Thailand's seven most dangerous days

[buksida]

The Thai government's Road Safety Centre -- the centre which every year in this season swings into action to prevent and reduce the number of the road accidents, deaths and injuries during the 2013 New Year holiday period opened on Dec 27.

Pol Lt-Gen Chat Kuldilok, Deputy Minister of Interior, presided over the the opening ceremony of the centre set up at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

The centre will also serve as headquarters to link all commands at all level, to solve immediate problems occurring from road accidents and to adjust traffic plan to response the needs arising.

Gen Chat said the centre will promote road safety and monitor the number of traffic accidents during the so-called “Seven Dangerous Days” from December 27, 2012 until January 2, 2013.

The government has a target to reduce the number of road casualties during this period by at least five per cent from the same period of last year, he said.

During last New Year, a total of 335 people were killed and 3,375 injured in 3,093 road accidents .

As usual, emphasis will be given to controlling speed, cracking down on driving while intoxicated, wearing helmets for motorcyclists and controlling pickup trucks carrying passengers.

The deputy minister said that checkpoints will be in place, especially at minor roads, to monitor risky behaviour.

Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Director General Chatchai Promlert said that daily press briefings on the death toll and casualty counts will take place between December 28th to January 3rd at 10am to inform motorists to be more careful when travelling and to strictly observe traffic rules.

Source: MCOT

Thailand 2nd worst Country for Road Safety
Thailand’s official Road Safety Centre has asked the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to strengthen safety for tourists using land transport claiming a UK report ranked Thailand as the world’s second most dangerous country for tourist-related road accidents after Honduras

The centre was making a belated response to the UK-based FIA Foundation Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile 27 September 2010 report that researched fatal road accidents involving tourists.

It concluded that often tourists faced a higher risk of dying in a road accident than residents of the country they were visiting.However, the Thailand Road Safety Centre got it wrong when it said the FIA had ranked Thailand second only to Honduras for fatal road accidents involving tourists.

It was in fact research by the US Department of State specifically on road accidents involving US citizens that came to that conclusion.Called “Bad Trip” the foundation report quoted a US Department of State Database on fatal accidents reported in 14 countries over a period 20o2 to 2007. The average statistics showed that only Honduras reported more fatal road accidents involving US tourists than Thailand. The US statistics showed the average road kill rate for US tourists in Thailand in 2005 was 50 for 100,000 visits.

The quoted figure was higher than the average road kill rate for Thai citizens, which was 19 for 100,000, indicating the risk of a deadly accident was higher for US tourists than Thai residents.While experts might challenge the methodology and conclusions of the quoted data in the FIA report, Thailand’s travel industry understands that references to a high travel risk on Thai roads could seriously mar the country’s claim to be a safe and hospitable destination.

Source: TBN

Thoughts: Done a fair bit of motoring over the past couple of days and witnessed an accident approximately every 50-60 kilometers. Without a doubt speeding, tailgating and u-turns the cause of most of them. The locals in their battered Nissan trucks potter around at their usual lethargic speeds oblivious to anything on the road and the Bangkokians in their SUVs fly along at 150kph, the two don't mix on the same strip of highway. The police have setup road blocks with no warnings causing everything to anchor on the breaks and filter into one lane which is more dangerous than whatever they're trying to achieve. What they should be doing is getting off their lazy arses and patrolling in unmarked vehicles pulling over and heavily fining those that are driving like assholes (they would make millions) ... but of course that wont happen as it involves doing some work.

[Bristolian]

This morning I was at Macro on Phetkasem Road. On leaving, I needed to make a U-Turn to head back into town. From the U-Turn you have a clear view towards the airport. There were two SUV’s heading into town at very high speed, weaving between the traffic in a suicidal manner, obviously racing each other. Headlights were flashing on each SUV warning all that they were “coming through” at all costs and you had better get out of their way. They undertook a police car and overtook a police motorbike in the same maneuver, with the second SUV tailgating the first. What was the police action....nothing! They continued on their merry way apparently with no concern. So much for the 7 days road safety initiative, what about the other 358 days of the year!

[charlesh]

The other 358 days the police car and police bike occupants sit under a parasol at a check point and take payola!

[Name Taken]

This morning I was at Macro on Phetkasem Road. On leaving, I needed to make a U-Turn to head back into town. From the U-Turn you have a clear view towards the airport. There were two SUV’s heading into town at very high speed, weaving between the traffic in a suicidal manner, obviously racing each other. Headlights were flashing on each SUV warning all that they were “coming through” at all costs and you had better get out of their way. They undertook a police car and overtook a police motorbike in the same maneuver, with the second SUV tailgating the first. What was the police action....nothing! They continued on their merry way apparently with no concern. So much for the 7 days road safety initiative, what about the other 358 days of the year!

That's insane, but TiT.

[Big Boy]

We saw 2013 in at the Paowalee concert at 19 Rai last night. Personally, I can't drink very much, so normally don't bother at all these days. However, I would guess that I was in a very small minority last night, and I would guess that situation was repeated everywhere in Thailand.

We left 19 Rai at about 1am, with me driving home. The traffic on Petchkasem was as busy as I've known it. I was being extra vigilant, knowing that a large percentage of other vehicles on the road were under the control of drunks.

Progress was steady until I reached my right turn at the Tessabahn traffic lights. Of course, traffic lights go off sometime around midnight. Please imagine the scene - 3 lanes of solid traffic in 4 directions, and me trying to turn right. It was like something out of a Keystone Cops movie. I can honestly say that I've never ever seen anything like it, except on a kiddies cartoon. I literally had to force my car through 3 lanes of oncoming traffic and 3 lanes of traffic joining from the direction of the station - absolutely crazy, but I secretly enjoyed every second of it.

With challenges like that on Thailand's roads at this time of year, it is no wonder they are called, 'Thailand's seven most dangerous days.'

[usual suspect]

Could not help noticing how many cars were driving around town with no headlights on last night..now c'mon, in Europe you'd be pulled & breathalysed instantly.. But we're not in Europe are we? But we are in a country that every year tells us the police are going to crack down & the holiday period is going to be safer..
A friend took a motorcycle taxi home 2 nights ago..the taxi-man was all over the road, & when he saw 2 MIBs on their choppers he waved,wished then 'happy new year' in a jovial drunken manner..& weaved even more, & they waved & weaved back..both as drunk as him! T.I.T.

[richard]

A friend took a motorcycle taxi home 2 nights ago..the taxi-man was all over the road, & when he saw 2 MIBs on their choppers he waved,wished then 'happy new year' in a jovial drunken manner..& weaved even more, & they waved & weaved back..both as drunk as him! T.I.T.

That friend was me and it was 6pm in the evening.

Petcha represented the Thai equivalent of a dodgem car ride at the local fair. My missus on the back was fuming. Everybody but everybody seemed to think driving like a twit is a big joke and very little regard for life, safety, road manners and to really grind it home was the attitude of the roadside police.

Now if I'd been driving no doubt it would have cost me. That's why I use an experienced taxi driver I've known for 10 years even when he's pissed

[Big Boy]

The difference is that you don't have Buddha to look after you.

[Pleng]

I was amazed to see that the traffic lights were switched to "up to you" mode at the usual time, which in high season is already too early anyway! I came North-South at just after 11pm and the lights on the main crossroads were flashing red and amber. It was absolute mayhem. Came back at some point between midnight and 1am, by which time the lights further down (around soi 55 area I think) had also had the "take your chances" switch flipped. Even more chaotic.

[Bristolian]

I was amazed to see that the traffic lights were switched to "up to you" mode at the usual time, which in high season is already too early anyway! I came North-South at just after 11pm and the lights on the main crossroads were flashing red and amber. It was absolute mayhem. Came back at some point between midnight and 1am, by which time the lights further down (around soi 55 area I think) had also had the "take your chances" switch flipped. Even more chaotic.

I always refer to the flashing “after hour” traffic lights as “Tam Jai Khun” (up to you) Mrs. Bristols always says No… “Khow Mai Son Jai” (They don’t care)

I think that she is right!

[usual suspect]

Just read Buksi's 'Thoughts' on the end of his O/P..yes, this passage is so very true..
..I've seen these Police check-points set up just over the brow of a hill or right after a bend..& the resulting chaos..
When oh when are the Thai police going to do something about the speeding SUVs?
It seems if the vehicle has BKK plates & is an expensive SUV, then it is exempt from any traffic violations, & the driver behind his mirror-tint can do what the hell he wants, when he wants & how he feels..
(It's the only time I praise under my breath the sadisdic actions of the truck-drivers when they blatantly pull out in front of a speeding SUV.. ).
Where does the reponsibility to this daily road-carnage actually lie..??

[Takiap]

Well, at least you've all had a chance to vent off some steam, thanks to the forum. As we all know, next New Year will be exactly the same, so if you feel unsafe on the roads, just don't use them for a few days.

BB, like you, I sometimes secretly enjoy the mayhem where you have to navigate through traffic coming from all directions, with nothing in place to control/direct that traffic. To be honest, I sometimes think it works better than when the BIB are there giving directions.

[buksida]

Road accidents kill 254 during New Year holidays
Thailand's death toll from road accidents nationwide during the first five days of the New Year's holiday has climbed to 254, while the number of injured has reached 2,454, the national Road Safety Centre reported Tuesday, New Year's Day.

Yesterday alone, New Year's Eve, 52 deaths and 556 casualties were reported in 524 road accidents.

The central province of Nakhon Pathom had the highest death toll of 12 persons, followed by Chiang Mai with 11 and Nakhon Ratchasima and Bangkok with 10 deaths each.

So far, the eastern province of Trat has not recorded any road accident in the past days.

The major causes of road accidents were attributed to drunken driving and speeding.

The government's Road Safety Centre was set up to prevent and reduce the number of the road accidents, deaths and injuries as well as serve as headquarters to link all commands at all level, to solve immediate problems occurring from road accidents and to adjust traffic plan to response the needs arising during from the 2013 New Year period from December 27, 2012 through January 2.

In related developments, holidaymakers on Tuesday began gradually returned to their homes as well as to Bangkok.

In Lamphun, traffic is congested on Highway No 11 while Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Terminal 2 is crowded with travellers.

Meanwhile, Mo Chit Bus Terminal in the capital began to be packed in the afternoon through evening. The number of travellers who returned to the capital was expected to be approximately 200,000-300,000.

Source: MCOT

[PeteC]

Last night must have been a real scene from hell. People had to be to work this morning, so assume still nursing their NYE hangover, waited until evening, then took to the road home. Not read the BKP this morning to see if any bad stories. Pete

[Nereus]

Last night must have been a real scene from hell. People had to be to work this morning, so assume still nursing their NYE hangover, waited until evening, then took to the road home. Not read the BKP this morning to see if any bad stories. Pete

Well, I think that a lot of people with cars are having an exrtra day off. In fact, there are some places not open in Bangkok today.
At the eastern end of Sukhumvit that I can see the traffic is very light, as is the expressway.