Tourists injured after tour bus hits steel beam

[jaapfries]

Judging by the photo it's only a single deck coach anyway.

I realise the the driver sits lower down but to call it a double decker is misleading.

Glad there were no fatalities at least.

It was a double decker coach without any doubt. I was there.

You may have been there, but that is most definitely NOT a "Double-Deck-Bus", my friend ! !

A "Double-Deck Bus" typically has 1 level of seating-accommodation just about 4 Ft off the ground (between the wheels) as well as an elevated level with its own floor of seating-accommodation. There's a small staircase connecting the 2 'layers'. On the exterior, it is also very easy to distinguish, since there will be 2 rows of windows, instead of the 1 row of windows, as evidenced in the picture.

[petedk]

Could we possibly have some coherent facts, before passing judgment?

Is it a steel beam sticking out across the highway, or is it a steel girder which is part of a bridge?

It was put up a year or so ago to restrict high vehicles from passing OVER the bridge. I think it has something to with high vehicles weighing more than low vehicles. I am not Thai so I don't quite understand the logic of it as I often see trucks loaded with mud driving over.

Anyway, I drive past it quite often and what I consider to be far more damgerous is the way it is (was?) constructed. The beams are supported by two huge cement blocks in the middle of the road!!!

The road is about six lanes wide and narrows down to two for the bridge and two lanes each side of the bridge. There are often long traffic jams there. Sometimes the traffic is one way over the bridge and sometimes two way. Cars squeeze in between the cement blocks at the last minute and being good Thai drivers (I am thinking of another thread now) the don't bother to slow down. I am amazed that there hasn't been an accident with these blocks before now.

Edited October 9, 2013 by petedk

[zydeco]

There is NO safe way to travel in Thailand now !

I feel like I'm risking my life just to take the 7 km trip to and from work everyday.

[zydeco]

Were there any height retriction warning signs at the required distance before the beam/tin opener thing ? This could be a ministry of highways balls-up.

Many of the highways in my part of town have been re-paved and heightened since the last flood, making the old clearances obsolete.

[Calimotty]

Here is a pic a friend took:

I mean, judging from the picture, this guy had some serious speed.

this guy had some serious speed.

Otherwise known as Ice or Yaba?

Edited October 9, 2013 by Calimotty

[nisakiman]

Judging from the force of the collision, it is believed that the driver was not aware of the steel beam.

Duh...ya think so ?......cant get much past Thailand's finest's highly tuned powers of deduction can you....they should all go and work for Scotland Yard who needs Sherlock Holmes when you have Lieutenant Somchai on the job...

One thing that is puzzling me is what in God's good name was that steel beams' purpose ? It looks as if someone has just made a steel girder gate for no apparent reason.

Somebody please enlighten me.

Can think of several reasons. 1° Avoiding heavy vehicles going on the bridge, beyond its structural resistance limits; 2° Avoiding high vehicles at a higher risk of toppling on the road under the bridge.

Yes, fine, but it would be much more sensible to make the beam either from a softer material or not solidly fixed so that if someone hits it it won't shave off the top of the vehicle, as it happened here.

All max height beam warnings I've seen, in garages and the like are a tube or board hanging from chains from the ceiling, it won't go unnoticed if hit, but it won't rip the vehicle roof neither.

Yes indeed, that is the way it is normally done - something deformable and suspended to act as both visual and audible warning of an approaching height restriction, so any driver hitting it is made very aware of the impending height limit without destroying his vehicle. Years ago I used to pull pantechnicon trailers, so became pretty familiar with height restrictions.

[chickenslegs]

Judging by the photo it's only a single deck coach anyway.

It is now.

[skildpadden]

I drive past this section everyday to work, and it is not the first time this has happened.

[nullx8]

Definite negligence of the driver, the beam was quite clear with bright white and red paint marking it.

not to mention that this beam is there EASY 10 Years already,

and the following bridge it protects would have cause alot more serious damage to vehicle and infrastructure.

also there about 20 Signs before it that you can not go straight higher than 2,50 Meters or so ...

and the beam is even illuminated (as i recall it last time i drove there)

simply NO WAY to oversee it with anything less than 20 Beers.

[nullx8]

One thing that is puzzling me is what in God's good name was that steel beams' purpose ? It looks as if someone has just made a steel girder gate for no apparent reason.

Somebody please enlighten me.

Reason or not make very little Difference .. there are plenty of signs before the beam as well.

however, the reason is that the lane leads to a flyover which goes UNDER another bridge, allowing only 2,5 meters height.

also the flyover is made of steel .. it may have also a load-limit ...

there can be a million reasons! but thats not the point !

[Morakot]

One thing that is puzzling me is what in God's good name was that steel beams' purpose ? It looks as if someone has just made a steel girder gate for no apparent reason.

Somebody please enlighten me.

Can think of several reasons. 1° Avoiding heavy vehicles going on the bridge, beyond its structural resistance limits; 2° Avoiding high vehicles at a higher risk of toppling on the road under the bridge.

Yes, fine, but it would be much more sensible to make the beam either from a softer material or not solidly fixed so that if someone hits it it won't shave off the top of the vehicle, as it happened here.

All max height beam warnings I've seen, in garages and the like are a tube or board hanging from chains from the ceiling, it won't go unnoticed if hit, but it won't rip the vehicle roof neither.

Sure it might not go unnoticed, but will the driver stop, or will the more immediate vicinity of a dislodged concrete bride be the final point of complete standstill?

Edited October 9, 2013 by Morakot

[JoeThePoster]

a tour bus had hit a height-limit steel beam

No limit to stupidity though.

[ratcatcher]

My condolences to the bus company for the loss of their bus.

Best wishes to the tourists whose bus got ripped off.

These barriers are designed to stop over height vehicles from proceeding, as several posters have made clear, they are usually well signposted in advance. One can only assume the driver was distracted or worse.

[shaurene]

Is this reporter any relation to Sherlock Holmes, driver ok because he was sitting down stairs. And of course the driver obviously did not know the beam was there, was not lite up with flashing warning lights.

He, He, He!!!!!!!

[Angeledge777]

Was the bus driver a Farang? It seems like the police in Chiang Mai wants to crackdown on dangerous FOREIGN drivers...

[unanimosity]

I guess the subtle red and white paint on the beam offered no clues to the driver.

In a normal situation the law requires the height to be posted and the driver is required to know the height of his vehicle.

[Crossy]

I drive past this section everyday to work, and it is not the first time this has happened.

Indeed, same here, said height limiter was placed after the 'deformable warnings' were simply deformed out of the way and stopped being warnings.

There is nothing on the overpass that limits headroom, so one can only assume it's there to limit weight on the tin-plate / cardboard constructed bridge.

[bino]

It was put up a year or so ago to restrict high vehicles from passing OVER the bridge. I think it has something to with high vehicles weighing more than low vehicles. I am not Thai so I don't quite understand the logic of it as I often see trucks loaded with mud driving over.

This is correct.

Our office was in Phrom Pong from 2008 to 2010, and I used to drive over this flyover every day. The barriers went up during this time. I remember that there were stories in the news about how the Asoke junction was going to be closed and this flyover was going to be replaced. If I recall correctly this junction was to be closed for a year or so.

The flyover remains unchanged to this day, so the beams were obviously intended to prevent oversize / overweight vehicles in order to prolong its lifespan.

not to mention that this beam is there EASY 10 Years already,

Definitely not 10 years.

[marell]

The chauffeur, however, received no injuries as he was sitting on the bottom floor.---<deleted> ????

I assume they mean the "Driver" --and where else would he be

No, regular buses have drivers, VIP buses have chauffeurs. One reason they cost more.

[tingtongfarang]

The chauffeur, however, received no injuries as he was sitting on the bottom floor.---<deleted> ????

I assume they mean the "Driver" --and where else would he be

No, regular buses have drivers, VIP buses have chauffeurs. One reason they cost more.

Does that mean they dont do a runner after the accident?

[oldsailor35]

Here is a pic a friend took:

I mean, judging from the picture, this guy had some serious speed.

Well he 'nearly' got under...........have to go faster next time .

[oldsailor35]

Judging from the force of the collision, it is believed that the driver was not aware of the steel beam.

Duh...ya think so ?......cant get much past Thailand's finest's highly tuned powers of deduction can you....they should all go and work for Scotland Yard who needs Sherlock Holmes when you have Lieutenant Somchai on the job...

One thing that is puzzling me is what in God's good name was that steel beams' purpose ? It looks as if someone has just made a steel girder gate for no apparent reason.

Somebody please enlighten me.

Can think of several reasons. 1° Avoiding heavy vehicles going on the bridge, beyond its structural resistance limits; 2° Avoiding high vehicles at a higher risk of toppling on the road under the bridge.

Yes, fine, but it would be much more sensible to make the beam either from a softer material or not solidly fixed so that if someone hits it it won't shave off the top of the vehicle, as it happened here.

All max height beam warnings I've seen, in garages and the like are a tube or board hanging from chains from the ceiling, it won't go unnoticed if hit, but it won't rip the vehicle roof neither.

Yes but this is Thailand, they have'nt discovered the 'chain hanger' yet so don't think a falang could tell them about it.

[oldsailor35]

Judging by the photo it's only a single deck coach anyway.

I realise the the driver sits lower down but to call it a double decker is misleading.

Glad there were no fatalities at least.

It was a double decker coach without any doubt. I was there.

You may have been there, but that is most definitely NOT a "Double-Deck-Bus", my friend ! !

A "Double-Deck Bus" typically has 1 level of seating-accommodation just about 4 Ft off the ground (between the wheels) as well as an elevated level with its own floor of seating-accommodation. There's a small staircase connecting the 2 'layers'. On the exterior, it is also very easy to distinguish, since there will be 2 rows of windows, instead of the 1 row of windows, as evidenced in the picture.

Its a raised passenger deck, definately not a double deck !

[oldsailor35]

Here is a pic a friend took:

I mean, judging from the picture, this guy had some serious speed.

Well he 'nearly' got under...........have to go faster next time .

Judging by the steel gantry, this thing was built to stop a tank

[oldsailor35]

Definite negligence of the driver, the beam was quite clear with bright white and red paint marking it.

not to mention that this beam is there EASY 10 Years already,

and the following bridge it protects would have cause alot more serious damage to vehicle and infrastructure.

also there about 20 Signs before it that you can not go straight higher than 2,50 Meters or so ...

and the beam is even illuminated (as i recall it last time i drove there)

simply NO WAY to oversee it with anything less than 20 Beers.

Oh Bugger, they forgot to tell the 'chauffeur' how high his bus was.

[oldsailor35]

My condolences to the bus company for the loss of their bus.

Best wishes to the tourists whose bus got ripped off.

These barriers are designed to stop over height vehicles from proceeding, as several posters have made clear, they are usually well signposted in advance. One can only assume the driver was distracted or worse.

This time next week, the 'chauffeur' will be driving a mini bus...........no problems then.

[dcutman]

Here is a pic a friend took:

I mean, judging from the picture, this guy had some serious speed.

Note the construction of this barricade. Somebody definitely did not want to come back again to rebuild it. It appears the beam over the road has barley moved. Hope your friend takes another pic after they peal the bus out of there, if he does please post it.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Judging from the force of the collision, it is believed that the driver was not aware of the steel beam.

Duh...ya think so ?......cant get much past Thailand's finest's highly tuned powers of deduction can you....they should all go and work for Scotland Yard who needs Sherlock Holmes when you have Lieutenant Somchai on the job...

Excuse... but I think you're referring here to Lt. Chimp....

BANGKOK, 9 October 2013 (NNT) - At 22.00 pm on October 8, Police Lieutenant Jakrapob Chimpheongpanao, Makkasan Police Station’s investigation

BTW, this is just the latest of this kind of "shave the top off the bus" accidents. There was another similar one reported here from one of the tourist areas a few months ago where a questionable driver took a wrong route turn and ended up decapitating his bus.

Then there was the episode a while back in BKK where a big truck came along with police escort and managed to knock down an over the road pedestrian bridge crossing.

There also was a news report here a month or two back alleging that many tourist buses in service in Thailand have been allowed to be built taller and with more narrow wheel bases that is supposed to be allowed, creating the potential for both accidents like this and buses tipping over due to poor centers of gravity.

The Transport Ministry supposedly was supposed to be doing something about it... which probably translates into pocketing more back handers from the bus companies and/or builders.

Edited October 9, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[bangon04]

Judging by the photo it's only a single deck coach anyway.

I realise the the driver sits lower down but to call it a double decker is misleading.

Glad there were no fatalities at least.

The accident involved a double-decker tour bus belonging to Phongprasert Tour Company with the license plate 31-3593 from Bangkok. The vehicle was found wrecked with its top ripped open after hitting the steel beam.

May I suggest that you read the post again. Okay not all TVF members are native English Readers. Wish them all a speedy an FULLY recovery-

Did someone remember to paint out the name of the coach company with black paint?

[boomerangutang]

The beam was probably put there to warn drivers about a similarly low height underpass, probably a bridge.

However, there are much better things that could be installed: 1 meter long pipes at 3" spacing dangling from overhead wires. Or bells, ....something which would loudly warn of a height problem, but not destroy a vehicle and or injure people.