Get tough with drivers
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It is a sad fact that, in the last few years, holidaying cyclists who come to Thailand after surviving many accident hot spots around the world during their travels by bicycle are mown down by vehicles. These fatalities aren't just afflicting foreigners.
The police and judiciary have a lot to answer for in relation to Thailand’s high accident rate, because their inaction is disgraceful. I note that the drivers in the incidents involving a Chilean cyclist and a British couple received suspended jail sentences and paltry fines. Compare those punishments to that given a mentally ill 65-year-old woman who was charged with lese majeste and received a one-year jail sentence. We now come to the distinguished police force, which on any given day can provide hundreds of personnel to block roads during the passing parade of distinguished guests driving at great speed along highways, but are nowhere to be found when drunk drivers speed down the highway creating mayhem.
Politicians and newspapers bleat during Songkran and the New Year holidays about the horrific road toll, and yet nothing gets done. Many countries during holiday periods target drunk drivers by using radar guns and alcohol-testing units. They cost much less than treating the thousands of injured victims.
Rod Grierson
