2018年2月6日 星期二

Life and death on Thailand's lethal roads



安全第一

Reading questions:

1.Why do government initiatives and awareness campaigns fail to reduce road fatalities in Thailand during holiday seasons?

 

2.What are some factors contributing to the high rate of road accidents in Thailand, and how does the country's road network exacerbate the problem?

 

3.How has enforcement of road safety laws been identified as a key issue, and what challenges do law enforcement officials face?

 

4.How does the article suggest changing the country's "DNA" through education, and why is it considered important for addressing road safety?

 

5. Do you believe it is necessary to mandate the use of rear seatbelts?

 

The article discusses the persistent issue of road accidents and fatalities in Thailand, particularly during major holiday seasons.

 

Thailand's roads are currently ranked the second most lethal in the world after Libya's by the World Health Organization.

 

This status is all the more extraordinary given the fact that Thailand has been peaceful and increasingly prosperous for decades, with governments that in other fields, like healthcare and infrastructure, have made impressive progress.

 

Drunk driving is a huge problem.

 

Despite government initiatives, publicity stunts, and awareness campaigns, the efforts to reduce road deaths have been largely ineffective. Thailand's roads are considered the second most lethal in the world, with factors such as high speed, reckless driving, and drunk driving contributing to the problem.

 

A pick-up truck driver, who struck the British couple while trying to reach a hat on the floor of his cab, was fined the equivalent of $30 and given a suspended prison sentence.

 

"If we strictly follow what the law says, and issue a ticket for people driving over the speed limit, then we will end up booking everyone."

 

The country's rapid development has resulted in a vast road network with millions of registered and unregistered vehicles. Enforcement of road safety laws is identified as a significant challenge, with lenient penalties for violations, especially for individuals from influential families.

 

Individuals from influential families may receive lenient treatment, affecting the overall effectiveness of legal consequences. This contributes to a perception of inequality in the enforcement of road safety laws.

 

In recent years there have been a number of cases where drivers from wealthy families have killed, and been treated with extraordinary leniency.

 

In 2012 the grandson of the man who made a fortune from the Red Bull energy drink killed a policeman while driving at speed in his Ferrari. He was charged, but has repeatedly failed to show up in court.

 

Another case was that of a 16-year-old girl from an influential family, driving without a license, who struck a passenger van, killing nine of its occupants.

 

She was given a suspended prison sentence, and ordered to do community service - which it turned out two years later she had avoided doing.

 

Experts emphasize the need for a multi-sectoral approach, including improved law enforcement, continuous safety campaigns, and enhancements to road engineering.

 

Enforcement is challenging due to inadequate penalties, and law enforcement officials often prioritize traffic management over policing.  Strict enforcement is difficult due to the sheer number of violations.

 

"Enforcement is the key", says Ratana Winther. "But that is not just about telling the police to enforce the law. The police should be told to prioritise traffic policing over traffic management.

 

"But it is a multi-sectoral challenge. The punishment needs to be big enough for people to be afraid of it. And the safety campaigns must be continuous, not just at peak seasons. Then we need to move on to issues like improving the engineering of roads."

 

Education, starting in schools, is seen as crucial to changing the country's "DNA." It is essential for instilling a culture of safety, responsibility, and awareness from a young age to address the root causes of road accidents.

 

Dr Vedrasco believes the best way to cut the appalling death toll on the roads is to focus on the most vulnerable group, motorbikes, which account for 80% of deaths.

 

"If you cannot reduce the number of motorbikes, the next best thing is separating them. Make a dedicated lane; maybe not a hundred percent of roads in Thailand, but aim to increase the percentage of roads with separated traffic - this will definitely have a tremendous impact."