A video posted on Facebook on May 21 shows a school van narrowly avoiding a collision with an oncoming train in Thailand. The incident occurred as the van attempted to cross a railway track despite warning alarms and lowering barriers. The alarming footage has sparked widespread criticism online and reignited concerns about safety at railway crossings.

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The video, shared by a user named สุรเสียง พลับพลาสวรรค์, depicts the van continuing onto the tracks before coming to a halt, blocking the barrier from closing properly. Startled by the situation, the driver stopped the vehicle on the tracks. A railway crossing worker quickly intervened, prompting the driver to move off the tracks just in time. Thanks to this quick response and communication with the train driver, a potential accident was averted.

The post has drawn sharp criticism, with many accusing the van driver of reckless and irresponsible behavior. Comparisons have been made to a recent tragic incident near Makkasan Airport Rail Link Station in Bangkok, where a train collided with a bus, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. This previous accident has heightened public concern over the importance of adhering to railway safety protocols.

As authorities review this recent event, the focus is on increased awareness and enforcement of safe driving practices near railway crossings. Officials are considering further measures to prevent similar incidents, including educational campaigns and stricter penalties for violations.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 22 May 2026

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And somehow the hogger is responsible if there's an accident?

Just looking at how officer above handled the situation, vs. the one in Makkasan...

Thinking about the accident in Bangkok.... It shows the irresponsible way of drivers and the lack of a decent driving education.

Safety is far away in Thailand

We got hit by a school bus loaded with a dozen kidlets yesterday. We were driving in the slow lane, approaching a construction zone where the passing lane merges into the slow driving lane.

School bus driver decided to pass the congestion on the shoulder, didn't notice the small backhoe parked next to the shoulder with arm/bucket extended onto the pavement until too late. He floored it and tried to jump in front of us, taking out the front end of our Hilux.

Bus/van driver is a "private contractor" picking up kidlets at various schools, only has basic mandatory insurance. He's on the hook for about 20K baht in repairs.

Our Roojai agent had a surveyor show up within 30 minutes, who handled everything on site and at the station. They've got us assigned to a local body shop for repairs, and will be collecting the fee from the at fault driver. We have the extended liability coverage only which costs about as much as the liability insurance I had in the US 45 years ago.

Compliments to the Rayong Police who handled the case quickly and efficiently, taking about 30 minutes at the station, with the young officer in a neatly pressed uniform explaining "Uncle, you're at fault. You can't drive on the shoulder." Uncle didn't understand, kept repeating that he always drives on the shoulder.

6 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

School bus driver decided to pass the congestion on the shoulder, didn't notice the small backhoe parked next to the shoulder with arm/bucket extended onto the pavement until too late. He floored it and tried to jump in front of us, taking out the front end of our Hilux.

Quite fascinating that some risk life and limb for the sake of competition, especially with others on board.

14 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

We got hit by a school bus loaded with a dozen kidlets yesterday. We were driving in the slow lane, approaching a construction zone where the passing lane merges into the slow driving lane.

School bus driver decided to pass the congestion on the shoulder, didn't notice the small backhoe parked next to the shoulder with arm/bucket extended onto the pavement until too late. He floored it and tried to jump in front of us, taking out the front end of our Hilux.

Bus/van driver is a "private contractor" picking up kidlets at various schools, only has basic mandatory insurance. He's on the hook for about 20K baht in repairs.

Our Roojai agent had a surveyor show up within 30 minutes, who handled everything on site and at the station. They've got us assigned to a local body shop for repairs, and will be collecting the fee from the at fault driver. We have the extended liability coverage only which costs about as much as the liability insurance I had in the US 45 years ago.

Compliments to the Rayong Police who handled the case quickly and efficiently, taking about 30 minutes at the station, with the young officer in a neatly pressed uniform explaining "Uncle, you're at fault. You can't drive on the shoulder." Uncle didn't understand, kept repeating that he always drives on the shoulder.

Surprised 'Uncle' had a licence, I take it he did?

22 minutes ago, roo860 said:

Surprised 'Uncle' had a licence, I take it he did?

I didn't recognize his paper license at first, thought it was either a Myanmar stateless card or a fake.

67yo uncle had one of those old-style lifetime licenses issued in 1998, abolished in 2003.

One of the students accompanied him to the police station. She had to read the police report to him before he signed it, as his eyesight ain't so good no more.

Amazing.

That's one thing I've noticed over the years, Thais have no idea on how to merge.

It does not say if there were any kids in the bus, the driver can take

his own life through stupidity ,but if there were kids in the bus ,he

should never be let to drive on the roads again ,

regards worgeordie