Last Thursday a six year old girl was killed in a car crash when the pick-up she was travelling to school in collided with a tour minibus near Wat Chalong.
A few days later, on Sunday, a 20-year-old man was knocked from his motorbike and killed instantly in a collision with a car, also nearby Chalong.
It’s hard to admit, but living in Phuket for a long amount of time lessens the shock upon hearing of such tragedies, but it most certainly doesn’t reduce the level of sympathy, distress or anger that one feels upon hearing of them.
Each year around 120 lives are claimed on Phuket’s roads, most from motorbike crashes – an average of one every three days.
Much of the population of Phuket are forced to travel on motorbikes, largely due to the fact that in most of the island, local taxi, tuk tuk and motorbike taxis monopolise public transportation.
People have to travel everywhere on their motorbikes because they have little choice.
The vast majority of the island – Thais and foreigners included – cannot afford the extortionate fares charged by the taxis and tuk tuks and therefore have to resort to travelling to places of work, rest and play on their motorbikes, with the more fortunate owning cars.
Most people also drink while they drive. It’s expected and the announcement of a drunken departure is rarely met with the same level of distaste and disagreement as it truly deserves.
Also: Speed limits. What are they? Where are the speed signs? If they even exist, when does anyone ever observe them? Do you? Have the police ever pulled you over for speeding?
Pick up trucks, 4x4s. You don’t live on a farm, you’re not transporting logs. You’re picking up your kids from Central Festival.
The argument that you’re driving it to feel safe is not a valid reason. You may very well feel safer, but the vast majority of the island don’t when they see you hurtling along the road.
Downsize, slow down, don’t drink and take responsibility for your own actions.