Finally, mandatory seatbelts for inter-provincial buses in Thailand

[webfact]

Finally, Mandatory Seatbelts For Inter-provincial Buses
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- The transport authority in Thailand has announced a new safety measure by requiring all inter-provincial buses to install seatbelts and present safety videos to their passengers on the buses.

The announcement by the Transport Company Limited, a state enterprise operating under Ministry of Transport, is a response to the major road accident in Saraburi province in which 19 people were killed and 30 injured.

From 15 October onwards, every bus operated by Transport Co.Ltd. must install safety belts and provide a short video clip informing the passengers about safety procedures in the same manner of commercial airliners, according to the new regulation.

The clip will also inform the passengers about possible dangers that may occurred if they do not fasten their seatbelts.

The move has been seen by much of the Thai public as a long-overdue measure which would have saved lives in the frequent traffic accidents on Thai roads. Many public vehicles, such as the minivans and taxis, do not have seatbelts for their passengers.

Mr. Pong Cheewanant, Deputy Transport Minister, said that the Transport Company’s safety measure is a strategic policy which he encourage every transport company to follow.

“To save more lives from road accidents, we would also need qualified drivers to perform their tasks properly” added Mr. Pong.

The Ministry of Transport had also previously announced plans to attach CCTV cameras to monitor the driver behaviours, and the circumstances inside and outside the bus.

It is expected that the camera should allow the authority to speculate the risk of accidents caused by the bus drivers.

The Transport Co.Ltd. said that they are assessing costs and effectiveness of the CCTV camera, and hopeful to apply the equipment to their bus shortly in the future, as the technological items are becoming increasingly cheaper.

“The goal is to strengthen passenger’s safety when they travel on Transport Co.Ltd. buses” said Mr. Pong, “At the beginning phase, Transport Co.Ltd. will be the leader, and I expect other [private] companies to join the program later.”

He added, “I am confident that once all 8,000 buses run by Transport Co.Ltd. apply the policy, the passengers should feel safer. This should encourage other transport companies to follow the same safety procedures in the future”,

Meanwhile, Mr. Chatchart Sittipan, Minister of Transport, took to his Facebook account to air a complaint that he encountered an inter-provincial bus that did not comply with the regulations while he made a trip to Nakhon Ratchasima province.

According to the Minister, who was attending a government-exhibition in the Northeatern province, the bus that he took from Mo Chit terminal to Nakhon Ratchasima was not equipped with the safety procedures video.

Mr. Chatchart also claimed that he did not witness the Air-Conditioned bus driver fasten his seatbelt as the bus departed the terminal.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNE1UUTRNVFl4T0E9PQ==

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-10-12

[kurnell]

Thais won't wear them

[klubex99]

They won't wear them, and hardly effective in a crash having your lap restrained.

But I suppose it's a step in the right direction.

Maybe breath tests for drivers before each shift and random drug tests would do better.

[RickeyParkany]

What? not the songthaews? ;-} rap.

[tominbkk]

They won't wear them, and hardly effective in a crash having your lap restrained.

But I suppose it's a step in the right direction.

Maybe breath tests for drivers before each shift and random drug tests would do better.

A big step forward would be to stop the van drivers from competing for passengers. Those guys will race and leap frog each other all the way down the street,i bet that's how most accidents occur.

[kartman]

I'm sure on a lot of buses they will be fixed by self tappers or may as well be as the belts need to be attached securely to a structural part of the vehicle is there any above the chassis rails on these buses?

[henlin]

I love the idea of an Air-Conditioned bus driver. What a cool dude he must be!

[JoeThePoster]

8000 buses, should be an order for at least 300,000 seat belts.

[Ratsima]

When I take the bus between Bangkok and Korat I always choose the only company that has seat belts on all the buses. I've never, ever seen a Thai use them.

Heck, I can't even get my own family members to use them in our car.

I was in a head on collision in 1956. Had there been seat belts I would have been spared injury. I've used them religiously ever since they became available.

[jaapfries]

Mr. Pong Cheewanant, Deputy Transport Minister, said that the Transport Company’s safety measure is a strategic policy

which he encourage every transport company to follow ? ? ? ? ?

Duuuuuh ! ! !

​Make it into a new LAW !- Immediately ! ! !

Including those notorious Mini-Busses ! ! !

[Sydebolle]

Breathalyzers for passengers as well - drivers exempted for professional reasons!

[isawasnake]

I thought seatbelts on buses have been shown to NOT make a difference in safety. Inertia is the problem, and buses tend to gradually lose their forward momentum in an accident because of their weight. What I have seen on buses here is things like fire extinguishers put into little cylinders where they can just fly out in an accident. That is very stupid, no euphemisms deserved there, just don't do that! The other thing would be to pad the BACKS of seats, so that people are not flying into metal.

Stuff like this is more about being smart, paying attention to the research and implementing effective policies. Thais don't do any of that, and this is the result.

[madmitch]

Am I in thinking they have three days to install all these seat belts or is it just poorly worded?

[ignis]

All the VIP buses I have been on in past couple of years have seatbelts, believe I am the only person that uses it, often have to untie it from under seat first.

The odd Mini Bus I have used always sit in the front with seat belt.

[Bagwan]

Now do something about the overhead luggage racks.

[Benmart]

Glad to see it. It's up to people to decide if they use them.

There are always critics for a wide range of topics. Complaining the belts aren't available, complain if they are, complain they arent the right color, complain if the complaints department isn't taking complaints 24 hours a day. I live life on life's terms and try to stay focused in the positive aspects of my short time on the planet. The negative aura that surrounds some life forms is one that I try to avoid.

"Easy does it".

[advancebooking]

How about now improving the driving skills of these drivers. Some of them are a tad heavy footed

[Naroge]

"From 15 October onwards, every bus operated by Transport Co.Ltd. must install safety belts".

And implemented on all buses by when? In time for the Thai Winter Olympics?

[bangarang]

Awesome, now we can be strapped in tight while the bus crashes into the low height overpasses.

[FangFerang]

Never happen. Make a law, a loud announcement to soothe ruffled tourist feathers, then do nothing for enforcement (except at the scene of an accident, to hold the driver responsible, and forget fining the company).

I think most bus accidents here are caused by drivers doing triple and qudruple runs and then falling asleep at the wheel.

[tragickingdom]

Good, but maybe safety inspections of the buses should be more rigid too. THere are still buses that have seats that are not properly attached to the floor. So seatbelt or not the passengers will be killed anyhow in a crash.

[Fullstop]

present safety videos to their passengers on the buses.

Will that be before or after the driver does his little prayer to the road spirits?

[steveyinasia]

Making seat belts mandatory or making it law means nothing here. Helmets when riding motorcycles is law and we all know how that turned out.

[robertson468]

Never happen. Make a law, a loud announcement to soothe ruffled tourist feathers, then do nothing for enforcement (except at the scene of an accident, to hold the driver responsible, and forget fining the company).

I think most bus accidents here are caused by drivers doing triple and qudruple runs and then falling asleep at the wheel.

And your evidence for the triple and quadruple runs is??????????

[robertson468]

Great, a step in the right direction, despite all the "nay sayers" on this forum. Hopefully this is the start of a progress programme on road safety - okay it won't happen tomorrow, but at least it is better than the Government obssesing on changing laws to suit themselves and getting you know who back to Thailand.

[Emdog]

“To save more lives from road accidents, we would also need qualified drivers to perform their tasks properly” added Mr. Pong.

Wow! Pretty bold statement. I commend him for his courage. Why didn't anyone else think of that?

[AbuBacon]

I have a better idea. Why not install hot sir ballon sized airbags on all buses, for the bargain price, sourced by the Thai gov , US$ 4m a piece. Problem solved. As I was told in my youth by grandad Bacon..... Why wear a seatbelt.... It's Inshallah . If we hit a camel, it's Big G's wish my boy

[snooky]

Probability of them being used is low. Continental Trailways in the US installed them on about a dozen buses in the late 1960's or early 1970's (sorry, I forget the exact time) to see how many people used them - drivers were instructed to inform passengers about their use. However, after a long period of time, it was found that most seatbelts were just pushed aside and/or stuffed into the spaces between seats by the passengers so they could sit more comfortably. But that was also before the seatbelts were upgraded to their present usability, with spring loaded retractors to keep them out of the way when not in use as they have today.

[thaikahuna]

They won't wear them, and hardly effective in a crash having your lap restrained.

But I suppose it's a step in the right direction.

Maybe breath tests for drivers before each shift and random drug tests would do better.

Perhaps in a crash maybe only the top half of you will fly?

[thaikahuna]

Probability of them being used is low. Continental Trailways in the US installed them on about a dozen buses in the late 1960's or early 1970's (sorry, I forget the exact time) to see how many people used them - drivers were instructed to inform passengers about their use. However, after a long period of time, it was found that most seatbelts were just pushed aside and/or stuffed into the spaces between seats by the passengers so they could sit more comfortably. But that was also before the seatbelts were upgraded to their present usability, with spring loaded retractors to keep them out of the way when not in use as they have today.

The equipping of and use is mandatory in buses in South Korea.