Photo: Markus Winkler / Pexels
Around 120 foreign tourists die on Thailand's roads every year, roughly 10 a month. Most of them are on rented motorcycles. Figures from the Road Accident Victims Protection Company show 116 deaths in 2025 and 91 in 2026 up to October 5. Injuries run far higher. A proposed law would raise the prison term for killing someone while drunk behind the wheel, but it is only a proposal and nothing has changed yet.
The numbers
| Period | Foreign tourist deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 116 | 14,269 |
| 2026 (through Oct 5) | 91 | 9,668 |
The figures come from the Road Accident Victims Protection Company, as cited in a DailyNews report dated Oct 8, 2026. Injuries far outnumber deaths. The 2026 figure alone is about 9,700 injuries in nine months.
Who is dying
- About 80% of the dead tourists were riding rented motorcycles.
- About 10% were pedestrians, including people crossing roads.
The published figures do not show how many deaths were caused by drink-driving.
The wider picture
The World Health Organization's 2023 Global Status Report on Road Safety, using 2021 estimates, counted 18,218 road deaths in Thailand that year, about 50 per day. That is a death rate of 25.4 per 100,000 people, among the highest in Asia. Motorcyclists made up about 84% of those deaths.
What the law says now
Under the Road Traffic Act, drink-driving that causes a death carries:
- 3 to 10 years in prison
- A fine of 60,000 to 200,000 baht
- Licence revocation
Sentences can be reduced, though. Defendants who plead guilty, compensate the victims' families, or help with funeral costs may get a lighter sentence, and judges can suspend the prison term in qualifying cases.
The proposed change
The proposal would raise the prison term to 7 to 15 years for causing death while intoxicated. Raising the minimum is meant to make suspended sentences less likely.
A public consultation with road safety partner organisations found 91% support prison for drivers who kill while intoxicated. 87% supported the 7 to 15 year range. Campaigners plan to start collecting 10,000 signatures in November 2026 for a legislative amendment. The measure still has to go through the legal process before anything changes.
Dr Thanapong Jinwong, manager of the Road Safety Academic Centre, says the tourist death toll is a serious issue that gets little attention. He says tourist safety policy should cover road accidents as well as crime. He also argues that current penalties don't deter enough, because guilty pleas and compensation can reduce sentences.
The Thaiger also mentions two recent Thai cases. A Chiang Rai doctor killed 2 first-year students in a car crash on Aug 31, 2026. A drunk BMW driver killed 3 people in Nonthaburi on Jul 20, 2026. An Australian biker also died in a ravine crash in Loei on Mar 4, 2026.
What this means if you're visiting
- Rented motorcycles are the main risk, accounting for about 8 in 10 tourist road deaths.
- Pedestrians make up about 1 in 10, so take care when crossing roads.
- Injuries are far more common than deaths, so insurance matters.
- Drink-driving penalties are already serious, but the article says they are often reduced. The tougher law is only a proposal and is not in effect.
- Sensible basics: wear a helmet, carry the right licence, have insurance, and don't ride after drinking.
Information sourced from The Thaiger.