The forum's primary objective was to foster a comprehensive understanding of the current and future challenges to road traffic safety in Thailand. It focused on examining accident data, evaluating operational guidelines, improving law enforcement practices, and implementing effective safety policies. The forum aimed to establish a collaborative platform for sharing ideas and identifying effective road safety measures by providing a clear direction for all sectors involved in mitigating road accidents.
A series of insightful presentations underscored the critical role of accident data analysis in shaping road safety strategies. Dr. Chakree Bamrungwong, Advisor on Land Transport Economics at the Ministry of Transport, presented the current status and future trends of traffic accidents in Thailand. Police General Surachate Hakparn, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, talked about the national road crash data and law enforcement efficiency. Dr. Piyapong Jiwattanakulpaisarn, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Highways, talked about implementing evidence-based countermeasures for traffic safety on highways. Dr. Sirirat Suwanrit, M.D., Director of Injury Prevention at the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, shared insights on developing public health policies informed by crash data analysis.
Similarly, Prof. Kunnawee Kanitpong, Director of TARC and faculty at the Transportation Engineering (TRE) Program in AIT SET discussed the significance of in-depth crash investigation, with a special focus on motorcycle crashes - a prevalent issue in Thailand. Mr. Atsushi Hagiwara, General Manager, and Mr. Mafuyu Okada, Assistant Manager, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Japan, spoke about the importance of traffic accident data analyses from the perspectives of vehicle manufacturers. Mr. Nicholas Wong, Manager, Technical Service Solutions (South-East Asia), Robert Bosch (South East Asia) Pte. Ltd., talked about the value of Event Data Recorder (EDR) experiences in crash investigations.
The forum laid the groundwork for enhanced collaboration among government, the private sector, and academics. It envisions using road accident data as a cornerstone for formulating effective policies and countermeasures. The ultimate goal is to significantly decrease traffic-related fatalities and injuries, steering Thailand toward a future of sustainable road safety.
Source: TARC
