This Country Has The World's Deadliest Roads

Thailand has claimed the unfortunate honour of having the world’s deadliest roads — and to anyone that’s tried to cross or even drive on their roads, it won’t prove to be much of a surprise. Here’s a look at the statistics behind the title, and what’s being done to improve road safety.

Top of the pile — hardly a surprise

In a recent list that ranked countries by their estimated road traffic death per 100,000 members of their population, Thailand took the top spot with 36.2. That’s a further 1.2 deaths more per 100,000 than Malawi, who took the second spot, while Liberia joined them on the podium at third. The list was comprised only of countries from Africa and Asia.

Thailand has long struggled with road safety and has found itself on lists of the most dangerous roads for several years. This new one will come as little surprise for those who live or have visited the Land of Smiles. There’s thought to be 37 million vehicles on the roads in the country – many of which are often driven illegally by those without a licence or those who are underage. Going over the intended passenger capacity is also common to see, with three people sat on a small scooter, and some even more. Vehicles driving the wrong way down a road is everyday reality, which represents a culture of not following the rules of the road, rather than being unaware of it.

There’s been a number of high-profile road accidents that captured the hearts and minds of the people in Thailand. Last January, a minibus collided with a pick-up truck in Chon Buri that saw 25 people killed, and images of the burnt wreckage were all over the media. The problem was two-fold; not only did the the pick-up have 11 passengers on board — some of which were sat in the back without any support or seat belts — but the driver of the minibus was on his fifth 300km journey in just 33 hours. Consequently, he fell asleep at the wheel and caused the crash. Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated incident; accidents like this happen all too often in Thailand.

The tragic event resulted in discussions about changing road laws in the country. A law in April stipulated that vans could only carry a maximum of 13 passengers, and proposals were put forward to limit their speed and to monitor them via GPS. With regards to pick-up trucks, there are discussions in place to ban the practice of riding in the back. Thailand is also tackling those who ride motorbikes without helmets, impounding the vehicles of those who don’t wear them. But while such measures look good on paper, it’s only when they’re fully enforced by authorities that Thailand will finally disappear from lists of the world’s deadliest roads.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.