2 August 2023, Bangkok, Thailand – UNITAR in collaboration with its newly inaugurated training centre CIFAL Bangkok and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) launched today the Autosobriety Training Programme to Prevent Drink-Driving. 

In 2022 alone, Thailand witnessed a staggering number of road traffic crashes and casualties and holds the highest road traffic death rate among ASEAN countries and ranks 9th globally. Fatal crashes reached a figure of 14,965, resulting in 927,016 casualties on Thailand's roads. It is also estimated that alcohol use contributed to 21% of these fatal crashes, leading to approximately 3,126 deaths directly linked to alcohol-related incidents (Injury Data Collaboration Center, 2023). As a consequence, the nation suffers an annual economic loss exceeding 500 billion baht, equivalent to approximately 6% of its GDP, due to the devastating impact of road traffic fatalities and injuries (WHO, 2017).  

Recognizing the severity of the situation, the Thai government has placed road safety as a top priority in its comprehensive 20-year national strategy to significantly reduce traffic-related fatalities but also aspires to achieve the Vision Zero objective by the year 2050, which aims to eliminate all road traffic fatalities. 

To contribute to tackling this issue, UNITAR jointly with CIFAL Bangkok, AIT and Pernod Ricard will be rolling out the Autosobriety Training Programme to Prevent Drink-Driving. This initiative will utilize various training courses, awareness-raising campaigns, and educational tools to disseminate valuable knowledge and promote responsible behaviour on the roads. The programme includes online educational modules, a 360-degree video that allows users to experience the effects of alcohol on driving performance through Virtual Reality, and a microlearning course. 

The curriculum of the programme comprises four user-friendly modules that have been specifically translated and adapted to the Thai language, context, legal regulations, and culture. Participants will gain fundamental knowledge encompassing statistics about road crashes, the impact of alcohol on driving performance, risks and legal consequences, as well as personal responsibility in preventing drink-driving incidents. 

Through collaborative efforts and a steadfast commitment to raising awareness and promoting responsible behaviour, the Autosobriety Training Programme strives to create safer roads and prevent the devastating consequences of drink-driving in Thailand. By equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions, this initiative aims to drive positive change and contribute to the nation's ambitious road safety goals. Ultimately, this Programme aims to contribute to advancing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.6, which seeks to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries, as well as Target 9 of the UN Global Road Safety Performance Targets which aims to halve the number of road traffic injuries and fatalities related to drivers using alcohol, and/or achieve a reduction in those related to other psychoactive substances by 2030. 

“According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Thailand ranks ninth in the world and is the deadliest in the ASEAN region in terms of road traffic fatalities. Training and education are key factors in improving road safety. Through the Autosobriety Training Programme, we aim to train a significant number of drivers in Thailand and inspire other countries to use this tool” highlighted Ms Estrella Merlos, Head, of UNITAR’s Road Safety Global Training Initiative during the kickoff event.