20 dead in Thai bus accident: police

BANGKOK, October 23, 2013 (AFP) - A tour bus carrying elderly Buddhist devotees plunged into a ravine in northern Thailand on Wednesday, leaving at least 20 people dead and 16 injured, police said.

The victims were returning from a religious ceremony when the vehicle left the road, Police Colonel Somdet Tosporn told AFP by telephone from Lampang province.

"The bus fell into a ravine about 10 metres (33 feet) deep," he said. "I can't confirm the cause but the road is curvy."

No foreigners were believed to be on board.

Deadly road accidents are common in Thailand.

A recent report by the World Health Organisation said the country saw some 38.1 road deaths per 100,000 of population, compared to an average of 18.5 in Southeast Asia as a whole.

Earlier this month 16 people, including a pregnant woman, were killed when the truck they were travelling in slammed into a tree in northeast Thailand.

In July at least 19 people were killed when a double-decker coach collided with a truck in central Thailand and burst into flames.

In April at least five people were killed, including a seven-month-old baby, and 53 were injured when a Thai tour bus plummeted off a hillside in the northern province of Phitsanulok after its brakes failed.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-10-23

R.I.P. to the dead people and let's hope the survivors make a speedy recovery. Other reports say it was a 30 metre deep ravine and rescue efforts were hampered by terrain and lack of mobile signal in the area.

No doubt a clearer report will emerge tomorrow.

"I can't confirm the cause---he said--but the road was curvy"---------------<deleted>.. the road was the most probable cause, OR was it not driving according to conditions.

Please, please, please not again !

How are you supposed to travel in this country?? Bus?To dangerous! Minivan?Deadtraps with speeding drivers! Train? Derailments a daily occurrance! Fly? And slide of the runway! Drive private car? With the road full of drunk/drugged drivers!

Only way to survive, seems to be, stay home!

Hope those who died in this tragedy didn't suffer.

Driving too fast, brakes crap,don't know how to use gears to slow vehicle down,

so no seat belts on that bus. RIP

regards Worgeordie

Driving too fast, brakes crap,don't know how to use gears to slow vehicle down,

so no seat belts on that bus. RIP

regards Worgeordie

Most buses dont have seatbelts, or the passengers dont use if available, amazing how many lives can be saved if EVERYONE wore one and all buses where fitted, and not to mention regular checks on buses to check brakes, tyres ect.. oh and the drivers, ( not drunk or lake of sleep )

There was an interesting programme on BBC the other night , and it even showed UK bus drivers in the 60's about not drink driving ect ... but from watching it, Thailand is a good 40-50 years behind the western world on Road Safty

One every week. Normal. Thais don't do safety unless they absolutely have to.

Driving too fast, brakes crap,don't know how to use gears to slow vehicle down,

so no seat belts on that bus.  RIP 

regards Worgeordie

Requiring log books that record distance traveled as well as breaks would go a long way also. Of course then there's the enforcement part...

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Driving too fast, brakes crap,don't know how to use gears to slow vehicle down,

so no seat belts on that bus. RIP

regards Worgeordie

Requiring log books that record distance traveled as well as breaks would go a long way also. Of course then there's the enforcement part...

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

You could also limit buses to say 70 kmh ? I believe European rules require a rest every 4 hours ?

This is the one annoying thing about Thailand as I have lost a number of friends due to the dangerous roads

Driving too fast, brakes crap,don't know how to use gears to slow vehicle down,

so no seat belts on that bus. RIP

regards Worgeordie

Requiring log books that record distance traveled as well as breaks would go a long way also. Of course then there's the enforcement part...

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

You could also limit buses to say 70 kmh ? I believe European rules require a rest every 4 hours ?

This is the one annoying thing about Thailand as I have lost a number of friends due to the dangerous roads

Driving from Jomptien to Udon a nightmare, that's not the others on the road, it was POT HOLES 30 cm deap and road cracks to take down any Motor cycle, highway 331-304 and highway 2 from Korat to Udon most vehicles driving in the right hand lane. My car hit a pot hole and with it being full of water had no idea how deap. Most of the 8 hours were watching for holes and trying to swerve around them- disgusting state. Had to have a wheel change as my Mag wheel was bent and tyre wall slashed.

No wonder there are so many accidents/incidents.

So sad. RIP.

Driving from Jomptien to Udon a nightmare, that's not the others on the road, it was POT HOLES 30 cm deap and road cracks to take down any Motor cycle, highway 331-304 and highway 2 from Korat to Udon most vehicles driving in the right hand lane. My car hit a pot hole and with it being full of water had no idea how deap. Most of the 8 hours were watching for holes and trying to swerve around them- disgusting state. Had to have a wheel change as my Mag wheel was bent and tyre wall slashed.

No wonder there are so many accidents/incidents.

Quite a few roads in the UK especially in winter you could say that about. The condition of Thai roads & the terrain compare quite favourably with much of the rest of SE Asia yet deaths are far higher here. In fact as someone who has spent close to 40 years driving in Thailand I would say the much improved roads over that period have contributed to the rising death rates. Over that period the driving skills have not improved but the ability to drive faster has.

Driving from Jomptien to Udon a nightmare, that's not the others on the road, it was POT HOLES 30 cm deap and road cracks to take down any Motor cycle, highway 331-304 and highway 2 from Korat to Udon most vehicles driving in the right hand lane. My car hit a pot hole and with it being full of water had no idea how deap. Most of the 8 hours were watching for holes and trying to swerve around them- disgusting state. Had to have a wheel change as my Mag wheel was bent and tyre wall slashed.

No wonder there are so many accidents/incidents.

Quite a few roads in the UK especially in winter you could say that about. The condition of Thai roads & the terrain compare quite favourably with much of the rest of SE Asia yet deaths are far higher here. In fact as someone who has spent close to 40 years driving in Thailand I would say the much improved roads over that period have contributed to the rising death rates. Over that period the driving skills have not improved but the ability to drive faster has.

Yes it's all relative.

I just got back to the UK a few months ago and everyone is moaning about the roads. Compared with isaan, British roads are like formula one tracks.

You could also limit buses to say 70 kmh ? I believe European rules require a rest every 4 hours ?

This is the one annoying thing about Thailand as I have lost a number of friends due to the dangerous roads

Thailand's roads aren't dangerous, its drivers are.

You could also limit buses to say 70 kmh ? I believe European rules require a rest every 4 hours ?

This is the one annoying thing about Thailand as I have lost a number of friends due to the dangerous roads

Thailand's roads aren't dangerous, its drivers are.

And that is why there are so many crashes as bus drivers roar along at 130 kmh , limit this to 70 and you will see a crash reduction

The irony of the tragic event must be: do not travel to religious retreat and expect the blessings to last or extend to mode of transportation.

Hindsight into causes can be a teacher but in no way predicts the next tragedy. Many deaths are caused by human inattention and carelessness - there is no such thing as safe life - at any moment, anywhere we are gambling that we survive into the next moment - human foolishness lessens our chances of a successful role of the dice. I understand the comments posted as being a reaction to the inability to control the uncontrollable. To me these events are just SAD for both the deceased and the survivors.

RIP - Does that mean they are not really dead but just resting? One may put a pretty red dress on reality but underneath the dress death is coming to claim us all. Death is one thing in life that is certain but is absolutely unpredictable and therein lies the human predicament.

You could also limit buses to say 70 kmh ? I believe European rules require a rest every 4 hours ?

This is the one annoying thing about Thailand as I have lost a number of friends due to the dangerous roads

Thailand's roads aren't dangerous, its drivers are.

And that is why there are so many crashes as bus drivers roar along at 130 kmh , limit this to 70 and you will see a crash reduction

It would certainly be a step in the right direction, however how many times do we see crashes on bends that should be approached at even lesser speeds ?

Again and again and again. Different date, same story.

RIP.

Driving too fast, brakes crap,don't know how to use gears to slow vehicle down,

so no seat belts on that bus. RIP

regards Worgeordie

Requiring log books that record distance traveled as well as breaks would go a long way also. Of course then there's the enforcement part...

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

You could also limit buses to say 70 kmh ? I believe European rules require a rest every 4 hours ?

This is the one annoying thing about Thailand as I have lost a number of friends due to the dangerous roads

Driving from Jomptien to Udon a nightmare, that's not the others on the road, it was POT HOLES 30 cm deap and road cracks to take down any Motor cycle, highway 331-304 and highway 2 from Korat to Udon most vehicles driving in the right hand lane. My car hit a pot hole and with it being full of water had no idea how deap. Most of the 8 hours were watching for holes and trying to swerve around them- disgusting state. Had to have a wheel change as my Mag wheel was bent and tyre wall slashed.

No wonder there are so many accidents/incidents.

I drove Khon Kaen to Korat and return two weeks ago for the first time in a long time and the road surface was terrible especially the long sections of ruts in the nearside lane. Drivers stick to the offside lane to avoid these and will not move over so consequently I have never seen so much overtaking on the inside.

Highway 2 is an important high density road and no doubt the heavy vehicles on a poorly finished surface has, and is, causing the damage but repair doesn't seem to be any sort of priority.

The police spokesman made the ridiculous statement that the road is ' curvy ' but I suppose, at least, he didn't blame the rain this time.

A recent report by the World Health Organisation said the country saw some 38.1 road deaths per 100,000 of population, compared to an average of 18.5 in Southeast Asia as a whole.

Chaiyo!

"I can't confirm the cause but the road is curvy."

Or...maybe it was all the good luck trinkets hanging from the rear view mirror which interfered with the driver's vision. Anyway, in Thailand, who needs seat belts when you have a 10,000 baht amulet to keep you safe?

Please, please, please not again !

How are you supposed to travel in this country?? Bus?To dangerous! Minivan?Deadtraps with speeding drivers! Train? Derailments a daily occurrance! Fly? And slide of the runway! Drive private car? With the road full of drunk/drugged drivers!

Only way to survive, seems to be, stay home!

Hope those who died in this tragedy didn't suffer.

you forgot to mention the people that get hit by cars while riding their bikes.

"I can't confirm the cause---he said--but the road was curvy"---------------<deleted>.. the road was the most probable cause, OR was it not driving according to conditions.

<deleted>. Very easy...the type of road was being described.

Why do you infer that the road "was not driving according to conditions"

The police spokesman made the ridiculous statement that the road is ' curvy ' but I suppose, at least, he didn't blame the rain this time.

That would be a road that has curves. What is ridiculous about that? Perhaps more ridiculous is describing that description as ridiculous.

Latest news has the death toll at 22. Mostly elderly people. They say the cause of the accident was "break failure at the point of a curve in the road". Causing the bus to veer off the road and down a 30m embankment.

Just another day in road travel in Thailand. Many other countries have lots of buses, trucks, and cars on their roads. Many other countries have some roads in poor conditions. IMO, the number one cause of the horrible driving behavior here is the lack of what most of us would consider normal everyday traffic law/traffic safety enforcement. This is what happens when you have a police force that is more interested in personal profit than public safety and enforcement of laws.

IMO, if a person has to travel any long distance in Thailand the safest ways are, in order from most safe to least:

1. Airplane. Yes, we read about air crashes, but compared with the number of flights and passengers, crashes are rare. Even on the small airlines.

2. Train. Yes, we have read about a number of derailments here in Thailand. But again, with the number of people traveling by train, your chances of experiencing a derailment are slim. Also,the trains here travel relatively slowly and when derailments happen, they usually do not result in fatalities. True, train systems in places like Europe are more modern and better maintained but when the derailments/crashes do occur, they often are at much higher speeds. ( Note; I'm not slamming Europe. I've traveled trains in Germany. Very well done!! )

3. Bus. But choose your bus company carefully!! There are two bus companies that I know of that provide reasonably good service and reasonably safe operation. In the north of Thailand you have Green Bus. I've traveled on them. IMO, good service and sane driving. Another company with good reputation is NakhonChaiAIr bus company. Anybody experience any other good bus companies??

4. Personal Driving a car. How safe a driver are you? You are still on the roads here with all the other cars.

879. Vans and "mini-buses". My personal favorite name for them is "Suicide Vans". Reckless drivers at high speed. Often forced to work/drive very long hours with insufficient rest. At best, take two Xanax before your van ride. Also, ensure that both your life and hospitalization insurance(s) are fully paid up!

Brakes Failed according to the other paper.

Translation - Failure to Brake.

The minister of transportation should be imeadetly fired. This cannot continue without someone answering for all the deaths on thailands highways 29000 every year. There are no highway patrols no local police. I can only think that the government must be getting money from bus company's as their annual retirement fee and vacation fund or from all the business from funerals. This is absolutely discus ting that the government does not care. If Thailand wants to be on the worlds stage of best countries to visit then they should first make the citizens safe. Thailand is #6 in the world in traffic deaths and I do not think this is something to be proud of. I think the police should get out of their air-conditioned cars and get out and start ticketing law breakers. OH I forgot maybe his tire blew out

Latest news has the death toll at 22. Mostly elderly people. They say the cause of the accident was "break failure at the point of a curve in the road". Causing the bus to veer off the road and down a 30m embankment.

So 'just another day at the office'

Sad but it's indicative of life in the realm.....