Urgent coach safety warning

[webfact]

Urgent coach safety warning

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION

 

Officials from the Thailand Road Accident Research Centre gather evidence at the site of the double-decker bus crash in Nakhon Ratchasima on Wednesday, to determine the cause of the accident.

 

Double-decker bus accident that killed 18 people raises concerns

 

ALTHOUGH THERE are a limited number of double-decker coaches in Thailand, official regulations and monitoring of the vehicles needed to be improved, a road safety expert said after an accident killed 18 people at Nakhon Ratchasima on Wednesday night.

 

 

Many old buses that had not met current standards were still allowed to operate, while monitoring measures using GPS tracking were not effective to prevent accidents, Academic Centre for Road Safety director Dr Thanapong Jinvong said yesterday.

 

There were about 7,000 double-decker buses on the country’s roads, 1,500 of which were fixed-route transport buses and the remaining 5,500 operating as private for-hire vehicles, which were more problematic, because most of those vehicles did not meet current safety standards, he said.

 

 

“Many of the double-decker buses that registered before 2014 do not pass essential safety standards, such as the height of the bus being over 4.2 metres, and do not pass inclination tests at 30 degrees, so it is very risky if these buses to drive on dangerous and steep routes,” he said.

 

Although almost all buses already have GPS tracking installed, monitoring systems have proven ineffective in preventing accidents, because there is not a direct warning system linking the monitoring centre to drivers, and the speed limit for the vehicles is set at 90 kilometres per hour, regardless of the terrain and geographical features of the roads.

 

 “The GPS system should also have different speed limits for the buses that fit the nature of each route, as it is far too fast for buses to drive nearly 90 kilometres per hour on steep and narrow roads,” Thanapong said. 

 

However, the bus involved in the accident in Nakhon Ratchasima was equipped with GPS and it had been travelling at only 80 kilometres per hour.

 

 

The driver of the coach was arrested yesterday in the northeastern province and tested positive for substance use, provincial police chief Pol Maj-General Watcharin Boonkhong said yesterday.

 

The driver, identified as Krissana Juthacheun, was still insisting that he had lost control of the vehicle resulting in the crash because of a brake malfunction, Watcharin said. Krissana, who fled the scene after the crash, will undergo further testing to determine what narcotics he had ingested.

 

The coach was chartered by a group of mill operators and their families from Kalasin province to visit the beach province of Chanthaburi on Monday. 

 

The vehicle was on its way back to Kalasin when the driver lost control while entering a downhill curve, drove across a road island and slammed into trees and five roadside stalls in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Wang Nam Khieo district, Nakhon Ratchasima Governor Wichien Jantaranothai said. 

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was concerned about the event and had instructed Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith to ask about progress in helping victims on Wednesday night. 

 

Drivers on Highway Number 304, which sees frequent accidents, had to be cautious because the route was hilly and curvy, Wichien said. Authorities have posted traffic signs, painted traffic lines and installed barriers along the road as well as occasionally set up checkpoints to warn motorists.

 

Last December, Thailand was ranked first on the list of countries in terms of road fatalities by the World Atlas website, while the World Health Organisation revealed that the road accident death rate in Thailand was 36.2 deaths per 100,000.

 

According to the Road Accidents Data Centre, there have already been 3,762 deaths from road accidents since New Year through yesterday and 229,346 people injured.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30341525

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-23

[Thaiwrath]

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

The driver of the coach was arrested yesterday in the northeastern province and tested positive for substance use, provincial police chief Pol Maj-General Watcharin Boonkhong said yesterday.

 

The driver, identified as Krissana Juthacheun, was still insisting that he had lost control of the vehicle resulting in the crash because of a brake malfunction, Watcharin said. Krissana, who fled the scene after the crash, will undergo further testing to determine what narcotics he had ingested.

 

This brake failure, or malfunction, seems to be used by most drivers who cause carnage on the roads, and we never seem to hear of any severity in punishments meted out.

If, which seems highly probable, his substance abuse is proved to be the cause of this horrendous tragedy, he should be given the absolute maximum time of incarceration. Any severe punishment should also be massively publicised for the whole nation to see, to, hopefully, act as a deterrent to other drivers with the same mentality as this <deleted>.  

[leeneeds]

Failure of the employer to have in place a testing regime of drugs and alcohol,

Failure on employees part to have any thought of duty of care,

Failure on the goverment to implement strict rules on gaining a public passenger licences,

Failure on the police to remove from service suspect  substandard vehicles from the roads, 

equals to a big minus F , 

 

WAKE UP!

 

R.I.P.  (5 from one family)

[webfact]

Land Transport Department to stop registering new double-decker buses

By Thai PBS

 

 

The Land Transport Department will stop accepting new registration of double-decker buses because they are more vulnerable to road accidents than ordinary buses, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said Thursday (March 22).

 

He added that operators of existing double-decker buses would be required to bring their vehicles for examination whether they meet the safety standard of the Land Transport Department.

 

The tightening up of safety of double-decker buses and the move to stop new registration of double-decker buses, which is yet to become effective, follows a horrific bus accident in Wang Nam Khiao district of Nakhon Ratchasima on Wednesday (March 21) in which 18 people were killed and more than 30 injured.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/land-transport-department-stop-registering-new-double-decker-buses/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-03-23

[kotsak]

Yes, right.. It's the buses fault, not the imbeciles driving them..

[Get Real]

No investigation needed. Save the money, it´s a clear case of malfictioning brakes. Everybody knows that!

[tracker1]

Kneejerk reaction with no substance As Per Usual ! My God talk is cheap in this country

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

because the route was hilly and curvy

these double decker buses are known to be unsafe on routes described such as this; they shouldnt be allowed on them

[Blackheart1916]

Thanks for stating the bleeding obvious, General whatever your name is. I think we (westerners) that come here are looking at things in the wrong context. As Thailand has a veneer of a modern society eg. some high standard hospitals, a (struggling to be sustainable) tourism industry, communications systems, reasonably good main highways and other infrastructure, we tend to think of it as a progressive country. It's not. Scratch that veneer and behind it, you have a third world country, with corresponding levels of corruption, buck passing, no accountability, and no regard whatsover for the citizens of this country. So if we regard it as the 3rd world country it is, on par with some African and other SEA nations, it makes more sense. It makes no difference how many 1st word expats live here, it won't make it a 1st world country.

[Prairieboy]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Land Transport Department to stop registering new double-decker buses

I guess they will just have to drive unregistered vehicles.

[nausea]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

and tested positive for substance use, 

My guess is he was on Yaba to keep him awake, either because of his work schedule or too much  carousing, so driver error is highly probable. 

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

because of a brake malfunction

Most likely just an excuse but more stringent and frequent MOT testing would put some burden on the operators involved in these accidents to prove they were operating a safe vehicle; if that can't be established then they should be prosecuted accordingly.

[a977]

Both the driver and owner of this bus should be charged with first degree murder, the driver for taking banned substances and the owner for allowing said driver to get behind the wheel

[jacko45k]

42 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

these double decker buses are known to be unsafe on routes described such as this; they shouldnt be allowed on them

It is a route I have driven mant times and I am often heavily relieved when I get past those 2 or 3 dangerous areas in the hills. I hold back from overtaking slow heavy goods vehicles labouring their way up and round corners at low speed to be overtaken myself by large coaches who seem to have no regard for safety or oncoming traffic.

 

The vehicles are not suitable for this type of road, but the bigger problem is the drivers, who seem to forget they are responsible for dozens of peoples lives.

Edited March 23, 2018 by jacko45k

[Wiggy]

50 minutes ago, Blackheart1916 said:

Thanks for stating the bleeding obvious, General whatever your name is. I think we (westerners) that come here are looking at things in the wrong context. As Thailand has a veneer of a modern society eg. some high standard hospitals, a (struggling to be sustainable) tourism industry, communications systems, reasonably good main highways and other infrastructure, we tend to think of it as a progressive country. It's not. Scratch that veneer and behind it, you have a third world country, with corresponding levels of corruption, buck passing, no accountability, and no regard whatsover for the citizens of this country. So if we regard it as the 3rd world country it is, on par with some African and other SEA nations, it makes more sense. It makes no difference how many 1st word expats live here, it won't make it a 1st world country.

I agree entirely. I look, and treat it, as a third world country and I am now no longer shocked/surprised at what I see, read or hear. It's just easier that way.

[Get Real]

53 minutes ago, Blackheart1916 said:

1st world expats

I assumed I corrected right, sorry if you ment something else. However, that is not the point. What I want to know is what a "1st world expat" is. Is that some kind of expression that shall provide us with a stance above other people that according to you do not own the same class as you appearently assume you do?

[thrilled]

I fly as much as possible in Thailand.With the new airline flying out of Korat airport it’s fantastic.Heck with the bus

[anon537687643]

No serious controls and checks on “vehicle or driving standards” for public service vehicles! Now if you really want to know what a backward country Thailand is,the daily road carnage sums it up! Number 1 in the world !


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[worgeordie]

Not the buses, it's the drivers ....stupid.

regards Worgeordie

[Boon Mee]

You would have to have a death wish to ride in one of those contraptions. 

Especially sitting in in the top level. Every time the bus turns a corner, it app that the thing will tip over. 

[outsider]

"Many old buses that had not met current standards were still allowed to operate, while monitoring measures using GPS tracking were not effective to prevent accidents..."

 

This bunch of clowns is still faffing about, sitting about in their clown tents spewing crap. No amount of GPS tracking is going to reduce crashes. It is all down to proper maintenance, enforcement and the most important bit - the driver. No matter how structurally and mechanically sound the vehicle is, and how advanced the GPS tracking is, it is up to the idiot behind the wheel to turn the steering, apply the brakes or drive at the appropriate speed. Stop beating around the bush and start looking here first. Morons.

[quandow]

It appears that the one thing they're getting good at is counting the bodies!

[Lupatria]

1 hour ago, Blackheart1916 said:

So if we regard it as the 3rd world country

You may as well regard it as a 4.0 world country

[kannot]

"gather evidence" LOOK at the  bleedin  picture, how  much more evidence do you need.

[peperobi]

Like usual, everyone knows about the problems but none even try to change it, only bla...bla...bla...

[kannot]

Just now, peperobi said:

Like usual, everyone knows about the problems but none even try to change it, only bla...bla...bla...

I wonder if  when the submarines start crashing regularly  theyll take action

[fantom]

In the other paper whose name shall ne'er pass my lips, it quoted the governer who said that the braking systems had malfunctioned as passengers reported a burning smell 3 kilometers before the crash.

I leave it to those who know about bus brake systems and driving techniques  to speculate on this.

[thailand49]

Three years ago, a accident such as this happen. It was found just like now, buses not inspected, companies modify the height illegally etc etc... 3 plus years and we are not even out of the starting gate still talking about GPS control which I said can't control a driver at any speed if they have a negligent mentality!

This problem is for one reason lack of enforcement by the government. The one thing these department exist is not to protect the people but a form of political social welfare to keep those that have it to continue to have it. They point out a problem and that is where it ends it is all good we will take care of it people Mai pen Rai!  I guess 25,000 death etc a year is small compare to the big picture of benefits for those in power.

[Jeremy50]

It's not difficult to spot the unsafe buses, they are the ones painted like a Japanese manga cartoon, are about 30 feet high, look, and are, top heavy, and have the rigidity and road handling capability of a giant wet sponge. Often to be seen leaning one way or the other, depending on the weight of people and luggage on the top deck.

[mikebell]

82 days in to the new year  and the authorities are admitting to 45 deaths a DAY! The driver has tested positive for drug abuse.  A police force would help.

[thailand49]

4 minutes ago, fantom said:

In the other paper whose name shall ne'er pass my lips, it quoted the governer who said that the braking systems had malfunctioned as passengers reported a burning smell 3 kilometers before the crash.

I leave it to those who know about bus brake systems and driving techniques  to speculate on this.

That is why inspection are required, once it fails it to too late if in fact it was brakes in this case.  As for a Bus they are usually equipped with Air Brakes?  If that is the case I seriously doubt anyone in Thailand especially a driver knowing how to test prior to operating the vehicle?