Strict rules regarding alcohol in traffic remain in force
Junta leader Prayuth Chan-o-cha has used Article 44 of the temporary constitution against drink drivers. However, this is not limited to the 'seven dangerous days', the measures remain in force to tackle drivers with a drink on harder.
Drivers of motorcycles and cars who are under the influence face confiscation of the vehicle for up to seven days, a driver's license suspension for up to XNUMX days, drunk drivers brought to trial and possibly sent to a behavior program.
Despite the increase in casualties over the New Year holidays, the government is continuing, government spokesman Sansern said yesterday. He sees a decrease in the number of accidents thanks to the measures.
The World Health Organization WHO sees a slight improvement in road safety in the country. Nevertheless, Thailand is still the second country with the highest number of road deaths after Libya (Source: Global Status Report on Road Safety 2015).
Nima Asgari, WHO representative in Thailand, wants the country to implement even more traffic measures, such as making it mandatory to wear seat belts for the back seats and lowering the speed limit in built-up areas from 80 to 50 km.
The WHO also recommends lowering the maximum permitted amount of alcohol in the blood for young and novice drivers. The WHO also calls for stricter controls and changes in people's behavior.
In Thailand, mainly motorbikes are involved in fatal accidents (73 percent). Much more than anywhere else in the world.
Source: Bangkok Post – http://goo.gl/w4BdKd
In my view, the measures should apply continuously and independently of the application of Article 44. Especially in Thailand with bad roads and often poor lighting and the many people who ride without any sense of standards, especially on motorbikes. Tackling this trade and a type of approved helmet must also be introduced that actually helps and not those fake helmets that are now used by everyone. Reducing the speed is also desperately needed because when you drive on the highway here it seems as if you are driving much faster than in the Netherlands, while this is really not the case. To me, this is a kind of options deception that can certainly cause more accidents and may also play a role. So I would say Prayuth keep up the road safety measures.
All strict rules are worth nothing if they are not strictly enforced by a corruption free system.
Furthermore, a lot has to happen in the head of the average Thai, that they finally realize that alcohol has no place in traffic. In the event of a recurrence, a so-called strict psychological test must follow, which in the worst cases must lead to a lifelong driving ban.
A short encounter over a few beers, as most of us know from our homeland, is not possible for most Thais.
Many Thais can't stop drinking when they start drinking, and it gets really sanuk when they can barely stand on their feet.
After that, hardly anyone thought of getting drunk behind the wheel, and hardly anyone was hindered by this.
When you go out with a group of Thais, you often see that the Service is busy filling every empty glass as quickly as possible, so that after the first hour a normal conversation is almost impossible. Thai and drinking alcohol is a chapter unto itself. In the village where I live with my wife, drinking alcohol is almost a daily ceremony, most of which do not even think about any monthly costs. Why, Nong Sau is married to a farang who has a hole in his head, and is usually willing to provide financial assistance at the end of the month if things don't work out. 5555
In my opinion, first and foremost checks on driving licenses starting with the mopeds, sometimes children with 2 or even 3 ride on the same moped, what if an accident happens there. Checking the lighting, you'd be amazed at how many mopeds drive without taillights, even on unlit roads, they have absolutely no idea how much risk they run. Then the cars … you just see wrecks driving around here and don't understand how they get through a technical inspection ?? Finally and to the extent necessary…. In Thailand you drive on the left, but almost all of them drive on the right, even on main roads with 3 lanes and then sometimes much too slow. as a result, overtaking is done on the left instead of the right, which also entails the necessary risks. So there is still a lot of work to be done….
A good thing if it is also checked outside these days.
Only, as often, I actually read in traffic usage that it mainly refers to the Thai people.
While I know from experience that many of our Western people also take a drink in their car in Thailand or ride a moterbike without a helmet. Without a motorcycle license, me too.
Overtaking on the left and right is allowed in more countries.
How many Dutch people drive in the Netherlands with their mobile phone in hand, without wearing seat belts.
Riding a souped-up mustache moped without a helmet.
But I come from a time when we all rode without a helmet on a souped-up Kreidler, Zundapp, Batavis, Puch (with high handlebars).
No, it will also take some time here before something like this becomes established and that can only continue to be carried out through checks.
A warned person counts for two, so don't count on it being solved with a donation to the police.
Even saw yesterday in a place like Kantharalak, that they checked all motorbikes and cars, and you hardly see any foreigner there (I mean fan rank 😉 )