The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department here in Thailand has declared 29 December 2011 through 4 January 2012 as “Seven Dangerous Days”.

These are the Seven Dangerous Days that the Thai Government will track road deaths and accidents throughout Thailand and post the ghoulish numbers in the almost English news media.

Seven Dangerous Days

The problem with this New Years Seven Dangerous Days and with the Songkran Seven Dangerous Days, is that the numbers are bullshit.

First off, nowhere are there daily stats for road deaths and accidents, so there is nothing to compare these Seven Dangerous Days to any other days of the year.

Second, as mentioned by Tom at Isaan-Live, only the numbers produced by Thai Government hospitals are counted in the toll for the Seven Dangerous Days.   So, if you get killed on the road and are taken to anywhere other than a Thai Government hospital, you are not counted.

Last year, there were 358 recorded deaths during the New Year Seven Dangerous Days, which works out to about 51 per day. In a country of about 70 million people, I feel that this number is way, way, way under reported.  Especially when you factor in what Tom posted – alcohol, idiot drivers, drivers with licenses that were bought, totally incompetent drivers, bad roads, crappy motorcycles – you would have to agree that there are more than 50 deaths per day during a holiday period.  Most likely, more than 50 per day on any given day.

The Bangkok Post, Road Safety Centre Reopens, talks about the folks who will be conducting the body counts.

The annual centre for preventing and reducing the number of road accidents during the 2011 New Year holiday period, and tabulating the road toll, was opened on Monday.

This gives them 3 whole days to figure out what to tell the public.  One cannot tell the truth as it may damage the image of Thailand and eventually hurt the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department chief Wibul Sanguanpong said the centre, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit, will promote road safety and monitor the number of traffic accidents during the “Seven Dangerous Days” between Dec 29 and Jan 4.

I saw the promotion on TV last night.  Same old “get a bunch of pop stars, movie stars, musicians, etc. and have them say the word Soon (Zero)” – meaning the goal is zero accidents.  More like a 1 with a bunch of “soons” after it.

The government has a target to reduce the number of road casualties during this period by at least five per cent from the same period of last year, Mr Wibul said.

Get it down from 358 to 340.  Last year, during Songkran, they had the same lofty goal.  They even threatened Provincial Governors with their jobs if the numbers were not reduced.  So, the numbers were totally under-reported and gave the impression that there was a 25% reduction in road deaths.  All lies.

During the previous New Year period there were 3,497 road accidents, resulting in 358 deaths and 3,750 injuries.

No.  That is how many were officially reported.  At least double the numbers to get closer to the truth.

There were 2,994 accidents involving motorcycles in the previous New Year holiday, about 83 per cent of the total accidents.

I believe the part that 83% of all accidents are caused by idiots on motorcycles – since most have no training and do whatever they want – driving on the wrong side of the road, drive on the shoulder, don’t wear helmet, etc.

Drunk driving was given as the major cause of accidents.

Obviously.  Thais believe they are blessed by Buddha and won’t get hurt and won’t get into an accident.  They also believe that if they do, it was meant to be.

Each year, the highest number of road casualties has been on Jan 1. About 68 per cent of the accidents occur at night.

All the drunks returning in the wee hours after the New Year’s Eve parties.

Mr Wibul said his department has issued road safety guidelines  for law enforcement, traffic engineering, public relations, emergency medicine and rescue work.

Which will result in absolutely nothing changing.

Theyse will be implemented in the form of road checkpoints, service areas that meet local demand, and strict action against traffic violators  – especially the three most three risky behaviours of speeding, drunk driving and riding motorcycles without a crash helmet.

Guess this means that the normal 100 baht fine will be increased to 200 baht.  Paid on the spot and driver can go his merry way – more reasons for more accidents.

Officials of the department and other staff will try to minimise the dangers from flood-damaged roads, especially at accident-prone locations.

How?  Going to fill potholes between now and the 29th?

State Railway of Thailand governor Yutthana Thapcharoen said some free train services will be provided during the New Year holiday period.

Mr Yutthana said there will be 20 free non-air-conditioned train services and six free air-conditioned train services on Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani and Bangkok-Surat Thani routes from Dec 30 to Jan 3.

On average the rail services serve 90,000 to 100,000 passengers a day, but more than 120,000 passengers a day are expected during the New Year holiday, he said.

One of the only smart things being done by the Thai Government during the Seven Dangerous Days.

The SRT will tighten security measures and will ensure that no-one misses out on planned holiday travels, the governor added.

Not sure what this has to do with providing free train rides to drunks, but increased security is usually a good thing.  Maybe they suspect bombs like the threat at CentralWorld that the Tourism Authority of Thailand doesn’t want you to know about.

Hopefully, the numbers of road deaths decrease during the Seven Dangerous Days, but having lived here for almost two years, I seriously doubt it.

Tags: 2012 accidents drunks government hospitals motorcycles new year numbers road deaths seven dangerous days songkran thai government tourism authority of thailand