Skip to main content

Thailand’s road safety crisis is killing the young

Thailand’s road safety crisis is killing a worryingly high number of its young citizens. The latest data reveals that over 17,000 youngsters are killed in road crashes/year. Most of the road crashes involve the use of motorcycles. Between 2013 and 2017, 17634 youngsters were killed on average every year, according to data assembled by the Road Accident Victims Protection Company, the Public Health Ministry and the police. The lack of helmet use amongst many of Thailand’s powered two wheeler riders is see
May 21, 2019 Read time: 1 min

Thailand’s road safety crisis is killing a worryingly high number of its young citizens. The latest data reveals that over 17,000 youngsters are killed in road crashes/year. Most of the road crashes involve the use of motorcycles.

Between 2013 and 2017, 17634 youngsters were killed on average every year, according to data assembled by the Road Accident Victims Protection Company, the Public Health Ministry and the police.

The lack of helmet use amongst many of Thailand’s powered two wheeler riders is seen as a major factor in the high annual fatality rate.

Related Content

  • Poor road safety worldwide poses a cause for concern
    December 7, 2018
    Poor road safety worldwide is a serious cause for concern, with thousands being injured or killed across the glove every single day. The issue is highlighted by a new report by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This indicates road traffic deaths continue to rise, with annual road fatalities now reaching 1.35 million, compared with 1.25 million just three years ago. The WHO Global status report on road safety 2018 highlights that road traffic injuries are now the leading killer of children and young peo
  • Kenya sees slight drop in road casualties
    December 19, 2018
    Kenya is seeing a slight improvement in its road safety statistics, with a minor reduction in the country’s annual road casualty rate. The data comes from Kenya’s National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), which reveals a drop in road deaths for 2018 compared with 2017. In 208 3,207 people died in road crashes in Kenya, a notable fall from the 3,658 recorded in 2017. Pedestrians accounted for 1,023 fatalities, while motorcycle riders accounted for 669 deaths. Meanwhile 658 vehicle passengers and 322 ve
  • Research shows overall safety improving in Europe for motorcyclsits
    May 1, 2013
    Research by European motorcycle body ACEM reveals that the number of powered two wheeler (PTW) rider fatalities has decreased by 27% in 10 years (2001-2010). ACEM performed an analysis of road safety statistics based on International Road Traffic Accident Data (IRTAD) data for the period 2001-2010. But despite this positive result the percentage of PTW rider fatalities has increased in the overall transport mix, due to a much greater reduction in fatalities amongst other road user groups. The research shows
  • Addressing a silent disaster
    September 24, 2012
    As India's economy registers 9% annual growth, promising material super-power status by mid-century, the nation is barely beginning to address a silent disaster, that of road casualties It was Dr. P K Sikdar [a director of International Consultants and Technocrats/ICT and a former director of the Central Road Research Institute/CRRI] who coined the phrase "silent disaster."