UPDATE
THE MAN killed on Patong Hill on Saturday night was a 41-year-old Finn. His body was taken to Patong Hospital. Phuketwan has his name but relatives will need to be informed before we are able to publish it.
Original Report
PHUKET: A lone expat motorcyclist was killed tonight in a crash while descending Patong Hill towards Phuket City.
The rider appeared to miss the curve and crashed into an ascending vehicle above the Patong Hill shooting gallery about 8pm, said Lieutenant Watthanatorn Bamrungtin, of Tungthong Police Station.
Traffic slowed passing the scene of the man's death. His body was still on the road at 8.30pm as police assessed the cause of the crash.
It's not known at this stage where he was from, whether he was a resident or a tourist, or whether he was wearing a helmet.
Statistics about expat deaths on Phuket are difficult to come by.
Phuket's Governor, Maitree Inthusut, told a meeting at Provincial Hall in Phuket City this week that 60 percent of expat deaths on Phuket were the result of natural causes or medical conditions, 30 percent were from drownings and 10 percent were from accidents.
Phuketwan suspects that the governor has been provided with incorrect information, which is worse than being supplied with no information.
By Phuketwan's reckoning, deaths in road crashes among expats would outnumber drownings three to one.
Sadly, the reasonably comprehensive figures once provided by Phuket's Public Health Department, issued for years in monthly updates, ceased to be issued in April last year.
Two months into 2013, there have been no figures released giving the statistical details for the Phuket road toll and for Phuket drownings in 2012.
The latest comprehensive figures we can provide are for 2011 - meaningless given that 14 months have passed since then.
The road toll and drownings are the greatest causes of the deaths of expats on Phuket, and among the greatest causes of deaths for all residents.
It's a measure of the maturity of a country when it is able to provide transparent statistics that explain the causes of deaths of residents and visitors.
Phuket's apparent reluctance to provide the figures is at odds with the stated intention of local administrators and health authorities to combat the needless loss of life of residents and tourists on Phuket's roads and at Phuket's beaches.
Campaigns to cut needless loss of life on the roads and in the water have to be built on awareness and on a community being willing to attempt to reduce the toll.
Without knowing what the tolls are, safety campaigns have no targets and little hope of success.
If the governor is being supplied with wrong information and the media is being supplied with no information, it's time honorary consuls and embassies began asking questions.
It's a measure of the maturity of a country when it is able to provide transparent statistics that explain the causes of deaths of residents and visitors.
Well if the maturity of this country is anything to do with the adult Thai male,which is about 10 years old.What chance does it have?
Hey I know you will not print this as it is the truth.
Posted by rich on March 2, 2013 21:56
Editor Comment:
Nah, it's your mind making up stuff, rich. You have a problem there.