17 August 2001                                         Press Release No. G/30/2001

Thailand Launches “Safe Drive, Save Lives” Campaign

Bangkok (United Nations Information Services)---Society must try to cultivate a culture of safety, concluded participants at a two-day workshop on road safety at the United Nations Conference Centre.

H.E. Mr. Wanmahamudnoor Matha, Minister of Transport and Communications of the Royal Thai Government said in his opening statement: "Every year about 13,000 people are killed in road accidents and several hundreds crippled for life. The economic losses are estimated to be about 100 billlion baht which amounts to two per cent of Thailand's GDP." He appealed for technical assistance to reduce these mortality rates.

"Road accidents are a worldwide problem and result in over 1 million people killed and 10?15 million crippled or injured every year. About 75 per cent of these road deaths occur in developing countries, although they have only about 32% of all motor vehicles. In the Asia?Pacific region alone, over 400,000 people are killed annually by road accidents and several million injured," said Executive Secretary Mr Kim Hak-Su in his opening statement.

"One of priorities should be the safety of vehicles especially buses, other projects discussed include safety education for children, defensive driver training and awareness campaigns,” said an ESCAP spokesperson.

About 180 participants, representing various government agencies, civil society and the business community, attended Thailand GRSP Launch Workshop (15-16 August 2001) held to initiate a “Thailand Road Safety partnership” programme within the “Global Road Safety Partnership” (GRSP) -- a public and private sector partnership.

ESCAP, as a founding member of the “Global Road Safety Partnership” (GRSP), launched under the World Bank’s “Business Partners for Development” (BPD) network, initiated the road safety partnership programme for Thailand, in close collaboration with the GRSP and the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) of Thailand.
 

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