PHUKET: Just seven road deaths were recorded on Phuket in June - the equal lowest toll for a month so far this year - giving hope that safety messages are reaching motorcycle riders and other Phuket travellers.
While the serious injuries continue at more than 1100 a month, Phuket can sympathise with its horror-struck tourism rival, Bali, where the roads are now considered to be scenes of ''unprecedented carnage.''
The number of deaths for June on Phuket is surpassed every day on Bali, according to the Jakarta Globe newspaper, which reports that an average of more than eight people died every 24 hours on Bali's roads in March, April and May.
The three-month total of 758 people dying on Bali's roads is 200 more fatalities than on Bali for all of last year.
One correspondent to the newspaper online noted: ''Having lived in Bali for three years I am dismayed but not surprised by these numbers. At the current rate Bali road accidents will claim over 3000 lives during 2011, an appalling number.''
The remarkable figure has come to light just as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is about to join the foreign ministers of the 10-nation Asean bloc on Bali for their annual talkfest.
If one of the real life-and-death issues of rapid development needs to be discussed, delegates will only have to go as far as the roads crisscrossing the island to see the danger first hand.
''I live down the road from a large school in Ubud, and hardly any of the students riding motorbikes use helmets, their parents and the school authorities\teachers should be ashamed,'' wrote another correspondent to the Globe.
''How hard can it be to make it a rule to wear a crash helmets, it is criminally bad parenting and callous indifference by authorities. Most car drivers are just idiots with no driving skills whatsoever.''
Phuketwan Phuket Person of the Year 2010, Colonel Wanchai Eakpornpit, is now writing a book about how his ''100 percent helmet'' strategy for villages and towns helped to turn around the attitude to road safety on Phuket.
Bali could use Colonel Wanchai right now.
Phuket and Bali are always going to be friendly rivals when it comes to tourism, but as the head of Bali Police's traffic department said with masterly understatement: ''This has become a great concern.''
Bali's population is reported to be close to four million, while Phuket's unofficial head count is about one million.
The monthly toll for June on Phuket takes Phuket's toll for the year to 65 so far, precisely half last year's total of 130.
Only two deaths from drowning were recorded for June on Phuket.
While the serious injuries continue at more than 1100 a month, Phuket can sympathise with its horror-struck tourism rival, Bali, where the roads are now considered to be scenes of ''unprecedented carnage.''
The number of deaths for June on Phuket is surpassed every day on Bali, according to the Jakarta Globe newspaper, which reports that an average of more than eight people died every 24 hours on Bali's roads in March, April and May.
The three-month total of 758 people dying on Bali's roads is 200 more fatalities than on Bali for all of last year.
One correspondent to the newspaper online noted: ''Having lived in Bali for three years I am dismayed but not surprised by these numbers. At the current rate Bali road accidents will claim over 3000 lives during 2011, an appalling number.''
The remarkable figure has come to light just as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is about to join the foreign ministers of the 10-nation Asean bloc on Bali for their annual talkfest.
If one of the real life-and-death issues of rapid development needs to be discussed, delegates will only have to go as far as the roads crisscrossing the island to see the danger first hand.
''I live down the road from a large school in Ubud, and hardly any of the students riding motorbikes use helmets, their parents and the school authorities\teachers should be ashamed,'' wrote another correspondent to the Globe.
''How hard can it be to make it a rule to wear a crash helmets, it is criminally bad parenting and callous indifference by authorities. Most car drivers are just idiots with no driving skills whatsoever.''
Phuketwan Phuket Person of the Year 2010, Colonel Wanchai Eakpornpit, is now writing a book about how his ''100 percent helmet'' strategy for villages and towns helped to turn around the attitude to road safety on Phuket.
Bali could use Colonel Wanchai right now.
Phuket and Bali are always going to be friendly rivals when it comes to tourism, but as the head of Bali Police's traffic department said with masterly understatement: ''This has become a great concern.''
Bali's population is reported to be close to four million, while Phuket's unofficial head count is about one million.
The monthly toll for June on Phuket takes Phuket's toll for the year to 65 so far, precisely half last year's total of 130.
Only two deaths from drowning were recorded for June on Phuket.
What happened to the helmet campaign? is is over? why are there so many not wearing helmets anymore? Does anyone know?
Posted by Philip on July 19, 2011 17:50