How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

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HHTel
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Re: How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

Post by HHTel »

And that's why it doesn't matter what laws are made, the end result is the same..... no reaction!
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Re: How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

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New point system aims to weed out bad drivers

Police are working toward a new point-cutting system next month to try to weed out bad driver from the streets. And the first step, a ticketing system with a bar code, will be introduced this Sunday.

In the system, each motorist would start with 12 points that would be shaved down as drivers commit traffic offences. When a driver has lost all points, they would be banned for driving for a certain period of time, said Pol Maj-General Ekkarak Limsangkas, chief of the Police Ticket Management project. Ekkarak said on Thursday that certain details of the project have yet to be worked out, especially how many points would be cut for each type of traffic law violation. He said his team will create three categories – light, medium and severe offences – which would also have a certain number of points associated with them. Then each of the traffic offences would be assigned to one of the categories.

Full story: The Nation

Thoughts.......will this replace collection of tea money, or just supplement it? Paying of tea money is Thailand toll that we all pay to be able to continue our journey after the officer has made up a story about us. Paying a small toll is part of driving in Thailand. If these points will lose us our licences, it won't be so acceptable.

I guess the question is, will they continue to invent such lies about us, if there's no cash incentive? I've paid to continue my journey after the officer has made up some lies about me more than enough times to have lost my licence under these rules. If the penalties are so severe, will they have to prove their accusations? e.g. we heard just a few weeks ago of a trumped up fine because of a supposedly noisy exhaust. I've been caught by police radar for speeding, when I know I haven't been speeding several times.
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Re: How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

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Won't make an iota of difference while the police are a bunch of inept laggards preferring to hide under bridges nabbing tourists on scooters.

How are they going to identify the bad drivers if they are not prepared to go out and patrol the roads? I've said this before but if each stretch of highway had a few unmarked patrol cars cruising up and down it, and pulling over the dangerous drivers such as those pulling u-turns into traffic, going the wrong way, hogging the outside lane doing 45kph, excessive speeding and aggressive over/undertaking etc. Then heavily fine them and issue points it would make a big dent in the issue (excuse the pun). But of course that involves work, something Thai police are not really fond of.
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Re: How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

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During the recent rains I was dismayed but not surprised to observe that many drivers didn’t decrease their speed, and another thing I don’t get is those drivers who wait until there’s virtually no visibility then reluctantly put their wipers on intermittent. Our local taxi driver does this and we can only think he believes that by having to peer through the rain splattered windscreen rather than keep his wipers on constant he's saving juice (?!)
A road safety promotion is currently being broadcast on UK radio stations that goes something like “When it's time for your wipers, it’s time to slow down”. I presume these sort of reminders help to reduce accidents in Britain but I’m not hopeful they'd work here.
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Re: How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

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During the recent rains I was dismayed but not surprised to observe that many drivers didn’t decrease their speed,......
But, but, but, we switch on the hazard lights so that all you silly drivers that slow down can see that we are first!
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Re: How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

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They had/have a points system. Initially it was the addition of points where a ban was awarded on reaching a number, and that changed later to an amount of points that were reduced, as described above. First introduced in 2002 and changed in 2007 .Didn't work then so why should it work now?
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Re: How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

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Yes, but we know that many BIB don't understand the law. Activating a points system as well would be a step too far for many of them. Especially if it affects their tea money.
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Re: How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

Post by hhinner »

Why would it affect their tea money in a bad way? The punters pay to avoid a fine, they'll also pay to avoid points and a fine.
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Re: How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

Post by VincentD »

Saw a posting on a US radar detector forum, a Thai bloke posted pictures of the latest laser enforcement equipment and was interested in countermeasures.
What was interesting about this post was that he has acknowledged the police are getting their act together re collection of fines. He stated that in the past whenever a fine was received in the post you basically ignored it and after a year it got lost in the system. And continued speeding. Apparently this is changing so the habitual speeders may eventually feel the pinch. Not that it will do much to help the situation imo.
Another sign of the times - a visit to my wife's hometown in Khampeng Phet saw the construction of a driving center. This is interesting as they finally may be targeting the correct people - the ones who are just starting out.
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Re: How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

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Driving schools are all well and good but without qualified driving instructors it'll not be much use. Even the police can't pass basic tests on driving regulations. The few police that appear to drive correctly are the ones in the 'highway patrol cars' and one of the reasons for that is that they are sent to Malaysia for a driving course. If the police acknowledge that there are no competent instructors in Thailand, what chance do the public have?
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Re: How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

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Has anyone experience of the driving school just outside HH on the Pala-U road at Hin Lek Fai. An improvement?
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Re: How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

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Every year we read of the police checkpoints at Songkran to check drivers & their paperwork..
Every year we also read about the 1000's of drivers who do not have a licence or insurance..IMO If a points-system was introduced, the drivers who had qualified for their licence to be confiscated would simply carry on without one..It really is gonna take a big change to stop the average bull-headed Thai male from using his vehicle as he always has done.
(Plus let us not forget that if the driver is 'connected' in any shape or form then he's also exempt from prosecution)
It's gonna be a struggle to improve things here, but the usual bull**** figures will indeed be released to show/prove the new
rules/practices are working
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Re: How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

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VincentD wrote:.............a visit to my wife's hometown in Khampeng Phet saw the construction of a driving center. This is interesting as they finally may be targeting the correct people - the ones who are just starting out.
Are you sure it a private school? In Phrae province there is a big "test centre" that belongs to the DLT. It has everything that you are likely to encounter except other traffic. Tee junctions, crossroads, a small hill, parking areas, stop signs, give way signs and CH***s knows what else. BUT, nobody is allowed to use it except for a licence test! Now why is it not possible to use the facility for training? Charge for its use if necessary, but why waste it just because it belongs to the DLT. Beggars belief!
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Re: How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

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Drunk drivers risk having cars seized over New Year

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... r-new-year

Police have vowed to strictly enforce traffic regulations and are considering impounding vehicles of suspected drunk drivers in attempts to minimise road accidents during the coming festive season.

Security agencies, meanwhile, have been put on alert and ordered to gather intelligence information and monitor social media for distortions facts or instigating chaos ahead of and during the New Year holiday.

National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda said strict enforcement of the laws is necessary to reduce road accidents and fatalities and police will get tough on drunk-driving and sitting on the side of pickup trucks bed while they are in motion.

He said police are also considering seizing the vehicles of drunk drivers, noting the measure has effectively reduced road accidents when large numbers of people have travelled to the provinces to celebrate the New Year holidays in the past.

Pol Gen Chakthip insisted every measure is intended to reduce road accidents and fatalities, pointing out that 80% of the cases are caused by disrespect for traffic laws and regulations.

"Police don't want to seize your cars but they have to if it will save lives," he said ahead of a police meeting to discuss road safety measures during the festive season.

Over the years, successive governments have struggled to significantly reduce road deaths and injuries during the period.

A total of 478 people were killed in road accidents during 2016-2017 New Year despite the "seven dangerous days" road safety campaign -- the highest toll in a decade.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has instructed security agencies to monitor social media to prevent distortion of information, said Defence Ministry spokesman Khongcheep Tantravanich.

Gen Prawit has told the authorities to intensify their intelligence-gathering operations, especially those concerning public safety and the trafficking of illicit goods.

Mr Khongcheep also said the deputy premier has stressed the need to step up screening of people entering and leaving the country and keep a close eye on people on the blacklist.

According to Pol Gen Chakthip, he has instructed officials to collaborate with security agencies in stepping up efforts against criminal activities.

Pol Gen Srivara Ransibrahmanakul and Pol Gen Chalermkiat Sriworakhan, his deputies, have been assigned to supervise operations and ensure public safety, he added.

Pol Gen Chakthip said intelligence information has so far detected nothing unusual but called on the public to act as eyes and ears for authorities to ensure a safe holiday.

According to the police chief, the Royal Thai Police have asked City Hall to limit venues for New Year celebrations to three -- the Ratchaprasong area, Asiatique and CDC mall.

Checkpoints will be set up to target drug-related activities because traffickers tend to take advantage of the festivities to smuggle drugs and other contraband goods.

He added that the Tourism Police Bureau has recruited 3,000 volunteers and trained them to help provide assistance to foreign travellers during the holiday.
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Re: How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

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Pol Gen Chakthip insisted every measure is intended to reduce road accidents and fatalities, pointing out that 80% of the cases are caused by disrespect for traffic laws and regulations.
Including the guys that are meant to enforce the law.......... the police!!
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