Teen Falls Under Bus, Breaks Leg

[george]

Teen falls under bus, breaks leg

Govt to meet BMTA about improving safety

BANGKOK: -- Transport authorities have pledged to take serious steps to guarantee safety for road users in the wake of a series of road accidents involving buses. In the latest incident, a teenage boy broke his leg when trapped under a bus on Sukhumvit road yesterday.

Thanawut Ithipongchai, a 13-year-old boy who attends Darakham School, was riding pillion on the back of his father's motorcycle when they were hit by a privately-run bus (No 25), running from Pak Nam to Hua Lamphong station.

The driver of the bus, Manit Phopol, 27, from Samut Prakan, said he was preparing to accelerate away when he heard cries.

Mr Manit said he stopped the vehicle to investigate and found a motorcycle and Thanawut trapped under the front wheel of the bus. Although bus drivers in Bangkok are often prone to fleeing the scene, Mr Manit assisted rescue workers at the scene of the accident, who then rushed the boy to Sukhumvit Hospital. He then waited for the police.

Mr Manit said he deeply regretted the accident.

The boy's father, Mr Surachai, has yet to testify as he is currently concerned with his son's condition.

Wassana Khwanjai, 36, a motorist who was on the left side of the bus when the accident took place, said she heard a crash and then saw the boy under the bus.

Thienchai Suwanpen, director of Sukhumvit Hospital, said the boy was admitted to intensive care due to excessive bleeding. His right leg had been badly broken, but he should be okay since he escaped other injuries and could eat and communicate reasonably well, Dr Thienchai said.

Deputy Transport Minister Chainant Charoensiri, who expressed his sympathy for the injured boy, vowed to discuss safety measures for bus service operators with the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) and its private bus operators on Monday.

He said he aims to ensure safety is a prime target in improving the standard of drivers and the vehicles currently being operated. The Land Transport Department and the city bus agency must also ensure there are strict controls on the issuance of bus drivers' licences.

The condition of buses must also be regularly checked and rules properly enforced, he said. Any driver with a record of fatal accidents must lose his licence, he said.

Buses unfit for service must all be sent to be scrapped within two months, he said.

Mr Chainant is considering raising bus fares in the new year as an incentive for operators of bus services to improve their services. He has ordered the BMTA to study operators' cost in preparation for the imminent price hike.

Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal said all bus drivers had to be trained about the importance of safe driving and ought to be rewarded for operating their vehicles safely.

In addition to operating its own buses, 3,000 private buses and 1,000 private minibuses come under the supervision of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Private buses and minibuses account for most bus accidents in the city.

--Bangkok Post 2005-11-03

[terdsak_12]

Yes, Ilke teaching people how to drive would be a good start!!!

[george]

Run-over boy might keep legs

BANGKOK: -- A 12-year-old boy who was run over by a bus on Wednesday was given a better chance of avoiding having his legs amputated.

Dr Surasak Amornritrattana, the surgeon treating the boy at Sukhumvit Hospital, said he was now 80-per-cent confident that Thanawit Ittipongchai would recover without the amputation.

Thanawit was seriously injured when a Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) bus knocked him off the back of his father's motorcycle when he was being taken to school.

The bus crushed his right leg from the calf to the ankle and broke the lower part of his left leg.

Surasak said Thanawit's legs were still swollen but out of danger. He will be kept under medical supervision for at least three or four weeks.

"It will take him at least three months to recover fully," he said.

Thanawit's mother Angkhana said her son had been very courageous and had not cried since the accident. "But I was overwhelmed. I had to sneak out of his hospital room and cry. I could hardly accept what happened," she said.

Angkhana said her husband Surachai, who received only minor injuries in the accident, was suffering a mental breakdown and seeing doctors at the hospital.

At Darakram School, Thanawit's classmates were folding paper stars and birds for him during their breaks and were praying for his recovery.

School director Wanchai Sangnoi said Thanawit would be given tutorial classes when he recovered.

Meanwhile, Khlong Tan Police Station's deputy superintendent Major Thanapon Pothisuk said no one had been charged over the accident yet because it was not clear who caused it.

Some witnesses said the boy's father had just switched lanes before being hit by the bus.

--The Nation 2005-11-03

[Dickie_Doo]

My wife fell from a bus while alighting and really hurt herself.

The state of the bus driving here is lousy.

The mentalist drivers don't stop to let people on or off, the wheels are always rolling.

"Well, this is Thailand, Thai people get used to it", rationalises my wife.

But it doesn't have to be this way. It doesn't. It can be so much better.

...then you step off the bus onto the pavement and get hit by a motorbike.

[mijan24]

Teen falls under bus, breaks leg

Govt to meet BMTA about improving safety

BANGKOK: -- Transport authorities have pledged to take serious steps to guarantee safety for road users in the wake of a series of road accidents involving buses. In the latest incident, a teenage boy broke his leg when trapped under a bus on Sukhumvit road yesterday.

Mr Manit said he deeply regretted the accident.

Deputy Transport Minister Chainant Charoensiri, who expressed his sympathy for the injured boy, vowed to discuss safety measures for bus service operators with the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) and its private bus operators on Monday. It would be nice to hear he vowed to improve the safety measures!

He said he aims to ensure safety is a prime target in improving the standard of drivers and the vehicles currently being operated. The Land Transport Department and the city bus agency must also ensure there are strict controls on the issuance of bus drivers' licences.

The condition of buses must also be regularly checked and rules properly enforced, he said. Any driver with a record of fatal accidents must lose his licence, he said.

Buses unfit for service must all be sent to be scrapped within two months, he said.

Mr Chainant is considering raising bus fares in the new year as an incentive for operators of bus services to improve their services. He has ordered the BMTA to study operators' cost in preparation for the imminent price hike. (Correct me if I am wrong but wasn't this one of the reasons given for the past price hikes)!!

Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal said all bus drivers had to be trained about the importance of safe driving and ought to be rewarded for operating their vehicles safely. And retrained or demoted to collecting fares for bad driving performance!!--Bangkok Post 2005-11-03

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This type of accident occurs frequently - I think the last few to be reported involved passengers either boarding or alighting - surely it's is time for action - the PM has the temerity to recommend a Thai space program but can not achieve the task of making BMA a safe and profitable organisation.

Without getting onto a soapbox - get the coppers of their arse start officially booking (no court just on the spot fines - no drive until paid - impound the vehicle take a bus come back within 3 months and pay or vehicle auctioned) reckless drivers, unroadworthy vehicles, unlicenced drivers. get out onto the highways unmarked cars pull over the speedsters confiscate their vehicles - don't wait for Sonkran to approach start reducing the road toll NOW.

OK - Police State mentality - Guilty but remember you may be the next Victim.