The Thailand Accident and Research Centre (TARC), situated within the School of Engineering and Technology at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), hosted the inaugural Thailand Road Traffic Safety Forum with Mr. Montri Dechasakulsom, Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Transport, overseeing the opening. This pivotal event, organised on 13 March 2024, united a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Public Health, and other pertinent government bodies.
The forum's main goal was to cultivate a comprehensive understanding of the present and forthcoming challenges to road traffic safety in Thailand. It concentrated on analysing accident data, evaluating operational guidelines, enhancing law enforcement practices, and implementing effective safety policies. The forum aimed to create a collaborative platform for the exchange of ideas and identification of efficient road safety measures, providing clear guidance for all sectors involved in reducing road accidents.
A series of enlightening presentations highlighted the crucial role of accident data analysis in developing road safety strategies. Dr. Chakree Bamrungwong, Advisor on Land Transport Economics at the Ministry of Transport, outlined the current situation and future trends of traffic accidents in Thailand. Police General Surachate Hakparn, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, discussed national road crash data and law enforcement efficiency. Dr. Piyapong Jiwattanakulpaisarn, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Highways, spoke on the implementation of 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 into developing public health policies informed by crash data analysis.
Likewise, Prof. Kunnawee Kanitpong, Director of TARC and faculty member at the Transportation Engineering (TRE) Programme in AIT SET, delved into the importance of in-depth crash investigation, with a special emphasis on motorcycle crashes - a significant issue in Thailand. Mr. Atsushi Hagiwara, General Manager, and Mr. Mafuyu Okada, Assistant Manager, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Japan, spoke about the significance 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., discussed the importance of Event Data Recorder (EDR) experiences in crash investigations.
The forum established a foundation for enhanced collaboration among government, the private sector, and academia. It envisions leveraging road accident data as a cornerstone for devising effective policies and countermeasures. The ultimate aim is to significantly reduce traffic-related fatalities and injuries, steering Thailand towards a future of sustainable road safety.
