Pessimism about road safety in Thailand: a glaring problem and not a government priority
Despite decades of campaigning, Thailand remains one of the world’s most dangerous countries for road safety. With a fatal accident occurring almost every hour and a lack of political will to implement changes, the situation looks set to improve little. Experts are calling for action, but pessimism prevails. What is holding back real progress?
Motorcyclist road safety campaign: dealers required to supply two helmets with each motorcycle sold
In order to reduce the high number of road casualties, the Thai Ministry of Transport is requiring motorcycle dealers to provide two helmets for each motorcycle sold. In addition, riders without helmets must undergo mandatory road safety training. The plan emphasizes the need to protect lives and hopes to drastically reduce the death toll.
Road safety during Songkran under scrutiny: again this year, a significant number of accidents and fatalities
The Center for the Prevention and Reduction of Traffic Accidents released the report on the 2024 Songkran Festival, showing that 2.044 accidents were recorded with 2.060 injuries and 287 deaths. The results underline the need for improved road safety measures, especially against the backdrop of fast driving, reckless overtaking and drunk driving.
Thailand has experienced a dramatic increase in road accidents during the New Year period, infamously known as the “seven dangerous days”. In just four days, 190 deaths occurred, mostly involving motorcycles. Speeding and drunk driving are the leading causes of these tragic events.
Traffic in Thailand is very dangerous for tourists!
Thailand's traffic is known to be some of the most dangerous in the world, especially for unsuspecting tourists. This article highlights some of the reasons why driving or traveling in Thailand can be a perilous undertaking.
Thailand in pictures (2): Deadly traffic
Thailand may be the 'Land of Smiles', but there is little to smile about on the road. Thailand has the most road fatalities in ASEAN, according to the WHO's 2018 Global Status Report on Road Safety. The number of road fatalities per 100.000 persons is 32,7. That is considerably more than Vietnam, which is in second place in ASEAN with 26,4 road fatalities. Singapore is the safest with 2,8 casualties.
Ride like a mad bull
September 2021. Max Verstappen wins at Zandvoort. In 2023 we know no better than that Max usually wins, but even then it wasn't really exciting, because after spinning 72 noisy laps the top 5 entered in exactly the same order as they left. What follows is a sobering story about driving in Thailand. But first a little about Red Bull.
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.
Discover Thailand (19): the traffic
Traffic in Thailand is chaotic, especially in the larger cities such as Bangkok. Many roads are congested and the driving behavior of some motorists and motorcyclists can be unpredictable. Moreover, traffic rules are not always properly observed. An average of 53 people die in traffic every day. So far this year, 21 foreigners have died on the roads.
According to official data, a total of 277 people died and 2.357 were injured in more than 2.300 traffic accidents during this year's Songkran holiday.
Twenty-nine people died and 310 were injured in 313 road accidents on Thursday, the sixth day of the seven-day Songkran holiday.
Third day of Songkran holiday: 54 killed and 373 injured
It is again the infamous seven dangerous days during the Songkran holiday, which cause a massacre on Thai roads every year. On day three, 54 people died and 373 were injured, in 388 traffic accidents on Monday.
Nearly 400 road deaths during New Year's holidays
During the '7 dangerous days' in Thailand, 392 road users died in approximately 3.300 road accidents. That is 5% more than during the New Year holidays last year.
Mayor and his family die in an accident on Doi Inthanon
A family of five died on the weekend descending Doi Inthanon mountain in Chiang Mai. It concerned the mayor of Pathum Thani, Mr. Sompong Sri-anan, his wife and three daughters.
20 killed in bus-train collision in Chachoengsao province
A tour bus collided with a train in Chachoengsao province on Sunday killed 30 bus passengers and injured XNUMX Thais.
Hun Sen wants driving ban for repeat traffic offenders in Cambodia
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen wants to crack down on motorists who repeatedly break traffic rules. Speaking at yesterday's closing ceremony of the Interior Ministry's annual conference, Hun Sen suggested that persistent traffic offenders should have their driver's licenses taken away and be banned from driving for years to keep them off the roads.
Wealthy Thai businessman Somchai Verojpipat who crashed his Mercedes head-on into a car in April, killing a senior police officer and his wife and seriously injuring their daughter, has been sentenced to three years in prison and a 100.000 baht fine. However, the prison sentence was imposed conditionally.
There is an article in the Volkskrant about the many accidents with rented scooters during a holiday. Thailand is especially notorious. Every year, mostly young Dutch people die or are seriously injured.
Fewer road deaths during Songkran
Now that the Songkran holiday is almost over, we can take stock of the traditional 7 dangerous days on the roads of Thailand. And that balance seems positive.
Songkran is a silly party
Let me get straight to the point: Songkran is (has become) a stupid party. The underpants fun for children and (almost) senile elderly. What's the fun of throwing water at unsuspecting passersby?
Seven dangerous days Songkran: Drunk driving equals murder
It seems that the Thai government is serious about doing something about drink drivers who cause fatal accidents, they are being charged with murder.