Research Scope and Objectives
Motorcycle users account for over 80% of Thailand’s road traffic fatalities and injuries, yet national databases lack the detail needed to understand crash causation. Building on a 2025 pilot in which the Thailand Accident Research Center (TARC) investigated 25 motorcycle crash cases under a PDPA-compliant protocol, this 2026 project expands PDPA-compliant in-depth crash data collection, strengthens the national database in line with the IGLAD international scheme, conducts pre-crash reconstruction analyses of high-severity cases, and disseminates evidence-based findings to support policy and reduce road traffic injuries and fatalities.
Donor, Partners and Geographical Scope
The project is supported by the International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences (IATSS) and implemented by TARC at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), in collaboration primarily with police stations, supplemented by rescue units and, on a case-by-case basis, hospitals. Fieldwork covers Bangkok, Pathum Thani, and Ayutthaya, with additional high-risk corridors as feasible, over a twelve-month period beginning 1 April 2026.
AIT Role and Responsibilities
Through TARC, AIT leads the project’s full implementation: refining PDPA-compliant procedures, conducting about 50 in-depth motorcycle crash investigations, expanding and quality-assuring the database per the IGLAD scheme, performing pre-crash reconstruction analyses on high-severity cases, and translating findings into policy briefs and dissemination materials for national and local stakeholders.
Expected Outcomes and Impact
The project will substantially expand Thailand’s evidence base on motorcycle crash causation through an enlarged, internationally comparable crash database and detailed analyses of high-severity cases across critical crash types. Findings will directly inform data-driven safety measures and policy recommendations, supporting a measurable reduction in motorcycle-related injuries and fatalities.
Lessons Learned and Way Forward
The 2025 pilot proved the feasibility of privacy-compliant in-depth crash investigation in Thailand, but the case count remains too limited to capture the diversity of motorcycle crashes nationwide. The 2026 project therefore scales up data collection, deepens analysis, and strengthens the translation of findings into evidence-based road safety policy.
PI: Prof. Kunnawee Kanitpong
Faculty: Transportation Engineering, Civil and Infrastructure Engineering (CIE) Program, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Thailand Accident Research Center (TARC)
SDGs: 11. Sustainable cities and communities
AIT research Theme: Infrastructure
