Thailand

Situation

Thailand

Similar to other South Asian countries, Thailand has experienced accelerated growth in motorisation, in particular 2 and 3-wheelers which now comprise of almost 60%* of the country’s registered vehicles.

As a result, Thailand is committed to curtailing the growing incidence of road traffic crashes through addressing key risks factors, such as helmet-wearing. Accordingly, national helmet laws are applicable to both drivers and passengers, and helmet standards are mandated. However, only 52%* of drivers and 20%* of passengers are recorded as wearing helmets – a considerably low rate of compliance.

With an aggressive fatality reduction target of less than 10* deaths (per 100,000 population), the Thai Government is working purposefully with key stakeholders from civil society and the corporate sector along with GRSP to implement effective and comprehensive road safety promotions.

(*WHO 2015)

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GRSP activities

Activities

Advocacy:

GRSP supports Save the Children Thailand to advocate for the inclusion of helmets into the school uniform policy in Bangkok.

GRSP supports AIPF Thailand to advocate for lowering speeds in two districts in Bangkok and for changing urban speed limits in the national law.

Capacity building:

Building capacity through road safety data use for strategic enforcement, and the development and use of strategic enforcement plans.

Road policing:

GRSP works in Bangkok, with the Bangkok Metropolitan Traffic Police to build capacity of police officers to strengthen enforcement on four main risk factors (i.e. drink driving, helmet wearing, seat-belt wearing)

GRSP’s international road policing trainer will conduct a coaching and monitoring visit in March 2017 on application of Procedural Justice during enforcement operations

Programmes

Road Safety Grants Programme

The grants programme supports projects to develop and deliver high-impact, evidence-based interventions designed to strengthen road safety policies and their implementation.

Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS)

The programme works with countries at the national level to strengthen road safety legislation, and with cities at the city level to implement proven road safety interventions.

Road user groups

Children:

With around 186 300 children under 18 years die from road traffic crashes annually, it is unacceptable that some countries still do not have legislation regarding obligatory usage and set safety standards for child restraints.

Commercial drivers:

Commercial drivers cover great amount of distance on daily basis and are prone to multiple risk factors due to the vehicle type, conditions on the road and the often the objects that they transport. GRSP dedicates a lot of attention to this road user group because of the impact they have on road safety situation and surrounding road users.

Powered 2 and 3 wheelers:

Motorcyclists are just 1% of total road traffic, but account for 19% of all road user deaths. This is a clear sign that there is a huge problem and that correct interventions would greatly reduce the road traffic fatalities. GRSP is heavily involved in advocating better helmet wearing legislations and is helping enforcement agencies be more effective with this road use group.