Get serious on safety

Re: “Carnage: An analysis of Thailand’s road safety”, (Spectrum, June 3).

Jan-David Franke’s cover story on Thai road safety provides an excellent review of the complex set of factors that collectively work to keep Thailand at the top of the list of most dangerous places in the world to drive. Of the suggested “3 Es” of road safety management (education, enforcement and engineering), Thailand is most seriously lacking in the first two. It is astonishing that people can so easily obtain driving licences in Thailand without compulsory driver education or demonstrated competency in driving.

Law enforcement is a joke. I have made several checks of motorcycle helmet compliance in a community near Bangkok and discovered compliance to be no more than 35%. Upcountry, compliance is more like 10% in most areas. Children twelve years of age or younger are regularly seen driving motorbikes.

Law compliance is not effective because the police are not serious about it. Significant fines and confiscation of vehicles for repeat violators would quickly result in people falling into line. If authorities were resolute, word would swiftly get around and people would develop respect for the law. Experience in China, Vietnam, the US and elsewhere have shown this to be a proven approach. SAMANEA SAMAN