2012 was a tough year for Swedes in Thailand. 105 died, which is the highest number ever in one year and almost double from the 55 deaths in 2007.
“There have been unusually many traffic accidents involving Swedes in the first half of 2012. Another reason is that is becoming more popular to retire in Thailand. Many die of natural causes,” says Pär Kågeby from the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok.
The increase in deaths among Swedes in Thailand seems to be continuing. During the first three months 28 Swedish nationals died. Like in the past years, accidents, natural deaths and suicides are among the most common causes. On average five Swedes commit suicide every year in Thailand,
Many foreign tourists underestimate how dangerous the Thai traffic can be. According to WHO more than 26.000 people are killed yearly on the roads of Thailand in 2010. In comparison 296 died in Sweden because of road accidents in 2012.
”Many Swedes are not used to the left side traffic. They also leave Swedish traffic precautions at home and often drive without a helmet, which they would never do back home,” says Pär Kågeby.
But even if people do their part to travel safely on the roads, you can still get in accidents. Traffic morale is low, speed is high and Thailand has a high number of drunk drivers.
One of the worst accidents were when four Swedish youths aged 20 and 22 crashed and were all killed. They were travelling from Phuket to Koh Tao. They had hired a car with a private driver but they were hit by an oncoming vehicle where the driver fled the scene.
“Only half of the Swedes who lost their lifes in 2012 were insured. Many believe that the same rules apply in Thailand as in the EU, but that is not the case and casualties and injuries can become an expensive affair,” says Pär Kågeby.
Source: aftonbladet.se
Some right and wrongs in all submissions.
@John, they are dealing with people killed instantly. Somehow WHO tries to incorporate all traffic related deaths. Don’t know how exactly they do this!
@Anders. I guess they have changed their measuring from instant to related deaths since 1994. I lived here in ’94 too and no changes in infrastructure and number of vehicles justify the change with such increase.
The 2010 number is a “projected estimate” read the info to the right of the number (click) – if it was true that 26.312 peoples were killed on the roads in 2010 – then there would be absolutely no reason what so ever to do an extra efford on Songkhran festival in Thailand, about “dangerous days” – as Songkhran saw “only” 321 deaths in 7 days (2013) – that is an avarage of almost 46 /day… in the dangerous 7 days of songkhran…
BUT – if You times 46 with 365 days – then You get “only” 16.790 deaths, so the thai government should urge peoples to drive during songkhran instead ??
Thank you for providing the exact source. Very interesting stats, but frightening!
Dear Mr. Desjardins
Thank you for your comment.
Please note that you are looking at the numbers for the year 1994. Since then infrastructure and number of vehicles have changed quite a bit. According to numbers from 2010 26.312 people were killed on roads in Thailand.
http://apps.who.int/gho/data/view.main.51310
Once again, thank you for your comment.
Regards
Anders Holm Nielsen
Why to you say 26 000 people are killed yearly on the roads of Thailand according to WHO? According to WHO, the figure is 2221 http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications/road_traffic/world_report/statistical_annex.pdf