Thai Transport Min emphasizes on safety measures of public transport

[webfact]

Transport Min emphasizes on safety measures of public transport

BANGKOK, 24 July 2013 (NNT) – The Transport Ministry is stepping up measures on the safety of public transport, especially buses, urging the Transport Company to check its tour bus condition regularly.

Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt has urged the Transport Company to inspect their vehicles at least every 2 years, adding that a driver should not drive longer than 8 hours per day and has to stop every four hours when on a long trip.

As for trucks, the minister said he wanted the truck companies to inspect their lorries more often than once in every 3 years as now required as well as to regularly check their drivers’ health condition, adding that all companies have to be strict when recruiting their drivers.

The minister also has a plan to build more rest stops for tour buses, ordering the Department of Land Transport to discuss the idea with related agencies.

Lastly, he ordered the Land Transport Department to inspect all public buses in terms of safety equipment, such as seat belts and emergency doors, and report the result back to the Minister within a fortnight.


-- NNT 2013-07-24

[barryofpattaya]

The Transport Ministries must do a better job in enforcing the number of hours a commercial driver is able to work. This terrible bust VS truck accident in Sara Buri the other day was caused by the truck driver falling asleep at the wheel, and killed many people due to the fact that he was probably working too many hours without the proper rest.

Barry

[laurentbkk]

Now come the good ideas ... why it always after a tragic accident ? Those "normal" procedure should be done on regular basis ...not only after that accident .... anyway better now than never ...

[clifric]

This is just a sop to appease the tourists' countries; not that anything would happen.

Vehicle checks every 2 years is a farce - I have to have my motor-bike tested every year to get it taxed!

Driver's hours enforcement will never happen as the transport companies would expect the Government to pay for tachographs and that would take some graft away. Even if tachos were fitted there would always be an official who could be encouraged to turn a blind eye.

If Thailand was serious about road safety - every Police chief would be given 6 months to ensure that the 100% SAFETY HELMETS signs were a reality. If they failed they would be sacked with no pension.

Every vehicle with no registration plate should be impounded and the driver's license suspended; no plate equals no tax equals no insurance.

The reality is actually that the Thai Highway Code only has 2 rules - 1. up to you 2. sod everybody else.

So this is not even newsworthy!!

Edited July 24, 2013 by clifric

[ginjag]

went for a renew driving license, 1 hour to watch a video Thai speaking----then for the practical test Ha ha, look across the room and tell me what colours you see, OK red green yellow red red green yellow--Very good -go to the counter and collect your new license. TRUE 1 month ago UDON.

[swifty5x5]

First teach Thai's how to drive.

[ginjag]

First teach Thai's how to drive.

Most are self taught---white whisky drinking- smoking--house building--road repairs- motor repairs-- and of course DRIVING.

why do you have to be schooled for driving when you can get a license to drive so easy--and top it all buy a car/pick-up/m.cycle in an hour or so. Here you see everyone -(near all) are born with that ability. So the idea of paying for a University cert., and paying for your government /police position gets you started on the road to corruption.

[bkkgriz]

Trucks are checked once every three years? Umm, I think I see one of the problems. Basic maintenance is kind of important when dealing with cargo haulers.

[boshidoson]

Thailand is the land of no responsibility and no consequences. Make the owners of the tranport companies responsible for these atrocities. Hold them accountable for all liability and damages and seize their assets in real money. They will likely pay 300,000 baht or so each to make ammends for the dead, 5.7 m baht ( less than $200,000 for 19 dead ) Make them take care of the families of those who died. Charge them with real crimes, in this case 19 counts of murder. Inprison them with no bail. They will be inspectng the vehicles twice a month and demanding the drivers rest and drive safely, if they are held responsible and their fortunes threatened.

[ginjag]

Is this man MAD---TESTING of vehicles-like M.O.T. in the U.K. every 2 years or annually.

BUT inspecting the vehicle every day--maintenance when needed as in the manual.--he said inspecting every 2 years---clown.

[ginjag]

I have to add the minister did NOT mention the police's role in this, speed check these tour buses. or maybe he cannot do this as they are a power to themselves and no instant fines can be obtained.

[Gsxrnz]

And that's how <deleted> happens.....testing a heavy vehicle every 2 or 3 years is nothing less than criminal. Even in New Zealand where transport companies have a high level of willing compliance for safety, the vehicles are still tested by a certified testing authority every six months. The fines for non compliance are huge.

There is no way I would ever set foot in a 3rd world bus or train - the maintenance levels are generally so poor it's laughable. It's disconcerting to see a reasonably new bus with a great paint job, lots of lights and decorations...balding/shredded and under-inflated tyres, a lean to port/starboard, and the odd wheel nut missing, and one wheel of a tandem rear axle locking up under moderate braking, Indicating hugely dysfunctional brakes.

When I glance at most prime mover trucks around the port area, I can see dozens of things that need correcting. The trailers are worse and it's a miracle some actually stay attached. Saw one with no functional twistlocks on one side of the trailer (the twistlocks secure a 40' container to the deck). This thing just had to do a moderately fast left hand bend and it would be on its side.

Having said that, there are one or two companies who have exceptionally well maintained trucks. I've seen a few that are in the 10 year old and probably 5-7 million klm range, and they look exceptionally well maintained. These are the exception by a factor of 20/1.......nuh, more like 50/1.

I'll ride in a modern taxi, but will get out the minute the driver shows suicidal tendencies or poor driving skills, and have done that twice. Talked to one of the drivers that I bailed from once and he had literally been cat-knapping for 4 days with only one decent stretch of sleep of 6 hours. Go figure!

[ChrisY1]

No-one in the government...including the phleb minister, have a clue about road safety, vehicle safety or anything related to the smooth operation of vehicular traffic on the countrys' roads....they will not listen to 3rd party advice....they do not understand that other countries have gone through this issue for decades......but insist on band-aid measures that are not followed through.....laws are never policed.....and the road toll continues on it's upward path........disgraceful at the least!!

[LuckyLew]

If these people running the country were to go without their police escorts

and be forced to see what actually happens when regular people take to the

roads of Thailand then maybe something would be done, or maybe if someone

important were to be killed on the roads, maybe then something will be done.

They should have to ride to VIP vans and buses to their up country meetings,

the maybe something will be done.

Pipe dream I know ...

until then ... mai pen rai

[smutcakes]

If there is going to be change it has to come from desire from the every day Thai person. The vast majority of Thai's have never known the driving standards/roads/safety to be any different to what they are now, and the risk etc they take when getting into any vehicle is a part of everyday life they have grown up with., which i think is part of the reason so many seem ambivalent to the risks or need for improvement.

[OzMick]

Oz safety experts stress that driving longer than 2 hours without a break leads to fatigue related accidents. In Thailand 4 hours for bus drivers is fine.

[worgeordie]

First of all the HGV & Buses need to go through a PROPER mechanical test annually,

The drivers need to get PROPER training on how to drive an HGV or a Bus,and learn

that it is not ok to over take on a blind bend,or any other bend really,and finally the

buses should be fitted with secure seats properly bolted to the floor and have seat

belts installed, now that would not cost much and is common sense really,and if even

just one life was saved ,it would be worth it.but this is Thailand and common sense

seems in short supply, and if it cost even Bht 500 each to install seat belts that would

still be too expensive would be the cry from the operators. life is cheap so nothing is

going to change.

regards Worgeordie

[ginjag]

Oz safety experts stress that driving longer than 2 hours without a break leads to fatigue related accidents. In Thailand 4 hours for bus drivers is fine.

National express U.K. example Hull to London, have to have 2 drivers, not allowed to drive more than 4 hours.

Hull to Scunthorpe pick up Scunthorpe to Doncaster pick up change driver. ( 60 miles) Doncaster to Milton Keynes drop off passengers and on to London 175 miles 4hours allowed for driver. If a traffic hold up that would lengthen the journey they have to change drivers.

YES I know it's U.K. but the experience shows, less accidents. Here it is profit --full stop and anyone interfering in this BIG business is gonna get his knuckles wrapped.

[monkey4u]

Most of these so called VIP buses are at least 10 years old. All the companies do is place a new body on an old chassis and add new seats. presto a brand new bus.

In Australia all heavy vehicles are subjected to an annual inspection, plus road side tests.

I had a 1 year old truck defected due to a broken engine mount.

After replacing it and showing the old 1 to the inspectors, I was told it looked broken. The rubber had a lip on it from the moulding. Thailand does not care what condition the vehicle is in or if the driver is capable of driving even a billy cart

[PoodMaiDai]

Condition of the vehicles, driver training, sober drivers, sober drivers, sober drivers, realistic schedules, and driver training. Those are good places to start.

[Robby nz]

There is no way I would ever set foot in a 3rd world bus or train - the maintenance levels are generally so poor it's laughable. It's disconcerting to see a reasonably new bus with a great paint job, lots of lights and decorations...balding/shredded and under-inflated tyres, a lean to port/starboard, and the odd wheel nut missing, and one wheel of a tandem rear axle locking up under moderate braking, Indicating hugely dysfunctional brakes.

What a load of crap.

I see the drivers checking their buses after every trip, go look around Mo Chit bus station and you will see this yourself.

Where I live the drivers take their buses home after the last trip into here and I see them when I go out early in the morning checking everything.

Some of the older buses have been running for years, there is one here that does a daily return trip of 100km that has been running for 60 years, leaving and arriving on time every day.

No vehicle could ever do that without exceptional maintenance.

Sure its grotty both inside and out but the running gear including tyres are in great shape.

I use buses all the time and come across the odd bad driver but most are very good.

On longer interprovincial trips the regular buses have at least 2 and sometimes 3 drivers who alternate, each driving a particular part of the road that they know well.

Many of the long distance buses have a driver room at the back where the off duty driver will go to sleep or at least rest till it is his turn at the wheel again.

Of course if you never use buses you never see these things

[Gsxrnz]

There is no way I would ever set foot in a 3rd world bus or train - the maintenance levels are generally so poor it's laughable. It's disconcerting to see a reasonably new bus with a great paint job, lots of lights and decorations...balding/shredded and under-inflated tyres, a lean to port/starboard, and the odd wheel nut missing, and one wheel of a tandem rear axle locking up under moderate braking, Indicating hugely dysfunctional brakes.

What a load of crap.

I see the drivers checking their buses after every trip, go look around Mo Chit bus station and you will see this yourself.

Where I live the drivers take their buses home after the last trip into here and I see them when I go out early in the morning checking everything.

Some of the older buses have been running for years, there is one here that does a daily return trip of 100km that has been running for 60 years, leaving and arriving on time every day.

No vehicle could ever do that without exceptional maintenance.

Sure its grotty both inside and out but the running gear including tyres are in great shape.

I use buses all the time and come across the odd bad driver but most are very good.

On longer interprovincial trips the regular buses have at least 2 and sometimes 3 drivers who alternate, each driving a particular part of the road that they know well.

Many of the long distance buses have a driver room at the back where the off duty driver will go to sleep or at least rest till it is his turn at the wheel again.

Of course if you never use buses you never see these things

I won't dispute what you say. I also said in my post that there are some exceptionally well maintained vehicles, but they are by far the exception.

I've seen trailers with cracked chassis rails, retreaded tyres that have half the casing missing, dodgy repairs to axle mounts, air hoses that appear to have been repaired with gaffer tape, rags used as fuel caps, heavily crabbing trailers,twisted and bent chassis rails, tie-down rails that are substandard, maladjusted brakes, maladjusted wheels (alignment), wheels that fell off (four occasions in the last 8 months),....the list goes on. I mean, I see it all the time around Laem Chabang, it's not like I see the odd one that stands out, it's actually the good ones that stand out from the crowd

As a partner in a heavy vehicle transport company (120 PM's, 200+ towed), believe me these things are at the heart of my interests and I do notice them.

Yes, there ARE well maintained vehicles in Thailand. But compared to internationally recognised standards of HV safety, I would guess that from an R&M perspective less than 30% of what I see in the Pattaya/Laem Chabang area would come even close satisfying a Ministry of Transport certification in NZ. And I'm being generous at 30%. It could easily be 15% if they actually did rollover and brake tests, because Thailand doesn't even have a standard for this sort of testing and certification.

As to the driving skills - truck drivers actually seem reasonably good in their general skills given the pieces of crap that they have to drive. Tiredness is probably their biggest problem. Bus Drivers - well I stick to my earlier point, 85% of what I've seen shouldn't be allowed to drive a dodgem-car, because that's exactly how most drive their busses.

[zydeco]

Wasn't there a woman hit and killed by a bus racing another bus a couple of years ago? Bus racing.

[tingtongfarang]

I am shocked that many of the posters here seem to forget that thailand does not have a police force, You can suggest all the laws and regulations one might think are needed but there is no police force to enforce the traffic laws that exist already.

[WhizBang]

Hot air, nothing more.

[DekDaeng]

"There is no way I would ever set foot in a 3rd world bus or train - the maintenance levels are generally so poor it's laughable. It's disconcerting to see a reasonably new bus with a great paint job,"

Often these buses are rebuild from previous accidents - I get to see the roof of a lot of buses, 20 - 30 % have little to no paint on the roof, meaning that they are repair jobs made to look just enough good to get the cash.

[arthurboy]

Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt can urge all he likes. How about actually implementing and enforcing transport safety legislation and making sure that all relevant authorities - police included - actually do their job in implementing and enforcing said legislation?

In the meantime, and the foreseeable future, oh never mind...

Urge on Mr. Chadchart, if it makes you feel better.

Edited July 24, 2013 by arthurboy

[alant]

So now he can reassure all the governments that warn their prospective tourists that Public transport has been reviewed an is much much safer. If I understand the qualifications for being able to drive a PSV or HGV here it is simply "must be a Thai national"

[nakhonandy]

I have travelled a lot on public transport in Thailand and in general they are pretty good.

regular stops for both driver and passengers, two drivers to share the load etc.

Having said that this knee jerk reaction is ridiculous.

The vehicles should be thoroughly tested at least once a year. My car, 12 yrs old is tested (albeit poorly) every year.

There should be roadside inspections on a more regular basis, not just for overloading.

Of course this has to be policed correctly, some hope there.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

If Thailand was serious about road safety - every Police chief would be given 6 months to ensure that the 100% SAFETY HELMETS signs were a reality. If they failed they would be sacked with no pension.

I was walking/waiting near one of the large police boxes at a major intersection along Sukhumvit Rd in BKK the other day...

Tons of motorcycles zipping by, with lots of riders wearing no helmets, and lots of riders looking like teenage kids... The police were standing around, and doing nothing.

Enforcement here is a non-existent joke...

No one should expect that the minister's calls are anything more than political hot air to make it appear they're doing something, when in reality, they're doing the same as always.... NOTHING!

That's why people will continue to needlessly die on the roads and highways in accidents that could have been prevented.