Editing Transport in Thailand (section)

==Road transport==
Thailand has 390,000&nbsp;km (242,335 miles) of highways.<ref name="NAR-20170123"/> According to the [[BBC]], Thailand has 462,133 roads and many multi-lane highways. {{As of|2017}} Thailand had 37 million registered vehicles, 20 million of them two or three-wheeled motorbikes, and millions more that are unregistered.<ref name="BBC-20170119">{{cite news|last1=Head|first1=Jonathan|title=Life and death on Thailand's lethal roads|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38660283|access-date=19 January 2017|publisher=BBC News|date=19 January 2017}}</ref> It also had one million "heavy trucks", 158,000 buses, and 624,000 "other" vehicles.<ref name="WHO-2018">{{cite book |title=Global Status Report on Road Safety 2018 |date=2018 |publisher=World Health Organization (WHO) |isbn=9789241565684 |url=https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/2018/en/ |access-date=2018-12-11}}</ref>{{RP|245}} By mid-2019 the number of registered vehicles in Thailand had risen to 40,190,328. The majority—21,051,977—are motorbikes. Private automobiles with up to seven seats numbered 9,713,980.<ref>{{cite news |title=More new cars take to the roads |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1713232/more-new-cars-take-to-the-roads |access-date=16 July 2019 |work=Bangkok Post |date=16 July 2019}}</ref>

===Road safety===
{{see also|List of motor vehicle deaths in Thailand by year}}

According to the [[World Health Organization]]'s, ''Global Status Report on Road Safety 2018'', Thailand had an estimated traffic fatality rate (all vehicle types) of 32.7 persons per 100,000 population in 2016. The only nations exceeding Thailand's death toll were [[Liberia]]; [[Saint Lucia]] (population: 178,000); [[Burundi]]; [[Zimbabwe]]; [[Dominican Republic]]; [[Democratic Republic of Congo]]; [[Venezuela]]; and the [[Central African Republic]].<ref name="WHO-2018" />{{RP|114, 119, 133, 136, 181, 222, 245, 263, 266}}

Thailand's death rate for operators and passengers of motorized two- and three-wheeled motorbikes was the world's highest in 2016 at 74.4 fatalities per 100,000 population.<ref name="WHO-2018" />{{RP|310-311}}

Sixty-six persons die every day on Thai roads, one every 22 minutes,<ref>{{cite news|title=Toll still worst in the world|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1392026/toll-still-worst-in-the-world|access-date=8 January 2018|work=Bangkok Post|date=8 January 2018|department=Opinion}}</ref> seven of them children.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sukprasert|first1=Pattramon|title=Set 'fixed' road safety goal|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1184433/set-fixed-road-safety-goal|access-date=22 January 2017|work=Bangkok Post|date=22 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="NNT-20170205">{{cite web|title=Crash helmet campaign to be strengthened to promote bike safety|url=http://thainews.prd.go.th/website_en/news/news_detail/WNSOC6002050010029|access-date=6 February 2017|website=National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT)|date=6 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206105440/http://thainews.prd.go.th/website_en/news/news_detail/WNSOC6002050010029|archive-date=6 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2015, Thailand's roads were the second deadliest in the world in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marukatat |first1=Saritdet |title=Thailand tops Asean road death table |url=https://m.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1589682/thailand-tops-asean-road-death-table |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20190617092812/https://m.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1589682/thailand%2Dtops%2Dasean%2Droad%2Ddeath%2Dtable |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 June 2019 |access-date=2018-12-11 |work=Bangkok Post |date=2018-12-07 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/work/738124/thailand-roads-second-deadliest-in-world-un-agency-finds|title=Thailand's roads second-deadliest in world, UN agency finds|newspaper=Bangkok Post|access-date=2016-10-06}}</ref> Among public transport options, [[minivan|passenger vans]], with a monthly average of 19.5 accidents resulting in a monthly average of 9.4 deaths, rank as the most dangerous of all public transport services involved in road accidents. Regular tour buses on fixed routes were in second place with a total of 141 accidents, resulting in 56 deaths and 1,252 injuries. Third on the list were irregular tour buses, involved in 52 accidents, resulting in 47 deaths and 576 injuries. Taxis were fourth with 77 accidents, resulting in seven deaths and 84 injuries. Ordinary buses were involved in 48 accidents with 10 deaths and 75 injuries. {{As of|2016|10|31}}, there were 156,089 legally registered public transport vehicles in Thailand, 42,202 of which were passenger vans, including 16,002 regular vans, 24,136 irregular vans, and 1,064 private vans.<ref>{{cite news|title=Passenger vans are the champion of road accidents among public transport services|url=http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/passenger-vans-champion-road-accidents-among-public-transport-services/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223132025/http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/passenger-vans-champion-road-accidents-among-public-transport-services/|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 December 2016|access-date=23 December 2016|work=Thai PBS|date=22 December 2016}}</ref>

From 2013 to 2017, an average of 17,634 children between the ages of 10–19 died on Thailand's roads. Most of the fatalities involved motorbikes.<ref>{{cite news |title=More youngsters dying in road accidents |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/detail/national/30369535 |access-date=17 May 2019 |work=The Nation |date=17 May 2019 |archive-date=17 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517062605/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30369535 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The two most dangerous travel periods in Thailand are at the New Year and at [[Songkran]]. Songkran 2016 (11-17 April) saw 442 deaths and 3,656 injuries.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Barrow|first1=Richard|title=FULL ROAD ACCIDENT STATISTICS FOR SONGKRAN 2016|url=http://www.richardbarrow.com/2016/04/full-road-accident-statistics-for-songkran-2016/|website=Righard Barrow|date=18 April 2016|access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref> New Year 2017's death toll for the seven-day period between 29 December 2016 and 4 January 2017 was 478 compared to the previous year's record of 380. A total of 4,128 people were injured in road accidents during the period. The Centre for the Prevention and Reduction of Road Accidents said that the death toll in 2016 was the highest of the last ten years. Death toll records from road accidents for the last ten New Year periods are: 449 deaths in 2007, 401 in 2008, 357 in 2009, 347 in 2010, 358 in 2011, 321 in 2012, 365 in 2013, 366 in 2014, 341 in 2015, 380 in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|title=478 deaths and 4,128 injuries in seven days|url=http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/478-deaths-4128-injuries-seven-days/|access-date=7 January 2017|work=Thai PBS|date=5 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814074423/http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/478-deaths-4128-injuries-seven-days/|archive-date=14 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Lax enforcement of traffic laws appears to be a major contributor to traffic accidents: the [[World Health Organization]]'s Collaborating Centre for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion found that only 20 percent of traffic violators on Thai roads are given tickets and only four percent of those cited pay their traffic fines.<ref>{{cite news |title=Elderly cyclist dies in crash as SUV smashes into bike |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1521098/elderly-cyclist-dies-in-crash-as-suv-smashes-into-bike |access-date=14 August 2018 |work=Bangkok Post |date=14 August 2018}}</ref>

Government attempts to reduce the toll of deaths and injuries have proven ineffectual. In 2011 the government declared the following ten years to be Thailand's "decade of action on road safety". It named 2012 as the year of 100 percent helmet use on motorbikes. In 2015, about 1.3 million school-age children in Thailand regularly traveled on the back of motorcycles each day but only seven percent wore helmets.<ref name="NNT-20170205"/> In 2018, the WHO reported that motorcycle helmet use was 51 percent by operators and 20 percent by passengers.<ref name="WHO-2018"/>{{RP|245}} In 2015 the [[Ministry of Interior (Thailand)|Interior Ministry's]] Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation's (DDPM)<ref>{{cite web|title=Background|url=http://www.disaster.go.th/en/about-about01/Background|website=Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation|publisher=Ministry of Interior (Thailand)|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-date=31 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131195740/http://www.disaster.go.th/en/about-about01/Background|url-status=dead}}</ref> Road Safety Collaboration Centre<ref>{{cite web|title=Organization Structure|url=http://www.disaster.go.th/en/about-about07/|website=Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation|publisher=Ministry of Interior (Thailand)|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-date=24 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824054233/http://www.disaster.go.th/en/about-about07/|url-status=dead}}</ref> announced a target of reducing road deaths by 80 percent. According to ''The New York Times'', in 2015, Thailand vowed at a [[United Nations]] forum to halve traffic deaths by 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Beech |first1=Hannah |title=Thailand's Roads Are Deadly. Especially if You're Poor. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/19/world/asia/thailand-inequality-road-fatalities.html?rref=collection%2Fspotlightcollection%2Fpromises-made&action=click&contentCollection=world&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=collection |access-date=20 August 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=19 August 2019}}</ref> But DDPM's published mandate makes no mention of road safety.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mandate|url=http://www.disaster.go.th/en/about-about01/|website=Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation|publisher=Ministry of Interior (Thailand)|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-date=24 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824054204/http://www.disaster.go.th/en/about-about01/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Road safety falls under the purview of the Ministry of Interior's DDPM. Responsibility for roads falls under the [[Ministry of Transport (Thailand)|Ministry of Transport]].<ref name="BBC-20170119"/>

Thailand had no laws requiring child safety features or a rear seating position in vehicles,<ref name="WHO-2018" />{{RP|43, 245}} but, the government has announced that the use of [[Child safety seat|child seat]] is mandatory and the violators will be fined since Sep 2022.<ref>{{cite web|title=ราชกิจจาฯประกาศแล้ว นั่งรถด้านหลังไม่คาดเข็มขัดนิรภัย โดนปรับ 2 พันบาท|url=https://www.prachachat.net/general/news-926958|publisher=[[Manager Daily]] | language=th | date=9 May 2022 |access-date=12 May 2022}}</ref>

====National speed limits====
The maximum rural speed limit is 90 [[kilometres per hour|km/h]]. For motorways it is 120&nbsp;km/h. The maximum urban speed limit is 80&nbsp;km/h, far above the best practice limit of 50&nbsp;km/h recommended by the WHO.<ref name="WHO-2018" />{{RP|30, 245}}

===Public bus service===
Buses are a major method of transportation for people, freight, and small parcels, and are the most popular means of long-distance travel. Tour and VIP class long-distance buses tend to be luxurious, while city- and other-class buses are often very colorful with paint schemes and advertising.

There are fundamentally two types of long-distance buses in Thailand:

* those run by '''The Transport Company, Ltd.''', ('''TCL'''), the state-owned bus company.<ref>{{cite web|title=Home|url=http://home.transport.co.th/en.html|website=The Transport Co., Ltd|access-date=2015-01-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110035357/http://home.transport.co.th/en.html|archive-date=10 January 2015}}</ref> Known to Thais by the initials '''บขส''' (pronounced ''baw-kaw-saw''), this 80-year-old company was formed by the government to ensure that citizens in even the most far-flung localities had access to the capital city, Bangkok. TCL buses are easily identified by the large golden coat of arms appliqued to each side of the bus.
* those operated by private bus companies offer hundreds of routes in various service categories (express, VIP, local, air conditioned)

====Public bus service in Bangkok====
{{Main article|Transport in Bangkok}}
[[File:Bonluck JXK6120L-NGV-01 20 5-70010.jpg|thumb|An air conditioned BMTA bus, one type of public bus service in Bangkok.]]
In Bangkok, the [[Bangkok Mass Transit Authority]] or '''BMTA''', is the main operator of public transit buses within the [[Greater Bangkok]] area. The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority offers bus and van routes throughout the city and its suburban provinces. Many bus routes in Bangkok are served by several private companies, sometimes duplicating those from BMTA. Examples include orange minibuses, and cream-blue buses. The buses have the BMTA symbol on them, mostly seen below the driver's side window. These often follow slightly different routings from the main big BMTA bus or do not run along the whole route.

BMTA currently operates bus routes in Bangkok and its metropolitan area namely [[Nonthaburi Province|Nonthaburi]], [[Pathum Thani]], [[Samut Prakan]], [[Samut Sakhon]] and [[Nakhon Pathom]].

Local buses and Bangkok city buses come in various sizes, types, and prices, from half size, full size, double length, open window, fan, and air conditioned.

=====Bus rapid transit system in Bangkok=====
{{Main article|Bangkok BRT}}
[[File:(THA-Bangkok) Bangkok Mass Transit System Company 08 14-9741 Bangkok BRT 2024-02-12.jpg|thumb|A Bangkok BRT bus at the Ratchaphruek terminus]]
The [[Bangkok BRT]] is a [[bus rapid transit]] system in Bangkok. Of five routes that were originally planned, only one line has been operating since 2010. The {{convert|16|km}} route has twelve stations in the centre of the road that give at-grade access to the right-hand side of the buses. Both terminals connect to the Silom Line of the BTS Skytrain; at [[Chong Nonsi BTS Station|Chong Nonsi]] (S3) and [[Talat Phlu BTS Station|Talat Phlu]] (S10). The buses used are all [[Sunlong Bus|Sunlong]] SLK6125CNG buses. The fare is currently on hold(free for 3 months till 30 November 2023) for reconsideration of the effectiveness of the project.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thestandard.co/use-brt-free-3-months1-sep-30-nov/ | title=กทม. เปิดให้ใช้ BRT ฟรี 3 เดือน ตั้งแต่ 1 ก.ย. ถึง 30 พ.ย. 2566 พร้อมปรับรูปแบบใหม่เพื่อบริการประชาชนได้มากขึ้น | date=September 2023 }}</ref>

===Highway network===
[[File:Thai expressway system overview map.png|450px|thumbnail|An overview map of Bangkok's expressway system.]]
{{main article|Thai highway network}}
The Thai highway network links every part of Thailand. Most highways are in good state of repair, greatly enhancing safety and speed. The four-lane highways often have overhead concrete pedestrian crossings interspersed about every 250 meters in populated areas. There are few on and off ramps on eight-lane highways, most highways are separated by medians with breakage for U-turns, except on major roads where ramp style U-turns predominate.

A number of undivided two-lane highways have been converted into divided four-lane highways. A Bangkok – [[Chonburi (city)|Chon Buri]] motorway (Route 7) now links to the new airport and [[Eastern seaboard of Thailand|Eastern seaboard]].

===Motorway network===
{{main article|Thai motorway network}}
The Thai motorway network is small. Coupled with Bangkok's extensive expressway network, the motorways provide a relief from regular traffic in Bangkok. The Thai Government is planning infrastructure investment in various "megaprojects", including motorway expansion to approximately 6,877 kilometers.

===Expressway network===
{{main article|Thai expressway system}}
Thailand uses the expressway term for the [[toll road]] or highway network. Most expressways are elevated with some sections at ground level. The current expressway network covers major parts of Bangkok and suburban areas. Expressways are used to avoid heavy traffic jams in Bangkok and reduce traffic time but are sometimes congested in rush hour.

===Utility cycling===
The Thai state has failed at promoting [[utility cycling]] as a mode of transport.<ref name="BP-20180603">{{cite news |title=Time for BMA to get on its bike |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1477773/time-for-bma-to-get-on-its-bike |access-date=3 June 2018 |work=Bangkok Post |date=3 June 2018 |department=Opinion}}</ref> Officials regard bicycles as toys, and cycling as a leisure activity, not as a means of transport that could help solve traffic and environmental problems. Their attitude was on display at Bangkok's celebration of [[World Car-Free Day]] 2018, celebrated on 22 September. Bangkok's Deputy Governor, Sakoltee Phattiyakul, who presided over the event, arrived in his official automobile, as did his entourage. He then mounted a bicycle for a ceremonial ride.<ref name="BP-20180924">{{cite news |last1=Atthakor |first1=Ploenpote |title=Bangkok's car-free day is mere lip service |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1545438/bangkoks-car-free-day-is-mere-lip-service |access-date=27 September 2018 |work=Bangkok Post|date=24 September 2018 |department=Opinion}}</ref> Prior to the event, which encouraged the non-use of cars, the [[Bangkok Metropolitan Administration|BMA]] announced there would be extensive free automobile parking spaces available for participants who were to ride bicycles in the parade.<ref name="BP-20180927">{{cite news |last1=Wattanasukchai |first1=Sirinya |title=City adopts old ruse to take over arts centre|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1547466/city-adopts-old-ruse-to-take-over-arts-centre |access-date=27 September 2018 |work=Bangkok Post |date=27 September 2018 |department=Opinion}}</ref>

In his first year office, Prime Minister [[Prayut Chan-o-cha]] launched a cycling initiative, encouraging members of the public to cycle. But state investment in cycling lanes ended up a being a waste as they quickly devolved into parking lanes for motorists.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Owen |first1=Ulysses N |title=Bicycle lane projects in Bangkok have wasted 28 million baht in 9 years |url=https://bicyclethailand.com/bicycle-lane-projects-in-bangkok-have-wasted-28-million-baht-in-9-years/ |website=Bicycle Thailand |access-date=3 June 2018 |date=2017-11-01}}</ref> All Thai rail companies, whether commuter or long distance, make on-board transport of bicycles difficult or impractical.<ref name="BP-20180924"/> Without state intervention, direction, and education, the public lacks the impetus to adopt a mode of transport that remains ignored by urban development projects.<ref name="BP-20180603"/>

===Other public transport===
[[File:Inside a Thai songthaew.jpg|thumb|Riding inside a songthaew]]
Other forms of road transport includes [[Auto rickshaw|tuk-tuks]], taxis—as of November 2018, Thailand has 80,647 registered taxis nationwide<ref>{{cite news |title=The meter is ticking |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1575514/the-meter-is-ticking |access-date=14 November 2018 |work=Bangkok Post |date=14 November 2018 |department=Opinion}}</ref>—vans ([[minibus]]), motorbike taxis, and [[songthaew]]s.

There are 4,125 public vans operating on 114 routes from Bangkok to the provinces alone. They are classed as Category 2 public transport vehicles (routes within 300 kilometres). Until 2016, most operated from a Bangkok terminus at [[Victory Monument (Thailand)|Victory Monument]]. They are being moved from there to the Department of Land Transport's three Bangkok bus terminals.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mahittirook|first1=Amornrat|title=Public vans likely to offer 10% fare cut|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism-and-transport/1128693/public-vans-likely-to-offer-10-fare-cut|access-date=7 November 2016|work=Bangkok Post|date=7 November 2016}}</ref>

Passenger vans have a disturbing safety record. The Safe Public Transport Travel Project of the Foundation for Consumers, reports that passenger vans in 2018 were involved in 75 accidents, causing 314 injuries and 41 deaths.<ref>{{cite news |title=Expert slams govt for abandoning move requiring van operators to switch to microbus |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30374605 |access-date=12 August 2019 |work=The Nation |date=11 August 2019}}</ref> In 2017 the numbers were 113 dead and 906 injured, and in 2016, 105 people died and 1,102 others were injured in passenger van accidents. A government initiative to replace existing vans with larger [[minibus]]es in 2017, then delayed to 2019, was put on hold by the incoming [[Prayut Chan-o-cha|Prayut]] administration.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Prateepchaikul |first1=Veera |title=Saksayam begins job with wrong turns |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1728635/saksayam-begins-job-with-wrong-turns#cxrecs_s |access-date=12 August 2019 |work=Bangkok Post |date=12 August 2019 |department=Opinion}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mahitthirook |first1=Amornrat |last2=Nanuam |first2=Wassana |title=Microbuses to replace passenger vans this year |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1175508/microbuses-to-replace-passenger-vans |access-date=12 August 2019 |work=Bangkok Post |date=6 January 2017}}</ref>