Rescue operations unfolded in the bustling district of Sichon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, as emergency workers fought valiantly to save the life of a 45-year-old man. Tragically, their efforts were in vain. The gentleman, gravely injured in a harrowing motorcycle accident, succumbed to his injuries after a run-in with a car near the lively heart of town. The driver of the vehicle? Vanished without a trace. (Photo: Nujaree Raekrun)
The unfortunate victim was one among many, as tales of road misfortune dominated conversations on Friday, marking the onset of Thailand’s notorious “10 dangerous days” during the New Year festivities. Across the nation, 52 lives were lost, and 318 more were seriously injured in a startling tally of 322 road collisions reported on December 27. The figures were released on Saturday by the vigilant Road Safety Directing Centre of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
This year, authorities wisely chose to stretch the safety campaign from its traditional seven days to a full ten, aiming to bolster public consciousness and encourage safer driving practices. The campaign, aptly named “Slow Down, Stay Safe,” runs from December 27 all the way to January 5.
In a familiar refrain, speeding emerged as the head culprit, responsible for a staggering 39.4% of the accidents. Worse still, reckless maneuvers like abrupt cutting in front of others made up a significant 20.5%. In this perilous orchestration, motorcycles played a predominant role, accounting for an overwhelming 85.2% of the vehicles involved in these mishaps.
Department of Highways roads bore the brunt, witnessing 47.8% of the crashes—with village roads not far behind at 28%. As the clock struck between 6 PM and 7 PM, roads transformed into stages of chaos, marking the peak hours for these misadventures. Statistically, individuals aged 50 to 59 were the most affected group, contributing significantly to the grim statistics.
Standing out amid the regional reports, Nakhon Si Thammarat reported the most accidents, tallying at 17, with an identical number of injuries. Both the southern province and the bustling capital, Bangkok, lamented four fatalities each, highlighting the widespread nature of this issue.
Reflecting back a year offers no solace. During the so-called “seven dangerous days,” a crushing 284 people lost their lives, and 2,307 bore injuries from 2,288 traffic incidents. Thai roads, notorious for their peril, regularly feature among the world’s top dangerous road lists. The World Health Organization’s most recent findings from 2021 place Thailand 16th among 175 countries for road fatalities, at an alarming rate of 25.4 per 100,000 people. That same year bore witness to 18,218 road traffic deaths within Thailand, averaging about 50 fatalities each day.
As the campaign progresses, the heartening hope of many is that by shining light on these issues and promoting vigilant adherence to road regulations, future holiday seasons may become synonymous with joyous celebrations, unmarred by the shadow of road tragedies. In the land of smiles, there’s a shared call to action—slow down and make the roads safe for everyone.
It’s tragic but I’m not surprised. The road conditions here are horrendous, and drivers seem to think traffic rules are simply suggestions.
Exactly! It’s like a free-for-all, especially during the holidays. People need to be more responsible.
Couldn’t agree more. Maybe stricter enforcement or better education might help?
I wonder if improving infrastructure could play a role in reducing these accidents?
Possibly, but changing people’s behavior is key. Roads can only be so safe.
Stretching the campaign to ten days is a step in the right direction, but awareness alone won’t stop the accidents.
True, but it’s a start. Maybe it’ll make people think twice before speeding or cutting someone off.
I just hope it’s enough to lower these crazy statistics.
Folks gotta realize it’s not a race. The roads aren’t a track, you know?
The thing that’s really alarming is the statistic about motorcycles. 85.2% of involved vehicles being motorcycles is such a high number!
As a motorcyclist myself, I feel it’s often the car drivers not paying attention.
Good point! Maybe both car and motorcycle drivers need to be more vigilant.
Motorcyclists are also vulnerable due to lack of protection. More needs to be done to protect them.
Honestly, I think the government should just ban motorcycles altogether during these periods.
That’s too extreme! Many rely on motorcycles for daily transport. It’s about regulating and educating.
Extreme problems require extreme solutions.
Banning isn’t feasible. Education and infrastructure improvements are more realistic.
The loss of lives is unacceptable. Something needs to change, but it’s not just up to the government.
I agree. Community involvement is key. People need to take personal responsibility as well.
What about the role of alcohol? Aren’t many accidents caused by drunk drivers too?
Absolutely, alcohol plays a huge part. Maybe more checkpoints should be set up.
Reading these statistics makes me anxious about visiting Thailand. Are the roads really this bad?
As a foreigner who’s been there, yes, it’s chaotic but you can manage if you’re cautious.
Speeding is responsible for 39.4% of accidents? That’s insane! People need to slow down.
I’ve worked in traffic management; education campaigns have been effective elsewhere and can help here too.
Do you have examples of successful campaigns? It’d be interesting to know.
New Year’s should be a time of celebration, not mourning. This has to change.
The road fatality ranking isn’t surprising. Having lived there, you see risky maneuvers daily.
I think adopting European road safety measures could save lives. They’re strict but effective.
Good point, they have some of the lowest accident rates globally.
With village roads being a significant part of the problem, local interventions might also help.
Expanding the campaign is a good move, but will it actually resonate with people?
Sometimes it takes a while for the message to sink in, especially with cultural habits.
Thailand’s striving for safety is admirable, but action without results means nothing. Let’s hope things improve.
I think awareness is overrated. Penalties should be harsher to deter dangerous driving.
Fines only work if they’re enforced. I’ve never seen a ticket issued here!
Rather than banning motorcycles, maybe invest in better public transport to reduce road traffic.
Having experienced a motorcycle accident myself, I think more helmet laws would help save lives.
The age group 50-59 being most affected surprises me. I assumed younger, inexperienced drivers were the culprits.
Despite having more experience, older drivers might have slower reaction times.