Road Safety in Thailand
In a week that has seen me get my first Thai drivers licence I thought it might be appropriate to finish the week by revisiting the thorny issue of road safety in Thailand.
So why is road safety in Thailand a thorny issue? I suppose the simple answer to this question is because it accounts for the largest number of deaths in the country outside illness and natural causes.
The largest contributory factors to Thailand's appalling road safety record has to be lack of effective driver training and failure of the authorities to enforce road traffic laws. In a country where holding a driving licence is not necessarily the norm especially among the owners of motorcycles there should be little surprise to find that the majority of fatalities on Thai roads come from this group. Drink driving especially at the New Year (6 days) and Songkran (5-10 days) also plays a major part in contributing to the daily attrition on Thai roads.
Actual figures regarding deaths on Thai roads are hard to come by although in 2005 it was somewhere around 20,000.
You might get the impression that the Thai Government stance on road safety in Thailand is fairly low key, however this is not necessary the case since there is an accident research centre TARC set up in 2001, while under the Road Safety Action Plan 2004-2008 there are several ongoing campaigns including drink driving, motor cycle safety and wearing crash helmets that are in place.
So what is the real problem in Thailand when it comes to road safety. Well I don't pretend to know the answer but these words from a Thai might help explain things:
"Dr. Yordphol points out that one of the problems in Thailand is that the people believe that road crashes are the act of God and are caused by something from an earlier life.
"But we know that accidents can be prevented. It is however a very steep hill to climb, when changing people's behaviour in relation to their religion. This is why it is so important to have some hard evidence to show the public.
If the people are made aware that road crashes to a large extent are their own fault, the behaviour might change.
It is difficult to fight against Buddhism.
On the way home from the scene of the crash, a police car overtakes on the inner side. Both officers are driving without a seat belt, driving too close to the vehicle in front with a speed of 130 km/h on a section with a speed limit of 90 km/h." read more......
So just like with the Buddhist body snatchers I wrote about yesterday it seems that religion is also a hurdle that needs to be surmounted if indeed road safety in Thailand is to be improved. 
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6 comments:
Mike, If I remember right fully 1/4 of road deaths happen during Thai new year each year.
I'll probably get grief for saying this but Thais just can't drive. I have been around a while and I've seen 2 accidents in my 44 years in America where a death occurred. In the short time I've been traveling to and withing Thailand I have witnessed countless accidents and at least 6 accidents where a death occurred...way too many.
You are a very brave man driving on Thai roads. I do drive when in Mukdahan and Nakhon Phanom but it still scares the hell out of me at times and thats with very few cars on the road.
Talen I certainly wouldn't give you grief since I experience the Thai roads everyday!
Last Songkran I think the final figure was around 300 in 7days.
I probably disagree that Thais can't drive per se. By this I mean they are just as able as you or I. Trouble is as we have said before on other subjects I fancy it is more about discipline, patience and yes as I suggested in this article religion and the Buddhist take on when your number is up. Which doesn't help us non-Buddhists if we venture out.
As we all know the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, something I fancy that is emphasised in Thai socialisation because it certainly manifests itself in driving standards. Perhaps it should also be taught that sometimes that straight line leads directly to the morgue!
Road accident is also a big problem in Malaysia. Indiscipline and arrogant road bullies are the root cause. We know this, but struggle to solve through various campaigns.
Rainfields I always thought Malaysia was more disciplined you quite surprise me.
Congrats on the DL!
This article interested me, I never put religion and bad driving together, except to say here in America i think a lot of people are ready to meet their maker and that is why they drive the way they do.
Tony, its to do with the attitude of many Buddhists about when your time is up its up. Crazy if you ask me and a menace in this beautiful country where every trip is like a game of Russian Roulette.
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