Point system can deter bad drivers

The Royal Thai Police and the Land Transport Department say a demerit point system will be introduced on Jan 9. The move is a bid to improve road safety in a country known to have the deadliest roads in Southeast Asia.

In May, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha reiterated the government’s commitment to reduce traffic-related fatalities to 12 per 100,000 people by 2027 and eventually eliminate traffic fatalities by 2050 under Vision Zero, a model inspired by a similar programme in Sweden.

Known as the traffic point-cutting system, demerit points have been implemented in several jurisdictions around the world. Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States are examples of places where drivers are under the constant scrutiny of cameras and law enforcement officers.

But does this type of system actually encourage better driving behaviour? Well, it…