[sustran] Christmas / New Year road deaths

[William Ross]

Dear Sustran friends

Every year the Christmas and New Year cheer is dampened for many by death and injuries caused in road crashes. This year, in Thailand (population 62 million), in spite of a police crackdown and education program leading up to Christmas, one newspaper editorial called it 'Carnage on the holiday roads'.

In the 7 days between 27 December and 2 January, 34,095 people were injured in road crashes (33,214 suffered injuries from other causes), and 653 lives were lost (an additional 265 lives were lost from other causes). These figures are from 'The Nation', 4 January). In Bangkok alone (pop between 6 and 10 million), 104 traffic deaths occurred.

The only breakdown I have is that '80% of fatalities were caused by motorcycle accidents', and 'the majority of the dead were motorcycle riders'. While some of the 'blame' can be put on this group of dare devils who speed, weave in and out, and often don't wear safety helmets, it also raises many questions of social equity and justice, the lack of alternative transport modes, and the way roads are built (long, wide and straight, with few intersections).

This is not the only time of year when traffic deaths are high. Last year in April (4 day long weekend for Thai new year), around 350 people were killed in 4 days. 

In Thailand, over 17,000 people are killed in road accidents every year. Some say 'life (meaning death) is cheap here': but the National Economic and Social Development Board says that each accidental death costs the Thai economy Bt4.7 million (over US$110,000). The social costs of losing loved ones under such circumstances can't be measured.

In Thailand, there is an obvious lack of respect for obeying traffic laws (speeding and driving drunk are very common) and a lack of enforcement by the police. Recently a young, drunk, pop star driving a big and powerful car, killed 3 people at an intersection in Bangkok. He offered the families of those killed an amount of sorry-money, and to my knowledge hasn't been prosecuted. This practice is not uncommon here.

You can write, fax or email your thoughts to the Nation or Bangkok Post. Both print letters to the editor which have been sent via the internet.

The Nation Newspaper
44 Moo 10 Bang Na-Trat KM 4.5, Bang Na district, Bangkok 10260 Thailand 
Tel 66-2-325-5555, 66-2-317-0420 and 66-2-316-5900 ; 
Fax 66-2-317-2071
Web address http://www.nationmultimedia.com/
Email: info at nationmultimedia.com 

The Bangkok Post
Post Publishing Public Company Limited
Bangkok Post Building
136 Na Ranong Road
Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110
Thailand
Tel: (662) 240-3700
Fax: (662) 240-3666
Web address http://www.bangkokpost.com/
Email: postbag at bangkokpost.net 


Best regards 

William Ross

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Dr William Ross

Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies
Mahidol University
Salaya Phuttamonthon
Nakhonpathom 73170
Thailand

Tel: 02 441 0211-0216  ext 232
Fax: 02 441 9509-9510
Email: frwro at mahidol.ac.th

International
Tel: (+662) 441 0211-0216  ext 232
Fax: (+662) 441 9509-9510
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