The Academic Center for Road Safety (ACRS) revealed that as many as one in five Thai children die in road accidents. It urged the National Economic and Social Development Council to include this issue in the 14th Development Plan to stem economic losses amounting to 590 billion baht annually and proposed urgent amendments to traffic laws to safeguard the nation's future.
On Friday, 22 May 2026 at 09:00 at TK Palace and Convention Bangkok, the Academic Center for Road Safety (ACRS), supported by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, the National Economic and Social Development Council, and partner networks, organized a forum titled “14th Development Plan: Repairing and Enhancing Road Safety, Building the Future, Elevating Human Capital.” The goal was to develop policy proposals to drive measures that reduce losses while systematically enhancing human capital within the framework of the 14th Development Plan, focusing on preserving human capital from preventable hazards as part of its monitoring and evaluation.
Following the train-bus collision between Khlong Tan and Makkasan stations on 16 May 2026, which resulted in eight fatalities including promising youth, it underscored the truth that “Each life lost to a road accident equals a lost opportunity to build human capital.” Even a single case can trigger a ripple effect impacting lives, family assets, and the overall national economy.
The Academic Center for Road Safety analyzed the road safety situation alongside the country's human capital development and found that in 2026, injuries and deaths were concentrated among those aged 15-24 years (based on the Road Traffic Injury Data Integration Center (RTIDC), Department of Disease Control, 2026). Road accidents are an economic cost to the nation, estimated at over 3.3% of GDP or about 590 billion baht annually (Thailand Development Research Institute). This budget is sufficient to transform the country’s innovation infrastructure systemically.
Mr. Ennu Seusuwan, Commissioner of the National Economic and Social Development Council, highlighted the policy of “Repairing society and strengthening a safety culture” by elevating road safety as a central agenda in the 14th Development Plan. He emphasized, “The core of the plan is to preserve and develop human capital,” pushing society to shift from an attitude of complacency to prioritizing safety. Many road accidents are preventable, yet society remains accustomed to losses affecting children, youth, and family heads, all vital human capital. He stressed that safety should be recognized as a fundamental right and an essential culture for national development. Losses from road accidents not only affect lives and families but also reflect a leakage of human capital, potentially becoming a structural social problem in Thailand long-term, especially as the country approaches a fully aging society soon.
Dr. Sumeth Ongkittikul, Director of Research in Transport Policy and Logistics, said, “Thailand suffers massive human capital losses due to road accidents. To address this long-term, the government must consider four key points: (1) upgrading safety standards for transport infrastructure, vehicles, and driving behavior; (2) enhancing the efficiency and strictness of law enforcement; (3) regulating to reduce public reliance on motorcycles; and (4) creating inclusive and equitable public transport options alongside subsidies and quality improvements.”
Mr. Parit Watcharasinthu, Member of Parliament for the People's Party, stated that solving road safety issues requires systemic action, especially improving government mechanisms and designing roads to support safety, such as placing pedestrian crossings in appropriate locations. This should be paired with promoting accessible and efficient public transport systems. He proposed that Parliament expedite amendments to the Traffic Act, such as establishing a standard manual for managing pedestrian crossing issues, continuously monitoring road accident situations, and creating space for the Youth Council to participate in questioning and overseeing government work on these issues.
Participants agreed that human capital development will remain incomplete without simultaneously incorporating the dimensions of “preserving” and “protecting” people, especially from preventable hazards like road accidents, which should be elevated as a key long-term national development agenda.