Stop the Crash Thailand launched in Bangkok today bringing the global partnership that promotes the latest in life saving crash avoidance technologies, to a country that has one of the worst records in road safety.
The Bangkok event follows on from the successful ASEAN launch that took place in Kuala Lumpur November 2016, where the Minister of Transport announced Electronic Stability Control (ESC) would be mandatory in Malaysia from June 2018.
The launch in Bangkok focused on motorcycle safety technologies as nearly three quarters of fatalities on Thailand’s roads are two and three wheelers. Anti-lock braking system (ABS) for motorcycles and Blind Spot Detection (BSD), the two technologies demonstrated by Stop the Crash, could make a significant impact in reducing deaths in the country and save thousands of lives.
Other technologies on display included ESC and autonomous emergency braking (AEB). The event was supported by the Thai Ministry of Interior, World Health Organisation (WHO), King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, and Thai Health Promotion Foundation.
The Thai edition of Stop the Crash is the fourth Stop the Crash event held as part of the partnership’s support for the UN Global Road Safety Week #SlowDown, following on from events at the London Motor Show and in Montevideo, Uruguay.
David Ward, Stop the Crash Chairman said:
“Stop the Crash is pleased to be in Thailand. This country faces a huge challenge in road safety and technologies such as ABS on motorcycles, ESC and BSD can make a difference.
“We are pleased that the Thai government has engaged with Stop the Crash, but we urge them to legislate as this is best way to reduce the number of deaths fast.”
Kobchai Boonya-orana, Deputy Director General for Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in the Ministry of Interior said
“We are very pleased to be hosting Stop the Crash in Thailand today during UN Road Safety Week. The Thai vehicle fleet is heavily composed of two wheelers, technologies such as ABS for motorcycles and Blind Spot Detection are proven and can prevent crashes.
“Stop the Crash can make a real difference in accelerating the adoption of life saving technologies into the Thai market and help save lives. We look forward to continued close collaboration with Global NCAP and the Stop the Crash Partnership to achieve these goals.”
Hon Nikorn Chamnong MP, President of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Road Safety System Reform Thailand and Member of the Leadership Council of the Global Network for Road Safety Legislators said:
“It is great that Stop the Crash is taking place in Thailand during UN Global Road Safety Week. Safety technology is urgently needed in Thailand in order to address the large number of fatalities found on our roads.
“This week the #4RoadSafety Manifesto was launched providing a template for legislators to bring road safety regulations to their countries. I hope that following Stop the Crash the Thai government will bring legislation on ESC and ABS in motorcycles, two technologies much needed in our country and that can help save lives.”
Dr. Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim, ASEAN NCAP Secretary General said:
“ASEAN NCAP has conducted crash tests to assess the level of safety for vehicles. The rating that we give signifies how much the car will be able to protect the occupants in the event a crash occurred. Beginning this year we have elevated our standard by assessing vehicles that will be able to prevent a crash from occurring. Stop the Crash is an initiative that promotes vehicles’ life-saving technologies. Studies from all over the world show that ESC could prevent at least 40% of deaths due to loss of control crashes and further reduce the risk of collision by having significant better manoeuvring control during critical situations. We hope such awareness will evoke consumers to be persistent in discussing safety technologies when purchasing a new car.”
