Thailand now rated 2nd most likely country for tourists to die
According to the FIA foundation for Automobile and Society, Thailand now rates the 2nd likeliest place on earth for Tourists to meet their in in a fatal car accident.Their new publication "Bad Trips: Road crashes main cause of tourist death and injury" is a detailed report that explains the truth about how many people die from vehicle related deaths per year for tourists abroad. Road accidents make up the most for all Tourists deaths.
Thailand now rated 2nd most likely country for tourists to die
If you think not riding around on your hired motorbike is going to help you think again. Whenever you travel to another country you will most certainly be using motor vehicles, trains, buses, taxis, cars, and of course in Thailand the famed Tuk Tuk, your not safe no matter which way you look at it. Your even as likely to die crossing the road or riding a bike in Thailand, in fact going anywhere near a Thai road is likely to increase your chances of having an accident by 100%.
So why is Thailand so dangerous to travel on their roads? How about dangerous lane changing, no wearing helmets, huge numbers of unlicensed drivers, weak fines that act as little to no deterrent both for Thai's and tourists, no signalling, speeding, untrained drivers, child drivers, the list could be a whole article on it's own.
Pai is Thailand's most dangerous place to ride a motorbike and gets 250 tourist accidents a year, almost every day of the week. Although this is likely because the majority of people in Pai are tourists, and most need a motorbike to get around. Half of those accidents especially the fatal ones are because they weren't wearing a helmet. If you've ever been to Pai in the North of Thailand you'll see how very few people there are, if not fewer cars and motorbikes on the road yet they have almost an accident every week. The FIA report is just proving what we already know.
To read the report download here.
Tourists eh?… lucky I live in Thailand instead.
But in all seriousness it’s amazing how many scooters ride around in the dark with both front and back lights not working – it’s just a few bucks to change a globe. I always say that driving in Thailand you have to think for yourself and for the other guy.
Does anyone know the % of fatalities and where in Thailand these took place . Is there a list anywhere?
Are most in the main cities like Bangkok , or is it just as dangerous in one of the islands such as John samui ?
http://www.farang-deaths.com/
Yep another example of stupid reporting and scare tactics.
Every country has road deaths and accidents, I ride a motorcycle over 100,000 K in 2 years and it’s not perfect but definitely not as bad as you make it.
This country has a lot of positive , as drivers are typically much more aware of Motorcycle and scooters in the road.
Definitely need improved laws for helmets.
From where I sit , its one of the best places to travel.
As for Pai, every backpacker and tourist wants to rent scooters and they ride around in sandals and shirtless and No protection or helmets. Most have 0 experience, what do you expect !!!!!! Been there and seen for myself.
YesI agree! In some countries they may wear helmets or have cars in better shape however if you are in their way too bad! In Thailand, for the number of scooters on the road and the fact you can be just about any age and hop on a bike, it is amazing there are not more incidents but frankly unlike many major north American cities I have lived in, you don’t hear ambulances going all the time. They do drive and pass on all sides and yes they do carry the entire family, groceries and family pet on their scooters and yes sometimes you have to check both ways and then again because a bike could be coming up against traffic or on the sidewalk however folks generally watch out for one another and don’t go over 30-40 km so stopping isn’t that bad! And they will give right of way. However if you are new to driving a bike anyhow, wear flip flops and no helmet and don’t have a clue even how to use a mirror, then for sure your going to be in trouble! It is when they take these 50 -125CC scooters (which I know because I looked just today for a more powerful bike for highway driving and they don’t exist except by special import!) out on the highway, that the trouble begins and why wouldn’t it!!!! The bikes are too light and get sucked around in passing cars air stream and are too weak to get out of the way! I would take Thailand over larger cities in Laos for instance any
day!
all these statistics on road deaths in thailand is bullshit. i have ridden a scooter around a few. places. in thailand and even n though i ride more crazy than the locals some times the only accident. i had was losing it on a corner at 20 k’s due to some recent rain.
+ samual – you’re an idiot! Thailand IS by far the most dangerous place on the planet to drive either by motor-bike (ranked No 1 in the world as most dangerous) or by car (ranked No 2 most dangerous).
The vast majority of Thais have never taken – much less passed – a driving test, do not possess a driver’s licence and insurance or know the first thing about ‘road-craft’. This is demonstrated by the sheer number of bike riders with 3-4 similarly helmetless passengers, under-taking, weaving and speeding and regularly riding into oncoming traffic.
Apart from being a motorist/biker myself – I am also a cyclist and virtually every single time I ride my bike (which is most days) I always see at least one accident involving a motor-bike. What is staggering about this is the abysmal lack of police enforcement (too busy persecuting foreigners) and the fact that these statistics are actually in truth much worse! (Thai authorities do not record you as a ‘road death’ unless you actually die at the scene of the accident!)
stfu,by brother just passed away last night of bike crash in thailand, the report is true.should work in your traffic laws.
my* brother died because of same stupid reason. fuck you thailand.
Your brother was just unlucky or couldn’t ride or both
Sorry to hear about your brother , but yes he obviously didn’t take better care . Nothing to do with Thailand . It’s a small country with 22,000,000 motorcycles. Thai motorcylclist are actually one of the most skilled riders , when you look at the odds .
The fact is this : if Australia had the same amount of motorcycles and people as Thailand , more people would die in Australia than Thailand . Yep it’s true ! I spent all day researching that one .
It’s a dangerous place, any way you wanna slice it. Maybe not so bad as the article paints it, but still quite serious. I have had a few close calls, even on a bigger bike w/ better features and more power, and even watching out for others.
I advise people to visit here, have your beach holiday, and then get OUT, w/out wasting any time about it.
I live here, for now, but I feel, every day, that i am using up cat-lives w/ every week that goes by……
If you read this and you live here……watch yourself, on the road. If you read this and u r safely sitting at home someplace in your own country, planning out a beach vacation…..I recommend Belize.
I am a regular visitor to Hua Hin and see many accidents. Some minor some fatal. For goodness sake wear a helmet here. I don’t want to attempt CPR on another person with the back of thier head eroded having being dragged 100m under an SUV. He was pronounced DEAD later at the scene. Tragic waste of a life.
thats what happens when the idiots dont look where the are going. Do you cross a road without looking?
You + are = YOU’RE.
Your = POSSESSIVE
Sheesh.
Your joking are not you
Pai’s the worst they say. But isn’t their weed the best .? !