Skip to main content

Thailand’s dangerous roads prove risky for users

Late December and early January has proven to be a dangerous time to use the roads in Thailand. Official data shows that there were 3,092 road crashes, causing 3,216 injuries and 340 deaths in the period between the 29th December 2015 and the 3rd January 2016. The death toll was the highest in Nakhon Ratchasima at 15, while the number of injuries and accidents were the highest in Chiang Mai, both at 125. A total of 339 crashes occurred nationwide on 3 January 2016 with 361 injuries and 48 deaths. Among the
January 4, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Late December and early January has proven to be a dangerous time to use the roads in Thailand. Official data shows that there were 3,092 road crashes, causing 3,216 injuries and 340 deaths in the period between the 29th December 2015 and the 3rd January 2016. The death toll was the highest in Nakhon Ratchasima at 15, while the number of injuries and accidents were the highest in Chiang Mai, both at 125. A total of 339 crashes occurred nationwide on 3 January 2016 with 361 injuries and 48 deaths. Among the main reasons for crashes include speeding at 16.2% and drunk-driving at 19.8%. Most of the accidents happened on major roads at 68.7% while motorcycles accounted for below 80% of the whole figure.

With a view to reducing the toll of deaths and injuries on its roads, the Thailand Government implemented its 'seven dangerous days' road safety campaign, which started on the 29th December 2015 and ended on the 4th January 2016. The campaign saw police and soldiers arrest people driving drunk and seize their vehicles.

The authorities in Thailand are introducing measures to lower the country’s crash rate. As one part of that initiative, a pilot road safety project was run during New Year on a short stretch of the country’s Highway No4, the Phetkasem Road. The trial was run jointly by the Highways Department and the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT). If this pilot proves successful, the scheme may be extended to other major roads across the country.

A section of the Phetkasem Road was selected as this stretch is considered one of the most risky in the country. Thirty road crashes, resulting in three deaths and 38 injuries, were reported on this stretch of road last New Year alone.

Related Content

  • Working towards safer India mobility...
    July 18, 2012
    Sibylle Rupprecht, IRF-GPC Director General, looks towards sound mobility management at the 3rd Regional Conference of the International Road Federation 3rd-4th October 2008 in New Delhi, India More than 1.2 million deaths and 23 million injuries are caused by road accidents worldwide every year. Of these, India accounts for 10% of fatal accidents. These alarming figures were disclosed by the speakers at the 3rd Regional IRF Conference on 'Mobility and Safety in Road Transport' to some 250 engineers and exp
  • Thailand’s major road safety problem
    October 23, 2015
    Thailand has a serious problem with regard to road safety, which needs to be addressed. This is leading to a high number of deaths and serious injuries, with a draining effect on the country’s economy as well as carrying a social impact. The 2015 Global Status Report on Road Safety published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that Thailand has the second-highest road-fatality figures globally. There were 14,059 people killed in road crashes in Thailand in 2012, with the country having a death rate
  • US road safety record
    April 26, 2012
    The latest official statistics from the US on road accidents show that fatality levels on the nation's roads have dropped to the lowest figures seen for more than six decades. The information was released by US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, revealing that highway deaths fell to 32,885 for 2010, the lowest level since 1949.
  • Bangkok biker safety programme unveiled
    July 26, 2016
    The authorities in Thai capital Bangkok are launching a new mass media campaign aimed at increasing awareness around helmet use. This is a critical road safety issue in a country where over 60% of motorists use motorcycles. In collaboration with Vital Strategies and the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), Bangkok’s campaign will encourage motorcyclists to wear helmets. The campaign will also encourage powered two wheeler riders to properly fasten helmet buckles, a key compone