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Despite national
road safety campaigns, the reported mortality rate from road traffic injuries
in 2008 remains high at 18.2 per 100,000 people. Over 70% of fatalities are
related to motorized 2 or 3 wheel vehicles such as motorcycles. On average
more than 45% of motorcyclists do not wear a helmet. During 2008-2010, about
80-85% of road traffic crash victims were motorcyclists and the remaining were
car drivers. While many laws exist within Thailand, enforcement of these
laws remains an area where further work is needed.
In 2011, the
Decade of Action for Road Safety was launched globally. Countries around
the world pledged to implement measures to lower the number of road traffic
accidents as well as the fatality rates from road crashes substantially by
2020. Should these measures succeed, this is expected to save more than 5
million lives from road accidents. As part of this endeavor, WHO was
designated as the global coordinating agency to move this initiative forward.
In Thailand, the
Royal Thai Government has put together a ‘Decade of Action’ plan and a
National Road Safety Programme is currently in
place. In collaboration with key national agencies, WHO uses its convening
power to provide technical knowledge where needed and facilitate knowledge-sharing
to better strengthen approaches to road safety in Thailand. By adopting a
multi-sectoral approach, WHO is working with the
National Road Safety Programme Ministry of Interior
(MOI), and other line Ministries, it also works with the Thai Health
Promotion Foundation, WHO Collaborating Centers such as the Khon Kaen Regional Hospital,
civil society organizations, UN agencies and other international/bilateral organizations
to improve the effectiveness of the National Road Safety Programme.
By doing so, WHO proves strategies technical support to guide successful
implement specific actions that aim to improve road safety.
For more
information please visit:
 www.roadsafety.disaster.go.th
http://www.who.int/roadsafety/publications/en/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/thailandroadsafety
http://www.who.int/roadsafety/decade_of_action/en/
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