OPINION

More than lip service

Re: "King alarmed over road deaths", (BP, April 16). Thailand has again proven why it has the second highest road death toll in the world, arousing royal concern which will hopefully be heeded.

The root cause of road fatalities is drink-driving, usually involving motorcyclists, who are also usually riding without helmets. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says "safety must begin with drivers themselves. If drivers find ways to escape punishment, the campaign [to reduce road fatalities] cannot bear fruit."

So, in order to make it almost impossible to escape punishment, why not have year-round flying squads to test drivers for blood alcohol content and helmets for motorcyclists, with refusal to do so equivalent to pleading guilty to driving under the influence (DUI). Squads would be self-financed through their share of heavy fines.

The website www.alcoholproblemsandsolutions.org says, "The single most effective measure to reduce drunk driving is automatic licence revocation (note: not just suspension). Automatic licence revocation along with mandatory jail appears to be even more effective." Let's have automatic licence revocation for the first offence, plus a mandatory month in jail for a second. Driving without a licence would also trigger a mandatory month in jail.

I also suggest: (a) making the reduction in road fatalities the key performance indicator for the head of the Royal Thai Police's traffic control division commander, with performance posted publicly, (b) requiring speed limiters on all commercial vehicles, (c) confiscating vehicles and licence plates for a DUI, (d) asking taxis and ride-hailing services such as Grab to offer discounts for rides home for those who have been drinking, and (e) promoting designated-driver programmes.

Let's give more than lip service to reducing road deaths.

Re: "Dead music", (PostBag, April 14).

I am not absolutely sure what Fireman Sam is complaining about. In his letter he asks "When did the music die?" He then reveals that the music is not so loud that he can't watch TV or have a conversation. If that is the case he is far luckier than many, myself included.

He then complains about the repeated sounds produced and it is obvious that he does not like them. Ever since newspapers had a "Letters to the Editor" page, the "Fireman Sams" of the day have been writing to complain about the music of the younger generation.

Back at the end of the 19th century, newspapers were full of those bemoaning Marie Lloyd with her common voice and suggestive manner, declaring that it was the beginning of the end of civilisation.

The music that we hear at Songkran is but the lowest common denominator, and all of the family -- both young and old -- are able to dance to it without thinking much about it.

If Fireman Sam wants to know what young people are not just listening to but playing, may I recommend that he take a walk around the College of Music at the Mahidol University Salaya Campus. He will hear everything: Thai, classical, jazz, rock and maybe even a few fingers scraping down a blackboard.

Re: "Bring in the boffins", (PostBag, April 15).

After reading through the letter from Robert Exell, I was surprised it was not signed by the late great master of gobbledygook, Professor Stanley Unwin.

I did not understand any of it, which the EC is probably very happy about. Please note that this is no criticism of Robert, who is in my mind a literal genius!