Pattaya Songthaew Driver Sparks Outrage After Tourist Falls While Alighting

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture and video from social media.

 

Social media erupted in criticism following an incident in Pattaya where a songthaew (baht bus) driver started to drive off without ensuring all passengers had safely disembarked. The incident resulted in a foreign tourist falling face-first onto the road.

 

The incident, which occurred on Soi Buakhao in South Pattaya, was captured in a video posted by Facebook user Saenguthai Charoenphon. The caption read, “Even if it’s just a minor accident, it must have been painful for the disabled person. Drivers should always check if passengers have alighted safely before moving the vehicle.”

 

The video shows an older male tourist, who is using walking aids, attempting to step off the songthaew when the vehicle began to move. The sudden motion caused him to fall onto the road. Fortunately, bystanders, some believed to be staff from a nearby entertainment venue, rushed to help the man and escorted him to safety at the roadside.

 

The footage has sparked widespread debate online, with many criticising the driver’s negligence. Commenters questioned why the driver failed to check if all passengers had safely disembarked before pulling away.

One commenter wrote, “This kind of carelessness could lead to serious injuries. Drivers must be more responsible.”

 

This incident highlights concerns over the safety standards of songthaew operations in tourist areas like Pattaya. Many have called for stricter regulations and better training for drivers to ensure the safety of both locals and visitors.

 

Authorities have yet to comment on the incident, but social media users are urging officials to address the issue to prevent similar incidents in the future.

 

-- 2025-01-25

 

 

 

 

[Jingthing]

I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often. The issue is there on stepping on and stepping off. Many really do rush to get going before they should. I think it's even worse on boarding because they might look in a crowded bus that you have entered but then you might need to get to the back of the bus, so you're still walking when they speed up.  Then there is speeding in general. A certain percentage drive like total maniacs.

[Jingthing]

7 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Having 2 walking sticks probably a motorbike taxi would be better

More like an actual taxi (Bolt, etc.). 

But really the drivers are SUPPOSED to look back to see what's happening.

Not going to blame the victims.

[Olmate]

Perfect time of.night to.go limping onn off 'Buchet' baht bus!! 

[Jingthing]

One time I even suffered a bloody injury just SITTING on a bus because the driver took an extremely jerky very high speed turn throwing everyone on the bus off balance. (It threw me into a sharp metal part of the bus.)

[ricklev]

Some (just a few really) of the drivers are so full of stress, confusion, jealousy, greed and anger towards their customers that they are in a state of consciousness that is almost drug like, and then some of them enhance that state with drugs like yaba, that is so cheap now it is almost free.  

 

Anybody that has lived here for a while has had the upsetting experience of being on some kind of public transport with a driver who is not right in his mind.  

 

I have had drivers deliberately pull forward quickly while I was boarding in an effort to make me fall.  And this was for no reason in any way related to me.  Just his mood.  

 

 

 

 

[Jingthing]

4 minutes ago, ricklev said:

Some (just a few really) of the drivers are so full of stress, confusion, jealousy, greed and anger towards their customers that they are in a state of consciousness that is almost drug like, and then some of them enhance that state with drugs like yaba, that is so cheap now it is almost free.  

 

Anybody that has lived here for a while has had the upsetting experience of being on some kind of public transport with a driver who is not right in his mind.  

 

I have had drivers deliberately pull forward quickly while I was boarding in an effort to make me fall.  And this was for no reason in any way related to me.  Just his mood.  

 

 

 

 

Definitely. It's a minority but a dangerous minority.

[PJ71]

All baht buses should be banned, nothing but a menace driven by complete morons.

[scubascuba3]

23 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

More like an actual taxi (Bolt, etc.). 

But really the drivers are SUPPOSED to look back to see what's happening.

Not going to blame the victims.

The guy was struggling even if the bus hadn't moved. Some guys take too many risks, i sometimes see a guy in a wheelchair going up Thappraya at 2kph, lucky he hasn't been killed yet

[PJ71]

5 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

The guy was struggling even if the bus hadn't moved. Some guys take too many risks, i sometimes see a guy in a wheelchair going up Thappraya at 2kph, lucky he hasn't been killed yet

yeah, these mobility scooters are a death trap for sure.

[steven100]

5 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

All baht buses should be banned, nothing but a menace driven by complete morons.

I agree PJ,   they are similar to Thai motorbike taxis in that they all have a bad attitude problem. 

 

They tarnish Pattaya's pristine family resort golden #1 honest people in the world reputation. 

[scubascuba3]

1 hour ago, PJ71 said:

yeah, these mobility scooters are a death trap for sure.

They are, wheelchairs even more suicidal 

[connda]

I would say that is unusual as virtually all of the time you get out and walk around to the driver to pay the fare. If you have mobility issues a songtaew probably isn't the best choice of transport, especially in the day and age of Grab.

[connda]

1 hour ago, PJ71 said:

yeah, these mobility scooters are a death trap for sure.

I still have a picture of an idiot farang on his mobility scooter blowing through an intersection and getting T-boned by a car.  That was a Darwin Award for sure. 

[connda]

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

Picture and video from social media.

 

Social media erupted in criticism following an incident in Pattaya where a songthaew (baht bus) driver started to drive off without ensuring all passengers had safely disembarked. The incident resulted in a foreign tourist falling face-first onto the road.

 

The incident, which occurred on Soi Buakhao in South Pattaya, was captured in a video posted by Facebook user Saenguthai Charoenphon. The caption read, “Even if it’s just a minor accident, it must have been painful for the disabled person. Drivers should always check if passengers have alighted safely before moving the vehicle.”

 

The video shows an older male tourist, who is using walking aids, attempting to step off the songthaew when the vehicle began to move. The sudden motion caused him to fall onto the road. Fortunately, bystanders, some believed to be staff from a nearby entertainment venue, rushed to help the man and escorted him to safety at the roadside.

 

The footage has sparked widespread debate online, with many criticising the driver’s negligence. Commenters questioned why the driver failed to check if all passengers had safely disembarked before pulling away.

One commenter wrote, “This kind of carelessness could lead to serious injuries. Drivers must be more responsible.”

 

This incident highlights concerns over the safety standards of songthaew operations in tourist areas like Pattaya. Many have called for stricter regulations and better training for drivers to ensure the safety of both locals and visitors.

 

Authorities have yet to comment on the incident, but social media users are urging officials to address the issue to prevent similar incidents in the future.

 

-- 2025-01-25

 

 

 

 

I'm sorry, but stupid is as stupid does.  Take a Grab if you're that handicapped. 

[connda]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

The guy was struggling even if the bus hadn't moved.

Agree. He was on the verge of falling as it was. 

[Pattaya57]

Everyone blaming the baht bus driver. Passenger might have just got up to get off without pushing the buzzer so how's the driver to know?

[pomchop]

2 hours ago, PJ71 said:

All baht buses should be banned, nothing but a menace driven by complete morons.

and replaced with What?

[mikebell]

2 hours ago, PJ71 said:

All baht buses should be banned, nothing but a menace driven by complete morons.

Thus forcing people into the hands of the meterless taximeter Mafia ably supported by their brethren in the Uniformed Mafia.

[baansgr]

3 hours ago, PJ71 said:

All baht buses should be banned, nothing but a menace driven by complete morons.

Really, how are Thai kids gonna get to school? 

[garygooner]

Got to be quick & alert sometimes getting on & off the BK public buses. 

[alex8912]

You should see a lot of the crowd in Hua Hin getting on and off. Some stops take 5 minutes for 2 people to get off!   Sorry but there are SOME limitations to being disabled and a baht bus is one of them. 

[Captor]

5 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often. The issue is there on stepping on and stepping off. Many really do rush to get going before they should. I think it's even worse on boarding because they might look in a crowded bus that you have entered but then you might need to get to the back of the bus, so you're still walking when they speed up.  Then there is speeding in general. A certain percentage drive like total maniacs.

Same with many busses in Bangkok.

[Captor]

Just now, Captor said:

Same with many busses in Bangkok. Need to jump of the bus quick! Often the bus is not stopping 100% but still moving when want to jump of.

 

[Jumbo1968]

Slightly off topic but after the Chinese fella who was standing on the back of a baht bus standing was supposed to banned, obviously no one told the baht bus drivers as people still stand although do voluntarily.

[LittleBear57]

Some of the worst and most aggressive drivers drive these buses .

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, alex8912 said:

You should see a lot of the crowd in Hua Hin getting on and off. Some stops take 5 minutes for 2 people to get off!   Sorry but there are SOME limitations to being disabled and a baht bus is one of them. 

So what then?

Murder them if too slow?

[Pattaya57]

11 minutes ago, LittleBear57 said:

Some of the worst and most aggressive drivers drive these buses .

Rubbish. If anything Baht bus in Pattaya have very slow drivers as they're always looking for passengers to pick up. 

[Jingthing]

Won't happen but I have a solution. 

Double the fare and hire 100 undercover inspectors to ride the buses day and night. Rate driver performance and safety behavior. Eject all drivers with multiple faults. Higher price but better service for the public. Sorted.

[Pattaya57]

19 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Won't happen but I have a solution. 

Double the fare and hire 100 undercover inspectors to ride the buses day and night. Rate driver performance and safety behavior. Eject all drivers with multiple faults. Higher price but better service for the public. Sorted.

You sound like an OH&S person who created careers for themselves by making over complicated rules to keep themselves employed.

 

Most people don't have a problem with the Pattaya baht bus and it's my sole source of transport. I think the simple and cheap baht bus system is one of the things great about Pattaya

 

I do think people stupid enough to get up in a moving baht bus should be banned though