Thai road fatalities ranked 9th in world
Published: 10 Sep 2013 at 17.59
Thailand is ranked ninth highest in the world for the number of deaths on its roads, according to an annual report by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The country had 13,766 road fatalities, or an estimated 38.7 deaths per 100,000 people, between May 11 and Dec 13, 2011.
The countries with more road fatalities than Thailand are India, where there were 130,037 road deaths, China, with 70,134, Brazil, with 36,499, the United States with 32,885, Russia with 26,567, Iran with 23,249, Mexico with 17,301 and South Africa, with 14,804.
Riders of motorised two and three wheelers accounted for almost 74% of road deaths in Thailand, followed by drivers and passengers of four-wheel cars, who made up 13% of the total, and light vehicles and pedestrians, who accounted for 8%.
WHO’s report warns that the total number of road traffic deaths worldwide remains unacceptably high at 1.24 million per year.
Only 28 countries, covering 7% of the world’s population, have comprehensive road safety laws on five key risk factors - drinking and driving, speeding, and failing to use motorcycle helmets, seat-belts, and child safety seats.
Thailand has laws on all factors, except the use of child restraints.
