Corruption is killing thousands on our roads

Almost exactly two years ago Thailand earned itself a reputation as a deadly place for cyclists. A young British couple’s attempt to break the world record for pedalling around the world ended in tragedy when both were struck and killed by a truck driver. History repeated itself on Saturday when a round-the-world cyclist from Chile was hit by a pickup truck in the Northeast, ending his life.
Both tragedies have been blamed on reckless driving.
Recklessness behind the wheel claims thousands of lives on our roads each year. But to tackle the causes of this national scourge you need to examine the “big picture” of road accidents in Thailand. In reality, disrespect for traffic rules is just one facet of deeply rooted problems in our culture. The way we drive is influenced by the prevalence in Thai society of corruption, bribery and the patron-client system.
For a country with the third-most deadly roads in the world, which claim around 26,000 lives per annum, it’s pathetic that we only take the problem seriously for brief intervals. Law enforcement is tightened during busy holidays or in the days following a high-profile tragedy such as Saturday’s accident. But the measures tend to be reactive – a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. As such, they fizzle out as quickly as they were imposed. 
On Monday the Public Health Ministry announced the launch of its latest road-safety campaign. It will emphasise that traffic rules should be followed at all times, not only during statically hazardous periods.
Will that be enough? The root cause of our soaring road deaths might not lie in our disregard for traffic rules. What the authorities fail to address is the widespread practice of bribery among those who are caught breaking the law. Bribery in the business sector has been blamed for killing off rival companies, but on the roads it gives free rein to the recklessness that ends lives.
One answer is strict and impartial enforcement of the law.
In recent years police and prosecutors have faced criticism over notorious cases in which wealthy and influential individuals have escaped serious punishment for causing death on the roads. That kind of impunity for the “privileged few” must end so that people regain faith in the law. When the law is enforced and justice properly applied, citizens will realise that bribery is no longer an option.
The authorities have taken action by threatening steep fines for anyone who offers a bribe to the police. They have also cracked down on drunk driving. But these measures need to be strictly and fairly implemented until it sinks in that there is no escape from the law.
We can take a lead from countries such as South Korea, Japan and Britain, where the rules of the road are tight and apply equally to every member of society, no matter how rich or famous.
Only when every driver knows that the penalty for causing death by reckless driving is jail – and that no amount of money will avert that fate – will our roads cease to be the death traps they have become.