Thailand cranks up road safety

Thailand will introduce measures to cut road fatalities by 50% by the year 2020, as part of a road safety campaign that has been placed on the national agenda.
In theory, national agenda status means all ministries must co-operate and coordinate efforts to reach the objectives of road safety projects or campaigns.
Ministry of Interior deputy permanent secretary, Panadda Diskul, said Thailand, as a member of the United Nations, needed to push harder to promote road safety to lower road accidents.
“The country is targeting a 50% drop in road fatalities by the year 2020 after the cabinet approved the idea of making 2011 to 2020 a decade of road safety. The country will promote road safety as a national agenda item to raise awareness of the issue,” he said.
He added: “The prime objective is to cut the nation’s mortality rate to under 10 people for every 100,000 population.”
The Road Safety Directing Centre earlier set measures to lower the casualty by requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets and discouraged motorists from speeding or driving when under the influence alcohol.
The proposed measures are:
• Cooperation with the Royal Thai Police, Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassies, related tourism associations and the Professional Tourist Guide Association of Thailand to reassess the death toll statistics and arrive at a more accurate record of fatalities;
• Enforce rules monitoring tour buses, drivers, security equipment and safety systems;
• Provide road safety handbooks to tourists on how to stay safe when travelling in Thailand;
• Encourager tourist destinations to improve road safety management through training course;
• Setting up consultancy units.
It said the new measures were designed to bring into check a deadly spiraling in road accidents particularly during public holidays.
During the two most popular holidays, New Year and Songkran, more than 600 people were killed on Thailand’s highways. That represented a 49 person kill rate per day spanning the 14 days of the two public holidays, a far higher rate than the US Army at the height of the Iraqi invasion.
The main causes of accidents were drink driving followed by speeding and reckless driving.
The department measures lack detail. There is no mention of whether it will campaign for a total around- the-clock ban on the sale alcohol at convenience stores at gas stations for example.
Experts have pointed out to the government that allowing alcohol sales on and near gasoline stations sends the wrong message to road users.
Police need to apply traffic laws impartially and apply heavy fines for infractions. They are accused of taking bribes from drivers who try to avoid having a summons written up on traffic offences.
Officials cite drunk driving as the major cause of fatalities, but corrupt practices encourage drivers to openly flout the law because they can easily pay their way out of trouble. It creates a dangerous road environment.
There was also no mention of measures to ensure the driving test is carried out impartially to end allegations and criticism that a driving license can be bought or officials can be bribed.
During 27 December 2012 to 2 January 2013, the New Year road toll rose to 365 deaths and 3,329 injuries involving 3,176 accidents. The death toll rose 8.63% compared to 336 deaths during the seven dangerous days last year (29 December 2011 to 4 January 2012).
Also, there was an increase in accidents — 2.68% on 3,176 accidents up from 3,093 over the same period. However, the number of injuries decreased 1.36% to 3,329 against 3,375. In addition, 38.73% of accidents were due to drunken driving, while another 22.58% were caused by speeding.
There were 321 road fatalities during the seven dangerous days of Songkran, 11 to 17 April in 2013 surpassing the 2012 toll by 0.31%, or just one death during the same period last year.
Officials claimed road accident related injuries reduced by 8.43% to 3,040 compared to 3,320 in 2012. Road accidents (incidents rather than injuries) decreased 9.62% to 2,828 compared to 3,129 during the same period last year.
Alcohol consumption was blamed for 39.11% of accidents followed by dangerous driving 23.59%. A total of 232,600 motorcyclists were also charged for failing to wear safety helmets and 222,601 motorists were charged for driving without a licence.

Sourced: ttrweekly