/core/ima...ies/giggle.gif

        Comment


        • #5
          I have ridden a bike starting with the smallest a ZZR 1100 in 92 for most of the time I have been in Thailand I rode quite fast but always aware of the risks and danger around me. Was I lucky? certainly had a couple of close calls but I survived the mayhem and on the other hand met some great friends even some strokers had some great touring and many great memories I could have turned out differently and maimed and injured my self.
          Caution and reasonable skill will most probably keep your skin intact.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by peterplonker View Post
            even some strokers
            Thought that might be me until I realized you were waxing sociologically

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Voɔɒlnɘɒl View Post
              I think the US has about 105 per day. Why are US roads so dangerous?

              Personally, I can't see the foreigner's fascination with Thai road safety. This is Thailand and I chose to live here, warts and all.
              multiply the population by 5.
              multiply the paved roads by 200.
              multiply the miles driven per annul, per capita by 100.

              Are you really this stupid?

              Comment


              • #8
                The post doesn't say anything about deaths per capita it is about deaths per day. I realize sarcasm is the lowest form of humour, so it should be easy to recognize.

                On a tangent US has 11.6 deaths per 100,000. UK has 3.5. Again why are US roads so dangerous?

                Even if you take into account there being more cars in the US, the numbers per 100,000 vehicles is still higher in the US.
                Last edited by Voɔɒlnɘɒl; 03-31-2015, 04:20 PM.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Texpat View Post
                  multiply the population by 5.
                  multiply the paved roads by 200.
                  multiply the miles driven per annul, per capita by 100.

                  Are you really this stupid?
                  Maybe these guys have their figure wrong?

                  Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute

                  http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/ge...state-overview


                  There were 30,057 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2013 in which 32,719 deaths occurred. This resulted in national motor vehicle crash death rates of 10.3 deaths per 100,000 people and 1.11 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. The fatality rate per 100,000 people ranged from a low of 3.1 in the District of Columbia to a high of 22.6 in Montana. The death rates per 100 million vehicle miles traveled ranged from 0.56 in the District of Columbia to 1.96 in Montana.

                  Crap loads of data. Some
                  surprising! others i.e. drink not so.


                  The number and types of motor vehicle crash deaths differ widely among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. A state's population has an obvious effect on the number of motor vehicle deaths. Fatality rates per capita and per vehicle miles traveled provide a way of examining motor vehicle deaths relative to the population and amount of driving. However, many factors can affect these rates, types of vehicles driven, travel speeds, rates of licensure, state traffic laws, emergency care capabilities, weather and topography.The following facts are based on analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

                  From the National Motorists Organization
                  http://www.motorists.org/other/crash-dataUnderstanding Highway Crash Data

                  In order to discuss the issue of highway fatalities, it is crucial to understand the differences between the terms "fatalities," "fatality rate," and the "fatal accident rate."
                  • Fatality figures -- a simple tally of the number of people killed in automobile accidents -- are the least useful criteria for analyzing highway safety trends. Reports and studies based on the numbers of fatalities have little merit or meaning within the context of highway safety trends.
                  • The fatality rate, which is the number of fatalities on a per-vehicle-mile-driven basis (usually based on 100 million vehicle miles traveled) is a more accurate means of measuring highway safety.
                  • The fatal accident rate, which is the number of fatal accidents on a per-vehicle-mile-driven basis (fatal accidents per 100 million vehicle miles traveled), is the most accurate means of measuring highway safety trends.

                  The reason fatality rates and fatal accident rates are a more accurate measure of highway safety trends is because they are based on the concept of "exposure." A motorist who drives 50,000 miles a year has 10 times the accident exposure risk than a driver who logs 5,000 miles in a year. Fatality rates measure the risk of being killed in an accident based on the number of miles traveled, or exposure.
                  Unfortunately, fatality figures are the numbers most often quoted by the media, insurance industry lobbying groups and even the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Organizations and individuals that quote raw fatality statistics claim "rates" are too complicated for the public to understand. Actually, fatality rates and fatal accident rates are very simple to determine and understand.


                  Guess the debate will go on. For as many websites all proclaiming their data supports their "cliental'

                  Completely unscientific observation! Thai road use is frigging madness! but has been said it is what it is.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Delayed View Post
                    Maybe these guys have their figure wrong?


                    Guess the debate will go on. For as many websites all proclaiming their data supports their "cliental'

                    Completely unscientific observation! Thai road use is frigging madness! but has been said it is what it is.
                    The Road-Fatality rate in Thailand is more than treble the global average of 18 per day.

                    According to some sources those involved in road accidents who still have a pulse whilst getting stretchered to the ambulances but die 5 minutes later or in hospital are not counted in the statistics.
                    Thai ingenuity at its worst.
                    Last edited by CHEEKYFOKKER; 04-01-2015, 07:26 AM.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by CHEEKYFOKKER View Post
                      The Road-Fatality rate in Thailand is more than treble the global average of 18 per day.

                      According to some sources those involved in road accidents who still have a pulse whilst getting stretchered to the ambulances but die 5 minutes later or in hospital are not counted in the statistics.
                      Thai ingenuity at its worst.
                      Thai road use is frigging madness! but has been said it is what it is.
                      And everyone's point is what?

                      Don't want to live here?
                      Don't want to drive here?
                      Don't pay Thai taxes and don't vote but yet want it changed?
                      Or simply moan because...

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Voɔɒlnɘɒl View Post
                        And everyone's point is what?
                        I think everyone who has posted on this thread is in their own little way is saying how bad the road-fatalities are in Thailand in comparison with the rest of the world but I may be wrong.

                        Don't want to live here?
                        Don't want to drive here?
                        Don't pay Thai taxes and don't vote but yet want it changed?
                        Or simply moan because...
                        Try to stay on topic. The above are entirely different subjects for entirely different threads,
                        but I may be wrong again.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          What I am saying is that in my life driving experience Thailand is the most dangerous place I have ever driven. In Canada I have always lived in the North. Distances are measured in hours, winter driving means gravel roads are ice roads, through mountains, canyons and road conditions that would make many very nervous. People die, accidents happen, but I have never seen as many accidents as I have seen on my limited time in Thailand. The near misses, the overtaking on blind bends or into oncoming traffic, the Friggin U-turn idea on main roads it is scary for me.

                          Driving in Ireland Scotland France Belguim italy the Balkans has it moments but for me nothing compared to the carnage of the Thai roads. Do I want to change Thailand into a mini "Nanny State? No. But what would it take to lessen the misery that the stupidity and complacency of the authorities to take real action to lesson the financial toll and personal misery?

                          Tourist free beaches is one aim of the new style of government, now perhaps the roads could come into focus.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            I wear one of those amulets, and had a buddhist monk scrabble something in white chalk on the car ceiling, while muttering incantations (only cost a few hundred baht). It's not very attractive, but I tell ya wot, it does the trick- I've never had an accident here. Not even when I've drunk a botle of lao khao and go around a blind corner on the wrong side of the road. Motorcycles know to get the hell outta the way when I'm comin', I tell ya. The local cops say I'm the best driver in Ubon, although possibly they were just giving me big face because we were geting drunk together.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Not the complete, set sabang you also would be wise to get the little gold Buddha thing to stick on the dashboard of the vigo, when it comes to lucky crap you cant have too much.

                              Comment

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