34 killed in road accidents yesterday

[hhfarang]

34 killed in road accidents on 1st dangerous New Year holidays
December 30, 2011 1:36 pm

The first of the so-called seven dangerous New Year holidays saw 34 people killed and 501 others injured in road accidents around the country.

Deputy Interior Minister Thanis Thienthong told a press conference that 427 road accidents happened on Thursday, which is counted as the first of seven New Year holiday period.

The authorities monitor road accidents during the long New Year holidays to try to minimise road toll. This year, the authorities monitor the road accidents from December 29 to January 4 when people leave Bangkok and return to the capital during the long holidays.

Thanis said the number of road accident this year was high than last year by 34 accidents or 8.65 per cent while the death toll increased by ten or 41.67 per cent. The number of injured people increased by 76 or 17.88 per cent

The Nation

[margaretcarnes]

Although these figures seem high to be honest I'm not surprised. Thai drivers will simply never learn.
Last Sunday night I took a taxi from Sukhumvit to Swampy at an agreed price of 500Bt. Not the cheapest. But I'd used the same driver twice in Bangkok and he was an older guy who seemed OK.
Once let loose on the expressway it was foot to the floor all the way and 'oh I good driver - no worry', then a very near miss which scared the shit out of me. The guy was doing 100 whenever he could.
Got to Swampy and paid him the 500 and the cheeky bathplug said 'oh - no tip?'
Yeah - drive more slowly arsehole.

[jimk]

The seven 'dangerous' days don't seem to be that dangerous, then, since 34 deaths is just under the average for every day of the year in Thailand.

[Frank Hovis]

If I remember correctly Thailand counts RTA deaths as dead at the scene rather than the western standard of dead within 30 days of the accident due to injuries arising from the accident. So dying after the event, on the way to the hospital or in the hospital hours or days later, don't get counted as RTA deaths which means the real figures will be much higher.

[Siani]

It seems to be a lot of deaths in one day Maybe about time for some serious road safety advice

[PeteC]

The seven 'dangerous' days don't seem to be that dangerous, then, since 34 deaths is just under the average for every day of the year in Thailand.

Some of us searched for the daily statistic a few years ago and never found it. It goes along with my theory that New Year's and Songkran are much like any other day or period. Sometimes in those articles you have to search to find the one line where it states that the vast majority were motorcycle accidents, or car on MC. They would be better served in reassuring potential tourists by using bold letters when stating that as I'm sure most are scared that they're talking car on car, truck on bus etc. Pete

[advocate]

BANGKOK, Dec 31 -- Ninety-four people were killed in road accidents throughout Thailand during the first two days of the "seven high-risk days of the New Year’s holidays" from December 29 - January 4, according to the Road Safety Centre.

There were a total of 955 road accidents with 1,051 injuries reported on December 29 and 30. Drunken driving was identified as the main cause of the accidents, according to Land Transport Department Director General Somchai Siriwattanachok.

On Dec 30 alone, there were 547 road accidents, killing 58 people and injuring 548 others.

Cumulative road accidents from December 29-30 reached 955, a 5 percent drop compared to the same period last year.

Overall, the most deaths were reported in Bangkok with five casualties, while the highest number of the injured was seen in Prachinburi at 24.

Nakhon Pathom and Ayutthaya recorded the highest number of accidents during the first two days at 6 each, while no accidents were reported at all in Chaiyaphum, Nong Khai, Kamphaeng Phet and Trat.

A major cause of road accidents involved drunken driving at 34 percent. Motorcycles are the vehicle type with the highest number of accidents at 82 percent.

Mr Somchai said the Road Safety Centre has cooperated with police and authorities to set up checkpoints on minor roads in subdistricts to strictly monitor drunken motorists and motorcyclists, riding with no safety helmets, and speeding. (MCOT online news)

(Mod edit No links to competitive websites, please).

[Siani]

BANGKOK, Dec 31 -- Ninety-four people were killed in road accidents throughout Thailand during the first two days of the "seven high-risk days of the New Year’s holidays" from December 29 - January 4, according to the Road Safety Centre.

There were a total of 955 road accidents with 1,051 injuries reported on December 29 and 30. Drunken driving was identified as the main cause of the accidents, according to Land Transport Department Director General Somchai Siriwattanachok.

On Dec 30 alone, there were 547 road accidents, killing 58 people and injuring 548 others.

Cumulative road accidents from December 29-30 reached 955, a 5 percent drop compared to the same period last year.

Overall, the most deaths were reported in Bangkok with five casualties, while the highest number of the injured was seen in Prachinburi at 24.

Nakhon Pathom and Ayutthaya recorded the highest number of accidents during the first two days at 6 each, while no accidents were reported at all in Chaiyaphum, Nong Khai, Kamphaeng Phet and Trat.

A major cause of road accidents involved drunken driving at 34 percent. Motorcycles are the vehicle type with the highest number of accidents at 82 percent.

Mr Somchai said the Road Safety Centre has cooperated with police and authorities to set up checkpoints on minor roads in subdistricts to strictly monitor drunken motorists and motorcyclists, riding with no safety helmets, and speeding. (MCOT online news)

(Mod edit No links to competitive websites, please).

I am really shocked by these figures Just incredible

[Vital Spark]

Yes, it's horrible Siani, but predictable. It's the one reason why we don't travel anywhere during this period, and I noticed that our province was in the top two. One big booze-up with the end of year bonuses that a lot of the lower-paid workers get, and it's a recipe for disaster.
Helmets and wearing a seat belt might lower the figures a tad - but, sadly, it's not generally in the Thai psyche to go to such extremes. They only pop on a helmet (with the chinstrap dangling) to avoid paying a 200 baht fine, not to save their life.
The figures are probably higher than that, as they don't include people who die in hospital as a result of an accident. Just those dead at the scene.
I've lost count of the number of times a Thai colleague has asked 'Where are you travelling to for the New Year?'. When I explain that it's rather dangerous, so I think we'll stay at home, they look at me with that 'what are you talking about' look. Enough said.

VS

[Siani]

Yes, it's horrible Siani, but predictable. It's the one reason why we don't travel anywhere during this period, and I noticed that our province was in the top two. One big booze-up with the end of year bonuses that a lot of the lower-paid workers get, and it's a recipe for disaster.
Helmets and wearing a seat belt might lower the figures a tad - but, sadly, it's not generally in the Thai psyche to go to such extremes. They only pop on a helmet (with the chinstrap dangling) to avoid paying a 200 baht fine, not to save their life.
The figures are probably higher than that, as they don't include people who die in hospital as a result of an accident. Just those dead at the scene.
I've lost count of the number of times a Thai colleague has asked 'Where are you travelling to for the New Year?'. When I explain that it's rather dangerous, so I think we'll stay at home, they look at me with that 'what are you talking about' look. Enough said.

VS

It is a worry, last time we were over in HH a moped shot out of nowhere right into the back of the car. There were two girls, who both came flying off, really hurting themselves. They were not looking at where they were going, texting on their phones instead of watching the road. I wonder why the Thai government does not clamp down on drink driving, road safety campaigns, it is sheer madness

[Frank Hovis]

This document http://www.unescap.org/stat/meet/vs-Sep09/Thailand.pdf suggests that RTA deaths are underreported (or misreported) by as much as 200%. (see Page 5) If that is still the case then around 24000 deaths are attributable to RTA's every year. That's like killing everyone in Cha-Am every single year.

The number of accidents involving different types of vehicles point to the root of the high numbers, there are more car/pickup accidents than motorcycle accidents (reported) but motorcyclists make up between 70-80% of the road fatalities.

Last year the similarly populated UK had only 1900 RTA deaths but no surprise that motorcyclists while being less than 1% of the road users make up 19% of the fatalities.

I'm not sure if it really is a Thai thing, I know they tend to be crap drivers, don't pay attention, don't seem to look ahead very far and don't mind a bit of DUI but the figures are so high because of the simple fact that having an accident on a motorcycle is so much more likely to end in death.

[PeteC]

If I have time I'll have to research China. They went from bicycles directly to cars and never had the motorcycle boom the lower class had/has here. Maybe in the China hinterland they're in use but I rarely see them in the coastal cities. Probably a very good thing as IMO Thai car and truck drivers are far superior to the Chinese. China is simply...."Lets just all head towards each other at an intersection and see who wins regardless of light color." You gotta see it, but it is much worse than here. Pete

[richard]

Went north from condo Chain on Petcha tonight and the road was covered with chalk marks all the way to the Tossaban

[kendo]

Up in Issan the party's go on for a few days longer.
Kendo.

[margaretcarnes]

Went north from condo Chain on Petcha tonight and the road was covered with chalk marks all the way to the Tossaban

Was that a deliberate miss-spelling Richard?
Seriously - yes bikers anywhere are more at risk. One problem being that often they are not seen by drivers of other vehicles.
Most of us in the West have been there - you learn to drive, learn to use your rear view mirror - and find that you still can't see the biker behind who is off centre or starting to overtake.
These days MC training is much better. Certainly in the UK anyway. Bikes are safer, and lets face it cost so much that only a completely suicidal maniac would risk wrecking his (or her) machine. Most sensible bikers take care with their positioning on the road, and especially when pulling out of junctions, and all wear helmets of a prescribed standard.
Then we have Thailand. MCs are the peoples' form of mass transport. Is there a driving test for them? I don't know, but given the numbers of kids seen riding MCs I doubt it. Helmet use is not enforced. Even when it is it doesn't apply to the 5 passengers and certainly doesn't require a decent standard of helmet. They could probably ride around with a potty on their head and get away with it. And even a good quality helmet anywhere isn't going to prevent a broken neck or back.
To me Thais treat MCs pretty much like I used to treat my pedal cycle. No need for a helmet. No need to stay sober to ride it. No concept of what is is like for a car driver to spot you. Mind you - I never used to ride along the wrong side of a road as Thai MC riders still do.
Little wonder there is still a high road death toll in the LOS is it? But as long as Buddha takes care they will never change.