Thailand

Country Summary

In terms of road-crash death and injury, Thailand ranks among the top ten in the world. In recent years, road crashes have resulted in more than 1,000 fatalities per month, and more than 80,000 injuries per year. A big part of this problem is that a high percentage of motorcyclists don’t wear helmets.

Since 2007, the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), with support from the World Bank and the Japan Social Development Fund, addressed this gap through the implementation of the Community Youth Helmet Use Project. The results in 2010 reflected the project’s success and sustainability.

The project targeted rural youth from villages in Nakorn Ratchasima and Khon Kaen provinces, selected by prevailing socio-economic conditions and local crash data and injury trends. The project focused on six core methods for implementation: social marketing, public awareness and sub-grants mobilization, education systems and delivery, enforcement, emergency medical services, helmet provision, and research and evaluation. From helmet-decorating contests to motorcycle rallies and fundraising, villagers took creative initiatives to their local communities as part of the project in order to improve road safety.

The specific objectives that were successfully met by 2010:

  • Reduce the severity of head injuries and related deaths due to motorcycle collisions
  • Increase use of motorcycle helmets
  • Increase awareness of road safety issues
  • Assist youth peer education efforts & promoting behavioral change for helmet use

Just as important, the project fostered local ownership and involvement, and it is currently poised for replication and expansion in other areas of Thailand. In June 2010, GRSP published a manual that offers clear tools and guidance for communities wishing to implement helmet promotion projects. Due to the activities organized by local communities and schools, there are also numerous plans for activities to be sustainably maintained and expanded through the Decade of Action for Road Safety.

Thai Red Cross New Year’s Resolution

One organization already gearing up its road-safety activities is the Thai Red Cross. With support from GRSP, the Thai Red Cross kicked off 2011 with a campaign project specifically targeting New Year’s Eve celebrations. The campaign, "Give blood and don't drive crazy on the road," aims to reduce the number of collisions, and consequently, the need for blood transfusion for victims of road crashes. The Thai Red Cross will be working with the Red Cross Red Crescent initiative, CLUB 25, a group that encourages youth to visit blood centres to learn about healthy and safe lifestyles and donate blood regularly. The goal is for each youth to make 20 blood donations by 25 years of age.

The project clearly succeeded in increasing awareness on road safety issues and assisted youth, families, and teachers within these communities to become agents for promoting behaviour change. As a result, the use of motorcycle helmets increased significantly.

– Independent evaluation of the Community Youth Helmet Use Project