Seven deadly days: road death toll climbing

[buksida]

Death toll from road accidents during the first three days of the 7-day dangerous period starting December 29-January 5 climbed to 178 deaths and 1,755 injuries.

Only in a single day yesterday or the third day of the period, 74 people died and 675 others injured in a total of 662 cases of accidents.

On the first day (December 29), 439 cases of traffic accidents nationwide were reported, with 39 deaths and 456 injuries.

The second day claimed 65 lives and 624 injuries.

According to the Road Safety Centre, so far 178 people died and 1,755 injured in a total of 1,691 cases in the past three days.

Chiang Mai topped the accumulated cases of 62 accidents and 63 accumulated cases of injuries while Chonburi came on top with eight death cases.

Driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding are two main causes of the road mishaps, or 26.49% and 19.47% respectively of total cases of accidents.

Motorcycle remain the vehicle that engaged in most cases of road accidents or 83.85 %.

Highways with straight sections registered the highest accidents or 64.35%, and most accidents happened during 4.00 pm– 8.00 pm, or 27.04%.

Of all fatal accidents happened in the past three days, most victims died or 53.61% ate in working ages.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/video- ... -in-3-days

[oakdale160]

But I don't think that any of them were important people, so no problem.

[buksida]

253 traffic deaths in four 'dangerous days'
More than 250 people died in almost 2,400 road accidents in the first four of the "seven dangerous days" of the New Year holiday season, with drink-driving still the major cause despite harsh preventive measures.

The number of traffic deaths rose 11.4% from the first four days of the holiday period a year ago. In the “seven dangerous days” of the festive season last year, road fatalities totalled 341, a decline of 7% from the same period a year earlier.

Chiang Mai had the highest number of accidents during the four days between Dec 29 and Jan 1 while Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Rai, Songkhla and Pathum Thani reported the most fatalities, according to statistics from the Road Safety Directing Center.

Statistics from the centre showed 253 people had died and 2,412 were injured in 2,338 road accidents over the four days.

Authorities have stepped out efforts on reduce road-accident rates during the "seven dangerous days" — Dec 29 to Jan 4 — when holiday travel is heavy.

On Jan 1, the fourth day of the campaign, 647 accidents were reported, with 75 fatalities and 657 injuries.

Chiang Mai reported the highest number of accidents (91) during the four days to Jan 1. Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Rai, Songkhla and Pathum Thani led other provinces in fatalities (9 each), the centre said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... eaches-253

[Irma]

the way they drive in Thailand - no wonder!

[Big Boy]

Usually down to too much alcohol and no helmet.

[usual suspect]

Came down Chomsin Rd this lunchtime..had to make the compulsary left turn at the Petkasem lights & head North to the 1st U-turn..no problem with that, I'm used to it by now.
BUT..whilst waiting to make the U-turn both the Mrs + myself could not believe the speed of the traffic coming into town..surely they can see there's a U-turn (& the chance of vehicles pulling out in front of them..?)
Alas no..these idiots just keep barreling-on..even tho' ahead of them the main lights were on red..!
THIS is the level of Thai driver mentality that causes deaths, THIS is the Thai driver attitude that will not see change unless harsh penalties to ALL of them is implemented..
..Please be aware while you're driving folks...of the actions/chances these numptys are taking all around you..

[StevePIraq]

On the 1st I drove back from Issan what an absolute nightmare which I will NEVER do again. Thais see the slightest gap and go for it, changing lanes continually, passing on the hard shoulder, cutting people up and generally causing chaos. And as for those stupid u turns on the highway they should all be closed. Strange thing is the there was an ambulance, tow truck and fire truck parked at almost every one just waiting for the pile up to happen.

[pharvey]

Out of interest, I thought I'd have a look at comparing the stats for different countries and how they compared to Thailand. Unfortunately I couldn't find the ones I was really after (not a surprise ), but there were some interesting reports and a couple of graphs (below) Will be interesting to see how the likes of China and India compare: -

http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Ma ... -en#page21

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/580347 ... K-research

[EDIT] Not sure why second graph has been repeated - cannot delete

[Simijim]

The drive from Issan, Roi Et is the the worst I have experienced both to and from Hua Hin. Korea is second worst on weekends from Songtong to Soul, bumper to bumper 4 to 6 lanes of traffic takes 4 to 6 hours and only 40 miles.
Living in Los Angeles was not so bad driving 70 miles to work at bumper to bumper traffic but at least it flowed at 70 miles an hour.
The difference is in the U S police are out on the roads driving in traffic and pulling people over, but not in Thailand or Korea. But Korea has a traffic cameras on all roads and are very good at getting speeders. Where in Thailand most police are sitting on the side of the road, in the office not in traffic trying to deter speeding and bad driving.

Sent from my GT-I9082L using Tapatalk

[Big Boy]

But Korea has a traffic cameras on all roads and are very good at getting speeders. Where in Thailand most police are sitting on the side of the road, in the office not in traffic trying to deter speeding and bad driving.

The Thai roadside cameras have caught me speeding before , and a few others I know.

However, the penalty isn't much of a punishment.

[georgy]

But Korea has a traffic cameras on all roads and are very good at getting speeders. Where in Thailand most police are sitting on the side of the road, in the office not in traffic trying to deter speeding and bad driving.

The Thai roadside cameras have caught me speeding before , and a few others I know.

However, the penalty isn't much of a punishment.

...agreed, however the procedure to pay is

[Big Boy]

No, i actually mean proper cameras, where the notification arrives with your photo a couple of weeks later in the post.

However, I'm sure we've all fallen victim to the imaginary camera or 'American' radar gun at one time or another.

[HHTel]

The death toll this year is 10% higher than last year. However, the impounding of vehicles and the campaign against drink/driving is claimed by the government to be a big success in reducing accidents/deaths! Figure that one out.

[jungle]

Korea may have good roads and plenty of speed cameras ( been caught on a couple) but fines are next to nothing so no one cares. i would rather drive in Thailand any day than here in Korea, i have seen some of the worst, most dangerous driving in Korea and i have lived in Kuwait !. They run red lights like its nothing, buses and trucks the worst offenders. they will stop and park anywhere. yep give me Thailand driving any day.

[Bristolian]

Korea may have good roads and plenty of speed cameras ( been caught on a couple) but fines are next to nothing so no one cares. i would rather drive in Thailand any day than here in Korea, i have seen some of the worst, most dangerous driving in Korea and i have lived in Kuwait !. They run red lights like its nothing, buses and trucks the worst offenders. they will stop and park anywhere. yep give me Thailand driving any day.

If I take Korea out of your post it reads exactly like Thailand except for the generally better roads in Korea. In other words they appear to be the same. From my own experiences of driving in Korea the genera standard of drivers is higher, especially in Seoul by comparison to Bangkok. The police handle the traffic better and road planning, lighting, signage and traffic lights are far better.
I guess it's another example of the grass is greener.

Give me the traffic congestion and driving standards in Seoul any day over those in Bangkok.