How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

[Felipesed1]

That article is a biased, un-researched waste of words.

What percentage of car drivers do not have a licence/insurance?

"Insufficient training time, a one-time paper test without a road test requirement and the lack of specific regulations for young riders are among the weaknesses of the DLT’s current licensing system for motorcyclists." And the same is for car drivers!

"While regular training classes fail to produce qualified riders, the situation is worse for “big bikers” as they have not yet been required to pass specific driving and licensing tests." Big bikers are generally more experienced and capable riders, and are well aware of their machines capabilities.

"Specific rules and requirements for high-risk groups such as youths and big bikers are also necessary." What about high-risk groups such as 2.5/3 litre pickups/Fortuna and Ferrari drivers?

"In addition, safety equipment such as anti-lock braking systems and combined braking systems should be promoted or, better still, required." How many accidents were caused by a front-wheel lock-up which is the only situation in which ABS and combined braking will reduce the risk of a crash?

"While individual motorcyclists need to stop reckless riding, it is urgent to make the system work to create safer roads.
To reduce road traffic deaths comprehensively, however, policymakers should fix the problems that make people prefer motorcycles in the first place despite the high risks involved" Perhaps car/pickup drivers should stop reckless driving also, as their accidents usually involve other vehicles, often motorcyclists.

It is not "a problem" that makes people prefer motorcycles. They are less polluting, take up less space on the road, easy to park and cheap to run. Their use should be encouraged, and pickups positively discouraged from those that do not need their carrying capacity, i.e. builders and tradesmen.

The authors obviously live in Bangkok, which has a reasonable public transport system, and they know nothing of the value and use of motorcycles, so they should really not be commenting on matters they know nothing about.

[Dannie Boy]

That article is a biased, un-researched waste of words.

What percentage of car drivers do not have a licence/insurance?

"Insufficient training time, a one-time paper test without a road test requirement and the lack of specific regulations for young riders are among the weaknesses of the DLT’s current licensing system for motorcyclists." And the same is for car drivers!

"While regular training classes fail to produce qualified riders, the situation is worse for “big bikers” as they have not yet been required to pass specific driving and licensing tests." Big bikers are generally more experienced and capable riders, and are well aware of their machines capabilities.

"Specific rules and requirements for high-risk groups such as youths and big bikers are also necessary." What about high-risk groups such as 2.5/3 litre pickups/Fortuna and Ferrari drivers?

"In addition, safety equipment such as anti-lock braking systems and combined braking systems should be promoted or, better still, required." How many accidents were caused by a front-wheel lock-up which is the only situation in which ABS and combined braking will reduce the risk of a crash?

"While individual motorcyclists need to stop reckless riding, it is urgent to make the system work to create safer roads.
To reduce road traffic deaths comprehensively, however, policymakers should fix the problems that make people prefer motorcycles in the first place despite the high risks involved" Perhaps car/pickup drivers should stop reckless driving also, as their accidents usually involve other vehicles, often motorcyclists.

It is not "a problem" that makes people prefer motorcycles. They are less polluting, take up less space on the road, easy to park and cheap to run. Their use should be encouraged, and pickups positively discouraged from those that do not need their carrying capacity, i.e. builders and tradesmen.

The authors obviously live in Bangkok, which has a reasonable public transport system, and they know nothing of the value and use of motorcycles, so they should really not be commenting on matters they know nothing about.

Some good points made here - I think most of us know what needs to be done to curb the appalling death rate specifically amongst motor cyclists;
Enforce the wearing of crash helmets
Enforce the minimum age for riding bikes
Enforce the passing of stricter tests and compulsory insurance
Get the police out on the roads to pick up the traffic abusers, especially the drink/drug users and introduce more speed cameras
Introduce a points based system to get repeat offenders off the road (a proper points system)
Loss of license should be for a far greater time than currently imposed

No doubt others will be able to add to the list, but regrettably however long the list is, it’s unlikely to ever come to be, but we can dream!!

[B6PTW]

Hi All
for a start confiscate and crush or possibly auction off to recoup funds all vehicles of those caught driving under the influence, no license, no tax or no insurance.
No helmet confiscate vehicle until fine paid and if not paid crush it.
Underage crush it unless parents pay fine.
The number of vehicles that would be removed from the roads even with lax policing would be considerable with a commensurate decrease in death and injury.

[buksida]

B1bn earmarked to improve road safety around schools
More than one billion baht has been earmarked to fund the Department of Rural Road's road safety project for schools nationwide, said the department's acting director-general Kritthep Simli.

Mr Kritthep said 997 schools will be covered by the department's road safety project in the next fiscal year, which begins in October. By the end of the next fiscal year, a total of 3,842 schools across the country will be a part of the project.

By the end of the current fiscal year, the project -- in which additional safety measures have been placed in front of schools -- will have covered some 2,845 schools.

A total of 1.3 billion baht will be disbursed to schools, to ensure the project carries on into the future, said Mr Kritthep.

"About 325 schools will be added to the programme by Sept 30," said Mr Kritthep.

Under the project, roads in front of these schools will be designated as "safe zones", where traffic laws will be strictly enforced.

Signs will be placed to remind motorists that a school is nearby, so they must slow down to 30 kilometres per hour. A crossing will be painted on the road surface, and flashing traffic lights and reflective markers will also be installed.

"The measures are designed to curb road accidents," he said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... nd-schools


Instead of painting pretty patterns on the road that everyone ignores they could start by heavily fining/seizing bikes from parents that let their kids ride to school with no lids on.

[HHTel]

Well the major improvements outside Hua Hin School have, from what I've heard, caused chaos and more accidents.

[handdrummer]

It may be cheaper and more effective to station a traffic cop where the schools let out.

[Big Boy]

Well the major improvements outside Hua Hin School have, from what I've heard, caused chaos and more accidents.

I don't like this improvement, I thought it would be chaos. It makes it very difficult to turn around. I will admit my also family see the potential dangers, and I have done very few school runs since the improvement have been made.

Based on the few school runs I have done, I owe the road designer an apology. It is actually a huge improvement. Maybe I've been lucky on the days I've collected my granddaughter, but it works for me. I was wrong.

[HHTel]

Glad to hear it BB. I hardly ever use that road and never at school times. I was just listening to other people. Perhaps down to an initial reaction to change but hopefully time has sorted it out.

[oakdale160]

Last year, I was back in Canada and walked my grandchildren to school each day. Outside the School, there is a crossing guard working to stop the traffic to keep the children safe. I asked him if any motorist ever failed to stop when he signaled them to do so. He said yes that did happen once, about 7 or 8 years ago.

[HHTel]

Last year, I was back in Canada and walked my grandchildren to school each day. Outside the School, there is a crossing guard working to stop the traffic to keep the children safe. I asked him if any motorist ever failed to stop when he signaled them to do so. He said yes that did happen once, about 7 or 8 years ago.

Just the same here in Thailand then!

[buksida]

Bid to make Thai tour buses safer
Efforts to make tour buses safer in Thailand got underway this month according to a Tourism Council of Thailand Facebook post.

Quoting heavily from a Thai language news report filed by Prachachart online the TCT says 5 to 6,000 buses could be certified safe for tourists by the end of next year.

The TCT post came just days after a tour bus hired to take students on a field trip from northeast Thailand to the coastal province of Chanthaburi crashed killing one student and seriously injuring 10 others.

There were 20 students and 19 teachers on board the bus when it was involved in a collision on highway 304 a road that has been earmarked for special measures to lower accidents during next month’s Songkran festival holiday.

Approximately 60 people die every day on Thailand’s roads. Now Thailand’s tourism officials say they will raise the safety bar for both land and sea transport. In response to the risks visitors face, travel advisories recommend tourists buy adequate accident insurance when visiting Thailand, although many insurance companies exclude motorcycle accidents from the cover.

https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2019/03/ ... ses-safer/

What a crock, its not the tourists that need insuring or the vehicles that need regulating, its the nutballs driving them causing the fatalities!

[PeteC]

Traffic violations soaring because drivers don’t care: Police

BANGKOK — Police said Thursday that public contempt for the law led them hand out millions more tickets to motorists last year.

Harsher punishments are being weighed after traffic police said they ticketed 11.7 million offenders nationwide in 2018 compared to 8.4 million the year before, an increase of 39 percent. Many went to repeat offenders, according to Lt. Gen. Roy Ingkapairoj of the Royal Thai Police.

Maj. Gen. Ekkarak Limsangkaj, a deputy commander of police training, said the surge was caused by poor law enforcement and public disrespect for the law.

“The problem of repeat [offenders] is because the current means of law enforcement are not effective for everyone and fail to discourage them with the penalties,” he said.

Traffic cameras busted the same truck belonging to a private delivery company 144 times last year for speeding and unsafe driving. More than 1,500 people caught driving drunk in the past four years were caught doing so again, Roy said.

Ekkarak said road users keep breaking the law because the consequences are not serious enough, adding that his special committee overseeing traffic problems are discussing the possibility of raising the stakes, especially for drunk driving.

Thailand ranked ninth highest in the world and top in Asia for traffic deaths, according to last year’s WHO report on road safety. The rank improved from 2015, when Thai roads were deemed the second deadliest in the world.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crim ... re-police/

[handdrummer]

I think that there are only 2 things that will affect Thai behavior: large fines and jail, and even then.….

[HHTel]

Ekkarak said road users keep breaking the law because the consequences are not serious enough, adding that his special committee overseeing traffic problems are discussing the possibility of raising the stakes, especially for drunk driving.

My goodness! He's clever. Should get an award for the 'brain of Thailand'

But, seriously, it's not just the consequences. It's a lot about enforcement.

Enforce the law, make the 'consequencies' much greater, and STOP the 'tea money'.

[buksida]

Thailand aims to reduce road accidents by 50% in 2020
A laudable aim but probably unachievable.

Thai transport authorities and police are aiming to reduce the rate of road accidents by half in 2020. They are aiming to meet the goal set by an international benchmark, participants of a national road safety convention held at Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre.

The aim has been set in previous years as well but has so far proved elusive.

The 14th Thailand Road Safety Seminar had as its theme “Play your part and share the road”. The annual event aims to reduce Thailand’s high road fatality rate which is usually in the world’s top five countries.

Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan presided over the opening ceremony. In his keynote address, he cited the appallingly high number of road deaths – more than 21,000 each year, an average of 60 per day – the permanent disability of more than 6,000 people and the resultant 500 billion baht in economic losses.

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/road-de ... 50-in-2020