Cocos.Bounty / Shutterstock.com
With 26.000 road deaths per year, Thailand ranks sixth among the countries with the most road casualties in the world, writes The Nation.
In 70 to 80 percent of all cases, the fatalities are motorcyclists or their passengers. These figures were announced today at a press conference chaired by Home Secretary Silapachai Jarukasemratana.
He further informed the press that speeding, drunk driving, failure to use seat belts and crash helmets are the leading causes of death. All mentioned cases are punishable under the traffic laws in Thailand.
Dutch Embassy warns travelers
The Dutch Embassy in Bangkok also warns travelers against participating in traffic on its website:
There are thousands of road deaths in Thailand every year. Often due to a combination of reckless driving and alcohol. The vast majority of victims are motorcycle and moped riders. Usually no helmet is worn. A motorcycle license is required to rent mopeds. However, this is rarely indicated by the landlord. Even if the motorbike is delivered insured, the insurance does not cover if you have driven without a driver's license.
Gentlemen of the Editor,
the second topic of today after which you are immediately confronted with an annoying picture after opening. Just like a stripped elephant, now another dirty picture. One of the advantages of the internet is that your users can decide for themselves whether they want to open an annoying or shocking picture. I don't need to see this, I've already seen enough misery.
Maybe you can edit this in future threads. I can read this nice blog again without irritations. Thank you!
We can't promise that, sorry...
The photos on the topic of the Bikini shoot Miss Thailand World 2013 on Phuket make up for it. 😉
Perhaps you don't mean it that way, but you add rotten apples to tasty pears and then find the tuttifrutti quite palatable. But the attractive and the bad coexist, they do not cancel each other out. This pattern of thinking and feeling is typical for many expats, not only in Thailand, and ensures that you can sleep peacefully at any latitude and longitude. “Everywhere is something, the women are beautiful and the trains run on time, don't they?”
Don't mean it that way, but don't make it worse than it is dear Alex. 2 completely different items with photos are coincidentally placed simultaneously on the same day by the editors, one horrible the other appetizing. Not more than that.
Call the one looking away as if it does not exist because it is too lurid, the other castles in the air because it is filled with vain dreams. Me too good. 🙁
@ Caliente Why gentlemen? But you are right, gentlemen. I attached the photo of the mutilated elephant to the post and I agree that it is a shocking image. In an earlier post, also about illegal elephant hunting, I used a photo of a pair of elephant tusks, but that photo isn't nearly as penetrating as this one.
Unfortunately this is the reality. It is not for nothing that representatives of 170 countries met in Bangkok for two weeks to put an end to this kind of practice. It is hoped that this will work, but personally I have a hard head in that.
I hope that some people will now consider whether it is wise to rent a moped in Thailand after seeing this photo.
In the photo it seems to be a farang (see pants) that was killed as a pedestrian on a zebra crossing. So no moped.
In Thai media, these kinds of photos are now blurred. I actually think that's neat. Certainly towards relatives who may not want to be confronted with these kinds of photos in which victims are still recognizable.
A nasty picture.
It concerns two British people who were on a moped/motorcycle, see Khun Peter's message on March 16, 2013 at 14:43. Not pleasant images, the other victim has lost part of his face, the vehicle is a bit further away. Your head is just an egg… a helmet is really necessary (and actually better clothing and then…).
These kinds of photos are of course distasteful, but they do force you to face reality. Out of respect for, among others, the victim and the next of kin, making the faces blurry/unrecognizable is very neat.
I didn't read any further, sorry. So it was a moped accident.
Still, I maintain that these kinds of photos are even blurred in the Thai media. Out of respect for the next of kin, I think that's the best.
I don't mind the picture above. In all the years that I have lived in Thailand
I have seen people lying on the street many times under the same circumstances.
The one thing I can't get used to and lie awake at night with small children involved. So much has already been written about it (including on the blog). No helmet, small children in front of the motorcycle and the mother or father also has a bag of coke with ice in hand or telephone. Calmly drive between two cars or between two buses at a fast pace. There are actually no traffic rules. When obtaining a driver's license, certain traffic signs or parking rules must be memorized.
A practical exam consists of a slope test (with an automatic transmission, so a piece of cake) and driving backwards a bit. A round between cones in front of the engine.
But there is no such thing as a real practical exam with someone next to you or on the back.
Also, who has priority? Hardly anyone knows that. Neither do the police.
An old railway line runs in the east of Pattaya. Roads have been built on the left and right side of the railway line. The busy residential areas of eastern Pattaya must cross that road. Collision? Advice police 50-50 guilt.
How nice it would be to place signs such as priority intersection.
Not that it helps much because no one cares about it, but it is a culprit. Further in practice. Turn signal not needed (or on if you have already changed direction). Pre-sorting (what is that?). Red light (it's still possible).
Driving on the emergency lane to be in front at the red light is all allowed.
Police not to be seen. Of course helmet and papers check especially for foreigners.
etc. etc. etc.
J. Jordan.
My girlfriend, can't reverse or park the slope test either 🙂
She wouldn't even pass that so-called practical exam, but she does have a driver's license 🙂
Dear Jordaan, since when do entire residential areas in Pataya cross the road? Very strange.
Terrible, those accidents. However, it is also understandable that the largest number is with two-wheelers. A car offers more protection and in city traffic you can't do big paroles either. A motorcycle or scooter can zigzag through traffic.
A driver's license is indeed nothing and should not be called that. It must be proof of you. And that is not possible without training.
I'm not proud of it, but I also drive like most Thais now. Fortunately not in Bangkok, but near Hua Hin. I did learn one thing. Crossing Thanon Phetkasem. I really wait long enough until there is no more traffic. Outside the city it is very difficult to estimate the speed at which some people drive. That almost killed me once.
However, in town I am often the first to cross the intersection. I take advantage of the tin protection a car offers when I need to turn right by riding along on its right side. I look left, right, backwards and forwards when driving. You may also have to drive up. I now know my motorcycle well to ride fast, to ride super slow, to accelerate quickly and also to brake, without skidding.
I know driving a car is safer, but it's much more fun on a motorcycle.
And because we don't have a car, I sometimes hang a sidecar on my motorcycle for the larger purchases at the Macro. When I go there, I also have to do a ghost drive on the emergency lane. Otherwise I have to drive really far.
It's all possible here….and if you put the Dutch rules out of your head and adjust to here, you will see that it works. The only rule you can enforce here is: watch out and expect everything.
Sjaak, you forget one more thing, look down… because of the holes in the road surface. oh if you don't see that in time.
Irresponsible how some people drive around here in Thailand, without a helmet, often bare-chested, with bodies that cannot be seen.
Even driving without a driver's license with a sip is waved away laughing, until something happens, then the dolls are dancing.
As indicated in the article, insurance pays NOTHING in such cases and a few million Thb are gone in the Bangkok chain hospitals.
My advice, look before you leap!!
Thailand apparently ranks 6th for fatalities, I once read that the ring road on samui is even 2nd for motorcycle fatalities!!
Peter, that's exactly why many accidents happen. Reckless and irresponsible behavior. And even then you can drive so well, someone else can let you crash. My brother-in-law had a very bad accident a few years ago, when a drunk driver drove his car head-on into him. My brother-in-law survived because he was slim as a sportsman. But he is now disabled for life. Fortunately, the other did not survive. This happened in the Netherlands.
We live in the north of Bangkok, drive every day on the rachadapisek and nobody follows the traffic rules, here in wongsawang there are large traffic signs stating that mopeds, buses and trucks are not allowed to drive over because the road is too narrow and every second you see the law to ignore . Helmet is not necessary, the Thai thinks. What a pity for these useless accidents. Hope the government finally takes measures so you can hit the road with peace of mind ,
It doesn't surprise me that Thailand is the most dangerous country in the world to drive.
You have to be prepared for the craziest things. Most drive without a license and there is 1 rule the one with the Biggest car or the Boldest always has priority, even if they have it. In Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan, no one runs a red light. In Thailand it is customary to drive through Rood. They dismiss the fact that this creates life-threatening situations with “Sorry”.
The police give many fines for driving without a helmet and driving without a motorcycle license, but they hardly do anything for these kinds of situations. 70% of Thais drive without a driver's license and the farang is fined 400 baht and then allowed to continue driving (????).
The traffic in Thailand is one of my biggest irritations because Thais are just a dot and do the strangest antics. Overtake on a 3 lane road on the right or 4 cars next to each other with a concrete boarding. Madness !
My advice: Many traffic fines for driving through Red and then immediately pay 4000 baht. Then those norms and values quickly get into traffic and I feel safer.
The fact that farang is allowed to continue driving after paying the fine has, in my opinion, a financial reason. They can ticket him again the next day, and the day after..... etc. Honesty commands me to say that I was guilty of that too. I also always drove without a license on Thai roads (I do have a Dutch moped license) and therefore uninsured. Nowadays I get behind my girlfriend, who does have a Thai driver's license and who drives very well.
And what about a policeman who occasionally hoists splashes at my place?
On the back of his car or motorcycle (BMW) there is a sticker with:
“Even when I'm drunk I can drive just fine”
Whose deed
I find the photo in this article very inappropriate. I know that it is normal in Thailand to show these kinds of photos. But we are still Dutch and less sensation-seeking on that point. Please have a little more respect for these victims.
Not inappropriate that picture at all, just the reality. People should show those pictures every day. But a Thai never learns anything.
Peeters, I think they should show more photos like this, especially in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands you have just as anti-social driving behaviour.
Considering the discussion about the photos. Here's an explanation. It does indicate what can happen if you don't protect your head. Your head is the most vulnerable in an accident. Therefore always wear a helmet.
The man in the photo is a 23-year-old Brit who rode a motorcycle without a helmet, his friend, also 23, was sitting on the back. They hit a curb and crashed into a road sign. It happened in Pattaya in 2009. The men were there for a vacation. Both died instantly. The co-driver's face is completely smashed away. The photos can be seen here but are shocking: http://www.documentingreality.com/forum/f10/two-die-thai-motorbike-crash-21689/
Yes… that will make you quiet for a while. Well, usually that is only for a short time and people go back to the order of the day. And happily drives on without a helmet. Except me, and maybe more.
After seeing that article, I suddenly find the posted photo very bad. Thought I had a strong stomach, but that is quite disappointing.
Instead of arresting moped riders to fill their own pockets, the police should detain and severely punish drunk - say stupidly drunk car or truck drivers, these are downright deadly loose missiles on the road!!!! But yes, money or bribes work wonders in this country!!!!! Greetings.
I've been to Thailand alone 2 times and I'm not afraid of anything except participating in Thai traffic.
Many times I have been able to make a cross after a ride on a motorbike (cab) driven by Thai himself.
Tip if you haven't been to Thailand many times, leave the traffic to the locals.
The shock effect works best, they say ... and the images of traffic victims can perhaps help a bit, one does not have to hide the reality .
And it's not always Thais who drive stupidly, but also many farang .. today I stood with the car on one of the two driving surfaces to turn right .. at the traffic lights on sukhumvit with the blinker on to the right ... direction Big C ….but they had made it into 3 compartments before stocking to the right …after all, they can't wait to line up.
Now it was green and I leave and stay on my driving lane as it should be …but the car in the second space did not accept this with its Pick up and made an incredible noise and wanted to push me aside ..but actually he had to be angry with drivers from the third band, which was enough to also go to the right, but is actually intended for straight ahead, and because of that there was an annoying situation. They couldn't merge because they don't know zippers here!
I also experience tailgating quite a lot and usually these are farang ... now I have heard through the grapevine that the English are very annoying people in traffic!
Maybe it's hard to say.
Most helmets no longer represent an eggshell on your head.
Looks like 1 probably had a chance to become disabled with a good helmet.
Would he and his family have been happy with that?
The other one who is already unrecognizable probably hit that traffic sign.
It would seem that after much suffering it would not have survived with one in NL. approved helmet.
Who knows, this fate may have been favorable to them.
Personally , I would rather die in one fell swoop than be a nuisance to many people if this happened .
Let the police ticket the person with an unsafe helmet, then 99% is up.
Pim, it may be a bit harsh, but that traffic sign was a Heineken advertising sign.
William .
That doesn't surprise me at all.
Often enough I see traffic signs behind a billboard.
As wry as it is, I couldn't suppress a smile at this reaction.
If the police just started to set a good example and also consistently hand out fines to moped riders without a helmet, that would be a good start. I do that regularly
1. police officers stand along the road or drive past in their cars and simply let helmetless moped riders (motorcyclists) walk.
2. moped riders lose their helmets from the front mounted basket!!!??!!
Checking for functioning taillights would also help a lot.
But yes, that hardly ever happens. Fines should also be increased significantly for driving without a helmet/rear light/seat belt. This is now punished with approximately TBH 200 (EUR 5,10). Ridiculous.
Finally. For drunk driving, a six-month driver's license must be revoked immediately. And a hefty fine. Still driving without a driver's license? Pay the top prize! Half a year – 1 year in jail. That really ticks and will deter much more.
And above all, to the point of boredom, continuing to show harsh images in the media about the consequences of driving without a helmet/without a safety belt/without a rear light/under the influence.
I would like to know those other 5 countries, no. 6 is not the worst, is it?
Peter Yai