OPINION

Get serious on safety

Re: "Carnage: An analysis of Thailand's road safety", (Spectrum, June 3).

Jan-David Franke's cover story on Thai road safety provides an excellent review of the complex set of factors that collectively work to keep Thailand at the top of the list of most dangerous places in the world to drive. Of the suggested "3 Es" of road safety management (education, enforcement and engineering), Thailand is most seriously lacking in the first two. It is astonishing that people can so easily obtain driving licences in Thailand without compulsory driver education or demonstrated competency in driving.

Law enforcement is a joke. I have made several checks of motorcycle helmet compliance in a community near Bangkok and discovered compliance to be no more than 35%. Upcountry, compliance is more like 10% in most areas. Children twelve years of age or younger are regularly seen driving motorbikes.

Law compliance is not effective because the police are not serious about it. Significant fines and confiscation of vehicles for repeat violators would quickly result in people falling into line. If authorities were resolute, word would swiftly get around and people would develop respect for the law. Experience in China, Vietnam, the US and elsewhere have shown this to be a proven approach.

Re: "Legalise meth", (PostBag, June 2).

If you are looking for more ludicrous and irresponsible nonsense you need look no further than Observer's letter which supports the legalising of methamphetamine. The argument being that its production is enriching drug lords and, if made legal, it would add income to our national treasury.

The well-known side-effects of meth commonly include extremely violent behaviour, depression and irreversible brain damage which I suspect Observer might be suffering from for suggesting such nonsense. Comparison with the effects on one's health of cigarettes and a few beers or whiskeys just does not stack up.

Re: "Industrial defence", (PostBag, June 2).

My friends and I are happy that the IRPC petrochemical company has answered our call for a public statement about what it intends to do to remedy its irresponsible behaviour of constantly releasing toxic gases into the atmosphere over Rayong.

But this has been ongoing on for many, many years, and the statement falls far short of what is required. IRPC must stop these illegal noxious emissions immediately.

Until it does, would IRPC please stop referring to itself as the IRPC "Eco" Industrial Complex? There is nothing "eco" about IRPC and it is untrue for it to label itself in this fashion.

Re: "54 motorcycle racers arrested in Ayutthaya", (Online, June 2).

Those young street racers are recruits for bad drivers when they grown up. Revoke their driving licence permanently. Revoke their right to apply for a driving licence permanently for those who have not had a driving licence.

This will discourage youth from joining street racing because they will not be able to have a driving licence for their life time if they are caught.

Re: "Monster Trump", (PostBag, June 2).

Eric Bahrt's venomous rant about Donald Trump and baby bears would be hilarious if it were presented verbatim on a right wing version of Saturday Night Live.

Eric refers to himself as a "member of the animal rights movement". If that is so I would suggest that, if he wishes "the movement" to be successful, he leave advocacy to those less hateful and more articulate. And by the way Eric, Donald Trump is the 45th President, not a candidate, although, due to his rising popularity among voters, he may again become one.

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