title: Road traffic injuries in Thailand: current situation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Road traffic injuries are a major public health problem in Thailand. The number of mortalities, morbidities and disabilities are huge, greatly affecting the individual victims, the families, society and the nation as a whole.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the current situation regarding traffic injuries in Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study from multiple national data sources
  
  
  RESULTS
  For over ten years, the annual death toll due to road accidents has been more than ten thousand Thais. The situation remains critical with a higher mortality and morbidity than many other low or middle income countries. Two-thirds of the victims were males: 80% were under 40 years of age. Most (80%) of the injured and dead were motorcyclists. The large number of traffic crashes, injuries, disabilities and deaths resulted in more than 168 thousand million Baht in economic losses in 2002. These losses are trending to increase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Traffic injuries are a persistent major public health concern primarily because of a lack of adherence to the use of safety restraints and obedience of traffic laws. The nation must not hesitate to increase efforts to address these problems, as they are costing life and limb of Thais every hour of every day, as well as adding a huge economic burden.
authors.affiliation: WHO Collaborating Center for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion, Khon Kaen Regional Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand. buncha96@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Witaya
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chadbunchachai
authors.forename: Weraphan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Suphanchaimaj
authors.forename: Anuchar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Settasatien
authors.forename: Thanapong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jinwong
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality