SE Asian nations urged to improve road safety
ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT
Experts have urged Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries to promote road safety and strictly enforce traffic laws to cut high death tolls from accidents, which result in heavy economic losses. Barry Cable, director of the transport and tourism division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap), said Southeast Asian governments must do more in the areas of children's education and public awareness to increase safety. He made the statement during a week-long meeting on the development of the Asian Highway Network, which began on Wednesday.
''We have to be more responsible while travelling on the road, including using standardised helmets and seatbelts for children in both front and rear seats,'' Mr Cable said.
Thailand's traffic conditions have improved substantially due to the development of the skytrain and subway systems. Road accessories like 'smart' traffic signs have contributed to improved traffic flow in the city. However, Mr Cable said, more needs to be done.
He also urged police to get tough on drunk driving and the use of mobile phones while driving.
Charles M. Melhuish, lead transport sector specialist of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), said motorcycles accounted for 60% of vehicles in most Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries and typically contributed to 60-75% of road accident casualties, with more than 75,000 deaths and 4.7 million injuries last year.
He said the high casualties resulted in economic losses of over $15 billion (567 billion baht) per year, or 2.2% of the annual total gross domestic product (GDP).
A study by the ADB showed that Cambodia had the biggest annual economic losses from road accidents, accounting for 3.21% of its annual GDP, followed by Burma (3%), Indonesia (2.91%), Laos (2.7%), the Philippines (2.6%), Vietnam (2.45%), Thailand (2.10%) and Brunei (1%).
Unless proper action is taken, he said, there will be more than 380,000 deaths and 24 million injuries over the next five years. This will cost Asean countries more than $88 billion (3,329 billion baht) in property damage, medical costs and lost productivity.
Mr Melhuish said Escap is working closely with India to improve its database and will share knowledge and the benefits of the road accident/safety database with other countries.
''We also look forward to the establishment of more national safety councils and more concrete commitments to be made this November when the Asia-Pacific transport ministers meet in Busan [South Korea],'' he said.
Davidfl
Keep The Power On
ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT
Experts have urged Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries to promote road safety and strictly enforce traffic laws to cut high death tolls from accidents, which result in heavy economic losses. Barry Cable, director of the transport and tourism division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap), said Southeast Asian governments must do more in the areas of children's education and public awareness to increase safety. He made the statement during a week-long meeting on the development of the Asian Highway Network, which began on Wednesday.
''We have to be more responsible while travelling on the road, including using standardised helmets and seatbelts for children in both front and rear seats,'' Mr Cable said.
Thailand's traffic conditions have improved substantially due to the development of the skytrain and subway systems. Road accessories like 'smart' traffic signs have contributed to improved traffic flow in the city. However, Mr Cable said, more needs to be done.
He also urged police to get tough on drunk driving and the use of mobile phones while driving.
Charles M. Melhuish, lead transport sector specialist of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), said motorcycles accounted for 60% of vehicles in most Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries and typically contributed to 60-75% of road accident casualties, with more than 75,000 deaths and 4.7 million injuries last year.
He said the high casualties resulted in economic losses of over $15 billion (567 billion baht) per year, or 2.2% of the annual total gross domestic product (GDP).
A study by the ADB showed that Cambodia had the biggest annual economic losses from road accidents, accounting for 3.21% of its annual GDP, followed by Burma (3%), Indonesia (2.91%), Laos (2.7%), the Philippines (2.6%), Vietnam (2.45%), Thailand (2.10%) and Brunei (1%).
Unless proper action is taken, he said, there will be more than 380,000 deaths and 24 million injuries over the next five years. This will cost Asean countries more than $88 billion (3,329 billion baht) in property damage, medical costs and lost productivity.
Mr Melhuish said Escap is working closely with India to improve its database and will share knowledge and the benefits of the road accident/safety database with other countries.
''We also look forward to the establishment of more national safety councils and more concrete commitments to be made this November when the Asia-Pacific transport ministers meet in Busan [South Korea],'' he said.
Davidfl
Keep The Power On