**Road Safety in Thailand 鈥� A Personal Perspective**
As you may already be aware, Thailand unfortunately ranks among the highest globally for road fatalities. According to 2021 data from the World Population Review, Thailand recorded 18,218 road deaths that year鈥攑lacing it in the global top 10 for total annual fatalities, and among the top 20 for deaths per 100,000 population (25.4 per 100k). These figures align more closely with lower-income nations in Africa than with developing countries like Thailand, and IMho it's an issue that deserves high ongoing attention.
Having lived and worked in Thailand as an Australian expat since 1995, I鈥檝e developed a few personal observations and habits that I believe help mitigate some of the risks. I also have a background in road safety: back in 1999, I led a successful initiative at General Motors Thailand鈥檚 Rayong facility. We won the contract to manage their Integrated Fleet Services鈥攁bout 65 vehicles and Thai drivers of their senior 海角乱伦 Executives 鈥攁fter GM were experiencing a significant uptick in minor accidents under their prior provider, HERTZ (which GM owned at the time). The accident rate had reached a point where a fatality felt imminent. Within six months of taking over, we achieved a 320% improvement in incident reduction.
Things have definitely improved since then. The government has made meaningful progress, notably by ending the unofficial practice of purchasing driver's licenses "under the table" and implementing basic driver training programs and actual testing etc. While these are important steps forward, they're still a bit rudimentary and there鈥檚 still a long road ahead, but it has changed.
One of the deeper challenges lies in the Thai education system, which still leans heavily on rote learning. This makes it difficult to instill principles like defensive driving, especially when many drivers lack positive role models and the necessary attention span to absorb such training effectively. With GM, our approach focused on cultivating an understanding of consequences鈥攆ear of Financial penalties, for example鈥攚hich proved effective, though enforcement remained a challenge.
From my personal perspective, many Thai drivers appear to drive with an undercurrent of fear, while others adopt an aggressively overconfident style that seems at odds with the country鈥檚 famously relaxed, 鈥渟abai sabai鈥� culture. Females drive safety however I feel that their fears are seen through overt hesitation, which can also lead to risk issues. Contributing factors often include poor eyesight and poor judgement of distances鈥攚idespread, especially in rural populations鈥攚hich can make driving conditions on highways particularly extra risky.
Gender also plays a significant role in the risk analysis here and the statistical data consistently also shows that male drivers in Thailand are involved in significantly more accidents鈥攂y a factor of nearly 3:1. While generalizations must be made with caution, if I were selecting a private driver or ride-hailing service, I would lean toward a female driver for just this reason alone. Back in 1999 we couldn't find females that wanted to take on executive driver's jobs (which paid more that 3x a standard factory job) but those stereotypes have dissolved a lot here these days and I see many Female drivers in Grab Taxis and even (but less so) on motorcycle taxis. They are more safety conscious on the whole but it's just my opinion.
It鈥檚 also worth acknowledging the cultural context. Younger Thai men, in particular, often demonstrate riskier driving behaviors, fueled by a mix of bravado and inexperience. Until very recently, most had never received even a full day of formal in-car training. The situation is slowly improving, but it will take time. It's IMHo a significant factor in the statistics.
One of the biggest cultural adjustments for foreign drivers in Thailand is learning to accept that traffic rules are not always observed鈥攐r enforced. As a personal rule, I always drive defensively, maintain generous following distances, and never assume that others will behave predictably. I also consciously avoid getting angry or reactive behind the wheel. Frustration doesn't change local driving behaviors, and it can seriously compromise your own focus and judgment, indeed I know expats here who just constantly get enraged by the driving habits of the locals. It's a futile waste of your mental power.
That said, Thailand鈥檚 main roads are generally in good condition and well-maintained鈥攃ertainly far better than in many countries with similar fatality rates, and almost on par with some ASEAN peers like Singapore and Malaysia. However, weather conditions can make things more dangerous. Heavy rains and flooding are common, and most local drivers are not well equipped to handle them. I adjust accordingly鈥攚idening gaps, reducing speed, and being especially patient & cautious.
Interestingly, many drivers here turn on their hazard lights during downpours鈥攁 practice that stems from poor eyesight and depth perception and when in reduced visibility, this is at least a good move. Once one person does it (in a downpour) many others do also., They do like to copy what others do, again the rote learning from birth, it's at least good that they learn the good habits also ;-)
For expats and visitors driving in Thailand, I recommend approaching the experience with calm confidence, tempered by an extra level of caution. Importantly, never allow frustration or road rage to take hold鈥攊t will only undermine your ability to stay safe and will SURELY make the situation worse. You may need to temporarily set aside some of the assumptions and driving habits learned back home. Many local drivers simply haven't had the exposure or training to drive in the ways we do in western countries.
Also, if you're planning long drives, try to avoid the high-risk periods: namely, the days just before and after **Songkran (April New Year)** and the **New Year holidays in December鈥揓anuary**. If you must travel during those times, consider driving at quieter hours (e.g., 2鈥�3 AM) or leaving the day before the holiday rush. It makes a noticeable difference and way less risky. In 2018 418 people died on Thai roads聽 over the 5 day holiday and in 2022 it's getting down to 278 deaths, from 1,917 accidents , 1,869 injuries. Best avoid driving long distances at this time if possible.
**In summary**, the most important mindset to adopt while driving in Thailand is this: **prioritize your own safety above all else**, remain calm and patient, and keep low expectations of the others on the road is actually the most realistic advice. Cars, buses, and trucks can and do kill. Your best defense is thoughtful driving, timing, and staying well clear of high-risk behaviors鈥攜ours or anyone else鈥檚.
Kind Regards
David
