Curbing mayhem on the roads

The recent crash on the Udon Ratthaya Expressway in the small hours of Aug 16 — a multi-vehicle pileup involving a convoy of cars — is appalling not only for the violent collision itself but also for what it exposes about negligence and weak enforcement.

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The incident occurred shortly after vehicles passed through the toll booth on the section leading to Bang Pain in Ayutthaya. A group of drivers, many in expensive, modified cars, sped away at reckless speed. Reports indicate that most of the cars carried no licence plates and were clearly adapted for racing.

As they approached a narrowed section of the road, a slower-moving car occupied the right lane ahead of them. The driver later told police he had attempted to change lanes to the left to let the speeding convoy pass. But a car tailgating at high speed rammed him from behind. He lost control, another vehicle struck him broadside, and more cars became entangled in the chaos.

The result was mayhem across the expressway. Several cars were wrecked and traffic thrown into disarray. Fortunately, no lives were lost. Two people were injured: the slower driver and his girlfriend, who both sustained head injuries. That the consequences were not more deadly is a matter of chance rather than any safeguard.