Skip to main content

Thailand’s road safety plan makes novel step

A novel approach to improving road safety is being made in Thailand. The country is now making it compulsory for convicted drink drivers to visit hospital morgues. This move is being handled by the Thai Probation Department and forms part of a series of measures intended to improve road safety in Thailand. The aim of the programme is to scare drivers committing DUI offences into avoiding reoffending. The country has the second highest rate of road fatalities in the world, according to a report by the World
June 22, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
A novel approach to improving road safety is being made in Thailand. The country is now making it compulsory for convicted drink drivers to visit hospital morgues. This move is being handled by the Thai Probation Department and forms part of a series of measures intended to improve road safety in Thailand. The aim of the programme is to scare drivers committing DUI offences into avoiding reoffending. The country has the second highest rate of road fatalities in the world, according to a report by the World Health Organisation, with its risk of road death second only to Libya. Since the scheme was initiated over 1,700 drivers convicted of DUI offences have visited hospital morgues. The official data records 11,370 deaths in Thailand from road crashes in 2015, with drink driving being a major factor. However it is widely assumed that the actual death tolls is far higher, with many more people dying a period after crashes have occurred or with road deaths simply not being recorded.

Related Content

  • French road fatalities increase
    February 21, 2012
    Concern has been raised in France over a worrying increase in road fatalities during January 2011, with the death rate on the countries roads reaching 320, according to early reports.
  • Thailand’s high rate of road injuries
    May 8, 2019
    Thailand’s high rate of crashes is having a serious draining effect on the country’s productivity and economic activity. According to data from the National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEM), injuries from road crashes are the biggest cause of health issues amongst people of prime working age (from 20-60). In the last 12 months 148,377 males and 80,163 females in the 20-60 age range suffered injuries from road crashes
  • Tougher sentencing required for serious driving offences
    July 13, 2012
    The average sentence for causing death by dangerous driving in the UK is just four years – 62 per cent shorter than for manslaughter, according to road safety charity the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists). While the average sentence length of manslaughter is 6.6 years, those sentenced to prison for causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving are given an average sentence of 1.3 years. Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs has an average sentence of 4.3 years
  • Road safety drive for the UK
    August 21, 2023
    A road safety drive for the UK could cut casualties