The Ministry of Health is committed to a safer New Year's holiday by reducing the number of traffic accidents by 5%. Minister Cholnan Srikaew emphasizes the importance of driving sober, especially in view of the longer opening hours of pubs. This initiative involves collaboration between public health volunteers, local authorities and police, aimed at prevention and control.
The government is committed to improving the quality of life of its citizens, especially those affected by road accidents. The Ministry of Land Transport opens the doors to applications aimed at financial support for aids. With this step, the government hopes to have a positive impact on the lives of disabled road traffic victims.
A strong statement this week, in which we state that the many road deaths in Thailand (62 per day!) are largely our own fault. And we will explain that.
Three 13-year-old girls dead in road accident in Nakhon Pathom
I know, every day we can make a story about another serious traffic accident somewhere in Thailand that resulted in deaths. It doesn't stop and often you are already tempted to skip the article. Also with these three girls I initially thought, well, three more deaths in a long, long series. But the message did not leave me and I kept thinking about the misery that the accident resulted.
Unnecessarily many road casualties in Thailand
Every day many victims in traffic are regrettable, which would be absolutely unnecessary. The images are shown daily on television.
7.925 deaths on Thai roads in seven months
Thailand's roads are among the deadliest in the world. According to unofficial figures from the 'Don't Drive Drunk Foundation', 7.925 people have already died in traffic in the first seven months of this year.
The 'Seven Dangerous Days' around Songkran are over so the balance can be made. This year there are more accidents and more injuries to report, the number of deaths is lower than last year.
The government has taken various measures this year to reduce the number of road casualties. Strangely enough, some measures have already been reversed under pressure from public opinion.
Songkran holiday: 'Seven dangerous days'
The Thai roads are dangerous, especially around Songkran when a real population migration takes place. The government tries every year to reduce the number of road casualties during the so-called 'seven dangerous days', but hardly succeeds.
Udomsak of the Center for Alcohol Studies and Center of Excellence in Health System and Medical Research at Walailak University believes that there should be a general alcohol ban during Songkran in order to reduce the number of road casualties.