Broken down bus in Phuket underpass causes hour-long congestion

[webfact]

Broken down bus in Phuket underpass causes hour-long congestion

Shela Riva

 

The bus breaking down caused large tailbacks and congestion. Photo: Wichit Police

 

PHUKET: A tour bus whose engine failed on the northbound lane of the Darasamut Underpass at 7:15pm last night (Oct 30) caused a tailbacks and a blockage of cars for over an hour, Capt Siripong Wongsonpet of the Wichit Police confirmed to The Phuket News today (Oct 31).

 

“The bus’ engine was very old. It broke down inside the underpass causing some congestion until just before the Naka temple and Weekend Market,” said Capt Siripong.

 

“But we quickly diverted the rest of the traffic to use the normal roads above the underpass, so the traffic was not affected too badly. However, the cars already inside the tunnel were stuck.

 

Full story:  https://www.thephuketnews.com/broken-down-bus-in-phuket-underpass-causes-hour-long-congestion-64509.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2017-10-31

[Inepto Cracy]

Was the centre lane, that is now blocked off with lane dividers, supossed to be used to clear this type of traffic jam?

But the idiot me - me - me drivers had that lane blocked off, because of their stupid driving actions.

Wait until a vehicle catches on fire inside the underpass, that's going to spark a little inconvience with panic thrown in.

 

[Valentine]

From the news item

“The bus looked so new on the outside, but the engine was a different story.

“So many of these buses are like that,” he added with a laugh.

Therein lies the rub. Nearly all the large tour buses are in similar condition & would be interesting to know just how old they are.

[LivinginKata]

21 minutes ago, Valentine said:

From the news item

“The bus looked so new on the outside, but the engine was a different story.

“So many of these buses are like that,” he added with a laugh.

Therein lies the rub. Nearly all the large tour buses are in similar condition & would be interesting to know just how old they are.

 

Many of these tour buses are old rejects from other countries. Some look to have had previous accidents and have obvious twisted chasis. Sold off cheap to Thailand where the vehicle safety rules are lax .... very lax.

[Valentine]

19 minutes ago, LivinginKata said:

 

Many of these tour buses are old rejects from other countries. Some look to have had previous accidents and have obvious twisted chasis. Sold off cheap to Thailand where the vehicle safety rules are lax .... very lax.

See some which have an obvious suspension problem as they have a lean to one side.

[madmitch]

Moveable lane dividers should have been used and not the second hand heavy concrete ones that were placed in there. However common sense is sadly lacking in all aspects of road planning.

 

1 hour ago, Valentine said:

From the news item

“The bus looked so new on the outside, but the engine was a different story.

“So many of these buses are like that,” he added with a laugh.

Therein lies the rub. Nearly all the large tour buses are in similar condition & would be interesting to know just how old they are.

 

And isn't this just typical of the attitude here. Laughing as he spoke of the condition of the buses.

[bheard]

Moveable lane dividers should have been used and not the second hand heavy concrete ones that were placed in there. However common sense is sadly lacking in all aspects of road planning.
 
 
And isn't this just typical of the attitude here. Laughing as he spoke of the condition of the buses.

"Moveable lane dividers should have been used and not the second hand heavy concrete ones"

New ones would have been OK?

Sent from my BLL-L22 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[madmitch]

5 minutes ago, bheard said:

 

"Moveable lane dividers should have been used and not the second hand heavy concrete ones"

New ones would have been OK?

Sent from my BLL-L22 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

 

Try reading between the lines. The point is they did the whole thing on the cheap!

[LivinginKata]

8 minutes ago, bheard said:

 

"Moveable lane dividers should have been used and not the second hand heavy concrete ones"

New ones would have been OK?

Sent from my BLL-L22 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

 

 

The stupid plastic sticks got knocked down in a month. Solution - heavy concrete barriers. Anyone with a brain should have ordered the light weight plastic barriers to cater for temporary lane  change.. Oh well ...

[madmax2]

Why are there so many clapped out buses on the roads of Phuket when they are supposed to be inspected every 12 months for roadworthiness and safety, would tea money have anything to do with this problem, of course not  

[Psimbo]

Phuket- where old buses come to die. 

[d123]

4 hours ago, Psimbo said:

Phuket- where old buses come to die. 

The dead wrecked bus that was parked at the side of the road close to Patong police station (for the best part of a year) has, I see, finally been removed. Does this mean it’s finally getting repaired (?) in time for the high season 

[bheard]

Try reading between the lines. The point is they did the whole thing on the cheap!

I did read between the lines in fact, but in a weak moment felt the urge to take a cheap shot. Sorry.
[emoji3]

Sent from my BLL-L22 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Old Croc]

We discussed this in a previous topic.

With the explosion of Chinese tour groups to the Island and the need to shuttle them from airport to hotel to latex outlet to duty free outlet to speed boat and back to hotel, a huge fleet of buses was suddenly required.

Every clapped out bus in Thailand was spruced up and sent to Phuket to join in the riches. Roadworthiness and driver skill were not a major consideration. Many of these deathtraps end up hurtling out of control down hills or, if the passengers are luckier, breaking down in tunnels.  Getting caught behind one of these behemoths on the highway can result in diesel fume poisoning from ill serviced engines..

Like nearly everything in Thailand the overriding factor is reaction not planning