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.
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.
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.
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.
Old people are a risk group in Thai traffic
The second highest commissioner of the Royal Thai Police reported at a seminar this week on the evaluation of the number of traffic accidents during the past New Year's holiday. Research has been conducted into which preventive measures have been most successful and which high-risk groups should be monitored more closely in the future.
Reader question: Are there public campaigns in Thailand to point out the dangers of alcohol in traffic?
What I wonder are there not commercials on Thai TV that point out the danger of alcohol in traffic? In the Netherlands, years of campaigns on TV and radio have made the public aware of the dangers. Does that happen in Thailand? I have no idea because I live in the Netherlands and cannot receive Thai TV.
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.
Campaign to steer Songkran in the right direction
Although Songkran should be a party, there is a dark side of alcohol abuse, road deaths and sexual harassment. The Royal Thai Police, Thai Health Promotion Foundation and the Network for Improving Quality of Life have therefore launched a campaign to warn the revelers.
Pattaya News had an article this week that contained a considerable warning to holidaymakers planning to rent a moped, scooter or even a heavy motorcycle in Pattaya. It was recommended to first watch the video below, which shows a compilation of accidents involving mopeds and scooters.
Happy ending to a horrible traffic accident (video)
A video appeared on YouTube yesterday showing a serious traffic accident. A young 23-year-old Thai woman stood with her moped at a traffic light at an intersection where little or no other traffic was visible. She was hit from behind by a passenger car coming from behind at a fairly high speed and, after flying through the air, ended up on the asphalt approximately 30 meters further on.
Bingo in traffic
This morning on my way to a number of activities I saw several traffic problems within half an hour. The first, near my house, a driver had managed to drive around a piece of wall from a resort. His car had become half a piece shorter, which of course makes a difference with parking. Presumably instead of looking at the road too deep into the glass!
At a regional conference of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Phuket yesterday, nine countries in Asia, including Thailand, signed a statement promising to reduce the number of road deaths over the next three years.
Another carnage on Thai roads
It was hit again on the Thai roads last weekend. Six people were killed and eight injured in three different traffic accidents.
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.
In Wang Thong (Phitsanulok) a 14-year-old girl died on Saturday afternoon and her friend was injured. The two were in the back of a pickup that skidded in the rain, collided with another car and then hit a concrete barrier.
The balance of the first two days of this year's 'Seven Dangerous Day' shows good and bad news. For example, the number of road deaths has decreased, but the number of accidents and injuries has increased.
New Year's holiday: Road death toll rises to 426
On day six of the seven dangerous days on the road, the sad balance is: 426 dead and 3761 injured after 3579 traffic accidents.
Campaign to warn parents about young children on a motorbike
The most common cause of death for children between the ages of 10 and 14 is traffic accidents. That is why the 'Child Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Research Center' has started a campaign to make parents and teachers aware of the dangers of young motorbike drivers. The campaign 'Don't Ride if you are under 15' aims to bring down the death toll among young people.
Thai government wants fewer road deaths
Mapping dangerous traffic situations where many accidents occur, maximum speeds and safety systems, these are the solutions contained in a new national road safety plan from the Ministry of Transport. This plan should reduce the number of deaths in Thai traffic.
Road accidents among Thai youths
Every year, 700 young people between the ages of 10 and 14 in Thailand die in moped accidents and 15.800 are injured. The Child Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Research Center (CSIP) has now made a video clip, pointing out the dangers of riding a moped to young people.