Early morning carnage! Six family members dead as van collides head on with 18 wheel truck in south

[webfact]

Daily News Thai Caption: Six family members dead!

 

Daily News reported that six family members traveling to a family function in the south from Bangkok were killed when their van collided head on with an 18 wheel truck.

 

Thung Yai police and Poh Teck Tung rescue services in Nakhon Sri Thammarat rushed to the scene in Tha Yang sub-district at 6.30 am this morning.

 

They found a very badly damaged van with its horn still sounding. Four people died at the scene and two later in hospital.

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Four were injured.

 

The media reported that the truck, coming in the opposite direction,  had tried to avoid a motorcycle, according to a witness. The trucker was only slightly injured.

 

Relatives of the dead went to the scene - they were distraught in tears.

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Between 20,000 to 25,000 people are thought to die on the Thai roads each year, 80% of them motorcyclists.

 

There have also been many serious incidents involving vans in recent years.

 

Picture: Daily News

 

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[BobBKK]

RiP

[ChipButty]

Sad story where they were going to enjoy themselves, 

[Sandboxer]

No words, just horrible...????

[Henryford]

Very sad RIP. But you can bet none of them were wearing seatbelts.

[ezzra]

21 minutes ago, webfact said:

Between 20,000 to 25,000 people are thought to die on the Thai roads each year, 80% of them motorcyclists

These are unacceptable number of casualties even for a large country like Thailand, the sad part is that there is nothing one can do about it, not that the relevant authorities didn't try, it's just that Thai people and driving are not a good match.

[KhunBENQ]

Quickly blaming the van driver is easy.

But did you read and understand this:

Quote

The media reported that the truck, coming in the opposite direction,  had tried to avoid a motorcycle, according to a witness.

In other words, a truck will never slow down/break for motorcycle in the way, just pull over.

Oncoming traffic has to see where to go.

On the rare occasion that I ride a motorbike on an open highway I drive as far left as possible not caring about white lines, hard shoulder etc.

[Keith lynch]

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

These are unacceptable number of casualties even for a large country like Thailand, the sad part is that there is nothing one can do about it, not that the relevant authorities didn't try, it's just that Thai people and driving are not a good match.

Of course something can be done! Mandatory helmets, no children and 3 somes on motorbikes, and my opinion the worst point is mandatory fines for people sitting in the outside lane forcing cars to underake! Everything can be improved, it just needs someone to drive it!

[Jack Cook]

It is Thailand, it will never change. Amazing and sad that at least 4 of the 6 would have been fine if they bothered to buckle up.

Road safety is a totally moot point in Thailand, especially in Issan, they are experts up there at not keeping left or generally caring at all.

[CharlieH]

Reported post and responses to it removed.

[kingstonkid]

1 hour ago, Keith lynch said:

Of course something can be done! Mandatory helmets, no children and 3 somes on motorbikes, and my opinion the worst point is mandatory fines for people sitting in the outside lane forcing cars to underake! Everything can be improved, it just needs someone to drive it!

Fines are not the answer.

 

I am old enough to remember when Canada adopted the helmet law.  Fines were one thing points were another but the best solution was when they confiscated the bikes.

 

The simple solution is to say keys please Thank yo when you get a helmet come to this place with the helmet, your insurance and drivers licence; pay 2000 baht fine and 3000 baht storage fee and get your bike back 

[billd766]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

These are unacceptable number of casualties even for a large country like Thailand, the sad part is that there is nothing one can do about it, not that the relevant authorities didn't try, it's just that Thai people and driving are not a good match.

But the RTP rarely even bother to try to stop the carnage.

[cheapcanuck]

RIP

[Bob12345]

21 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

Fines are not the answer.

 

I am old enough to remember when Canada adopted the helmet law.  Fines were one thing points were another but the best solution was when they confiscated the bikes.

 

The simple solution is to say keys please Thank yo when you get a helmet come to this place with the helmet, your insurance and drivers licence; pay 2000 baht fine and 3000 baht storage fee and get your bike back 

You do understand that many Thais need a motorbike to reach work and the fines you propose can be their total monthly wage?

 

Maybe look at the USA to see how high fines and long jail times work out. They punish harder there than most countries, and now have one of the largest prison populations in the world combined with a very violent and criminal society.

 

Fining poor Thais 5k baht will result in people losing work, being financially destroyed, and going into criminality to get an income. If you want more poverty and misery it might be a good approach.

[Wombo1]

21 minutes ago, Bob12345 said:

You do understand that many Thais need a motorbike to reach work and the fines you propose can be their total monthly wage?

 

Maybe look at the USA to see how high fines and long jail times work out. They punish harder there than most countries, and now have one of the largest prison populations in the world combined with a very violent and criminal society.

 

Fining poor Thais 5k baht will result in people losing work, being financially destroyed, and going into criminality to get an income. If you want more poverty and misery it might be a good approach.

His point is still correct.

 

If their lively hood is on the line, are getting a few points they to need to wake up to themselves.

At the moment... Why care? Next to no impact on their life so just keep having fun on the roads.

[Mywayboy]

There will be no end to this misery & pain Inflicted on families until Thai people undergo intense driver training. 

Don't give them a licence until they have absorbed the necessary skills to drive. I realise this is a pointless exercise. Don't hand out licence willy nilly.

Thais biggest problem is losing face cannot be beaten must be first. 

 

[Asquith Production]

11 minutes ago, Mywayboy said:

There will be no end to this misery & pain Inflicted on families until Thai people undergo intense driver training. 

Don't give them a licence until they have absorbed the necessary skills to drive. I realise this is a pointless exercise. Don't hand out licence willy nilly.

Thais biggest problem is losing face cannot be beaten must be first. 

 

They will just ride and drive without

[mickylongtime]

Thai driving is dangerous at the best of time, I detest going in the mini vans they drive like crazy and will not slow down. 

[Cake Monster]

40 minutes ago, Mywayboy said:

There will be no end to this misery & pain Inflicted on families until Thai people undergo intense driver training. 

Don't give them a licence until they have absorbed the necessary skills to drive. I realise this is a pointless exercise. Don't hand out licence willy nilly.

Thais biggest problem is losing face cannot be beaten must be first. 

 

I also believe that some kind of mental agility examination should be conducted on potential Licensees, in conjunction with a reading test for road signage etc.

There is something sadly lacking in the ability of Thais ( mostly ) to be able to control a Vehicle, which is a 2 or more wheeled missile.

 

[Road Warrior]

thai driving !!!!  very sad for those that died 

[Toby1947]

Just go and watch a Thai driving licence test. They don't go near a road just drive around a small compound observed by a so called examiner. Takes about 8 minutes if not up to standard drive around again until examiner decides to let them loose on the general public. No one fails absolute joke. R.I.P. victims not your fault, blame the money grabbing authorities 

[ThailandRyan]

May this poor family RIP.  Just to think that in another 10 days the masses will take to the road for Songkran Travel and the deaths will mount.

[Surasak]

2 hours ago, billd766 said:

But the RTP rarely even bother to try to stop the carnage.

Because there is no reward for them to even bother.

[AustinRacing]

Truck drivers here sometimes think they’re racing drivers. Swerving, tailgating, overtaking unnecessarily, turning aggressively knowing cars/bikes must slow down. 

[MrJ2U]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

80% of them motorcyclists

There in lies the problem. 

 

Taxes are way too high for the regular person to buy a new truck or car here.   They have to rely on riding scooters, rain or shine. 

 

Dangerous!

[ikke1959]

Rip to the unnecessary deceased... When is the Government start doing something... restrictions on hours, cards with drive hours and rest periods in the car, enforcement of speeding by placing more cameras and higher fines, better checks for alcohol and driverslicenses etc etc.... By nothing nothing will change

[TKDfella]

My condolences. Sad,very sad.

[SoilSpoil]

4 hours ago, Bob12345 said:

You do understand that many Thais need a motorbike to reach work and the fines you propose can be their total monthly wage?

 

Maybe look at the USA to see how high fines and long jail times work out. They punish harder there than most countries, and now have one of the largest prison populations in the world combined with a very violent and criminal society.

 

Fining poor Thais 5k baht will result in people losing work, being financially destroyed, and going into criminality to get an income. If you want more poverty and misery it might be a good approach.

Let poor Thais abide to the rules, so that they wont get a fine.

[gerritkaew]

7 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Quickly blaming the van driver is easy.

But did you read and understand this:

In other words, a truck will never slow down/break for motorcycle in the way, just pull over.

Oncoming traffic has to see where to go.

On the rare occasion that I ride a motorbike on an open highway I drive as far left as possible not caring about white lines, hard shoulder etc.

your first reaction is to swerve  and also brake. but a truck loaded like this one not stop easy..

Beter run over the m bike, i would do...

[billd766]

2 hours ago, Surasak said:

Because there is no reward for them to even bother.

There is no need for a reward.

 

It is called doing their job properly.