How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

[bigston]

There must be an extreme shortage of white paint
line markings on so many roads are almost invisible, haven't been cleaned or painted since 1820
south end of town and going over the flyover you wouldn't know there were line markings
might have been a good idea to refresh them all in the year or so the place was deserted
but i guess not, if its anything to do with road safety.

[Big Boy]

This video is doing the rounds at the moment from earlier today. Nobody is curbing anything, anytime soon.

[Ginjaninja]

throw away the key

[joelle]

Pedestrian crossings located outside of all municipal schools in Hua Hin will get a makeover in the coming weeks in an effort to boost road safety.

On Tuesday Feb 8 officials oversaw the first of the pedestrian crossings to be upgraded.
The crossing, located outside Khao Phithak School in central Hua Hin, has been painted red and white in order to make it more visible for drivers and pedestrians.
Officials including Hua Hin Mayor Nopporn Wutthikul were on hand to inspect the new upgraded crossing.
Mr. Nopporn said the new red and white crossing will make it safer for when students are using the crossing on their way to and from school.
Mr Nopporn confirmed that crossings located at all municipal schools will be painted white and red as part of the upgrade.
Plans are also being drawn up between the municipality and the highway division for a dedicated area on Phetkasem Road that would allow people to cross the road safely.
The upgrades being made to pedestrian crossings in Hua Hin follow similar upgrades made at other pedestrian crossings throughout Thailand and come following the death of a pedestrian using a crossing in Bangkok.

[handdrummer]

Until there's a policeman at the crosswalk, directing traffic, the drivers will ignore it.

[lindosfan1]

I cannot see how that paint job will make any difference. The only way to stop them would be pop up barriers strong enough to stop a tank. Would be interesting if they installed pup up barrier to watch it for a few days entertaining.

g-2000-anti-ram-wedge-barrier.jpg (137.45 KiB) Viewed 793 times

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[bigston]

Well start fining the miscreants
most likely a foreign concept here, but ffs you gotta start somewhere...
i politely stopped at a so called pedestrian crossing in town today for old man pop and mrs pop
they still nearly got cleaned up by cars/ bikes in the other lane who could not give a stuff...

[Big Boy]

This is what I've been saying for years.

2 days ago stopped at the BH lights. There was even a motorcycle stopped in the inside lane. A big black minivan came out of BH and basically nudged the motorcyclist out of the way to enable the minivan to run the lights. There were people trying to cross whilst this was going on.

[HHTel]

I've seen several instances of police cars/motorbikes running the red light at BH even as other traffic is stopped.

[bigston]

Well fine them as well.
if the system in place had any spine or guts, then "anyone" could be reported for obviously not giving a rats regarding the law....
Reporting, well that would be a waste of time, you need video evidence, wait a minute, people use their phones for that.
install MORE cameras along the road, and actually switch them on, if you can find someone with enough backbone to take action against the wrongdoers
oh and for speed limits, from what i can make out, the speed limit thru town is 50, not 60, 70 , 80, 90,
start fining them as well

[HHTel]

Dream on!

[Big Boy]

Speed limits are another problem. They tell you where they start, but rarely where they end e.g. if you turn off 50Kph Petchkasem onto Soi 94, the limit increases to 60Kph, but for how far? Is it still 60Kph at the railway crossing? Is it still 60Kph at the dangerous crossroads? Is it still 60Kph at the dog leg? I could go on, but Thai road signs are very vague, and it is little wonder they are ignored by many.

[hhinner]

For no apparent reason on the khlong road going north the speed limit goes 60, 45, 30 in the space of about 200m. Of course no one obeys that limit. But there's no indication where it ends.

Going north, Phetkhasem is 50 kph until near Index. Then it changes to 60 until near the airport tunnel. Try doing 60 on that stretch and you'll be passed by everything (except bicycles) going a lot faster. The police (if that's what tamruat translates as) and/or dlt could make a fortune in speeding fines.

[Big Boy]

Yes, I agree. I don't consider I speed these days, but of course, it is almost impossible to stick to the limit on Petchkasem Road. I find 70Kph to be a comfortable speed to drive without upsetting the locals. Any slower, and you are a mobile chicane, which is more dangerous than speed.

[Dannie Boy]

Traveling at 70, you’ll still be passed by most other vehicles - I must admit that 50/60 does seem very low for the road other than in the very centre of HH either side of the two main traffic light intersections.