PM reaffirms road-safety goals on Day of Remembrance for crash victims

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Sunday reaffirmed the government's commitment to halving road deaths and injuries by 2030, as Thailand marked the annual World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR).

Mr Anutin said the government remained focussed on improving road safety and reducing losses from traffic accidents through stronger enforcement, safer infrastructure and behavioural change.

Thailand had set a target of cutting the number of road fatalities and injuries by 50% by 2030. Measures included improving safety standards, addressing accident black spots, strengthening law enforcement, promoting safer vehicles, managing vehicle speeds and using data and technology to support road-safety operations and evaluation.

The prime minister also highlighted plans to expand local "community checkpoints", where local authorities and volunteers monitor roads, warn drivers and help prevent risky behaviour before accidents occur.

Road safety remains a major public-health challenge in Thailand. Official data show 17,477 people were killed in road accidents in 2024, with motorcycles accounting for about 80% of fatalities.

Thailand had set a target of reducing road deaths to no more than 8,474 a year, or 12 deaths per 100,000 population, by 2027 under a National Road Safety Master Plan that prioritises motorcycle safety, speed management and stronger law enforcement.

Mr Anutin said road safety had been designated a national agenda item, with authorities working through the 2022-2027 National Road Safety Master Plan to achieve the country's Vision Zero goal of making roads safer for all users.

The plan aligns with international road-safety commitments, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Stockholm Declaration and the Marrakech Declaration.

The prime minister thanked government agencies, local authorities, civil society groups and other stakeholders for their efforts to improve road safety, urging continued cooperation to create a lasting culture of safety on Thai roads.

The WDR is observed on the third Sunday of November each year in remembrance of those killed or injured in road crashes, and to raise awareness of the human cost of traffic accidents.