Thai Transport Minister appalled by minivan safety standard

[lostmebike]

safety policies are blatantly ignored by the minivan drivers.

You mean like tail-gating? Or do you mean the 'ownership' of the fast lane? Or maybe the horrendous driving? What about the lack of seat belts? Could he be possibly talking about the stickers stuck on the windows making all round vision an impossibility leading to my third question?

Every year we here about these 'drivers' of mini vans and how they will be monitored better and blah, blah.... but nothing changes. Last I seem to remember was a story about van drivers being fined 5000 Baht for speeding over the 90 limit, anyone know of this actually being enforced?

[masuk]

At last! someone can see that the drivers have something to do with the bad accident rate. The vans and/or their lack of safety equipment can't be blamed for driving into the back of a large truck. I can't imagine seat belts helping a lot in the accident featured at the head of this page.

Early morning Chiang Mai city is filled with vans rushing around to hotels to collect the day's trippers, and they drive like maniacs.

Has anyone though how important it is to see that the drivers are suitable for driving a public vehicle? Or properly tested??

[little mary sunshine]

Seat belts yes, Owners of these Companies that demand their Drivers SPEED to get in

another RUN for extra Baht should lose their license to operate. Drivers who speed should

be stopped by the cops and license revoked on the spot, if they have a license. Thailand

should be embarassed by the way these DEATH TRAPS have been ALLOWED to operate

by the MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION for YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This Minister should

be Fired !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[slapout]

The transport ministry could do a lot to improve safety of commercial vehicles in Thailand, IF they had a mind to.Regular inspection of vehicles, require training for all commercial vehicle drivers, require adequate insurance for passengers of said vehicles or a bond to cover self insurance, enforced weight limits of commercial vehicles, and just for appearance sake require commercial tags on all commercial vehicles.

Now granted these requirements may be a inconvience as well as increase cost somewhat, but just think, they could create another enforcement group to monitor, those responsible for enforcement and those companies/individuals operating under the radar at present. Or they could just require documents to be presented each year when the vehicle tax is paid. Tell the highway and city police to enforce the requirements instead of struting around, picking their nose and scratching their arse.

[HaleySabai]

Yup, DEATH on WHEELS!......

[Rockhound]

^{I hate - amongst many other things - how they drive down the highways always in the outside lane at their maximum speed of 100 or 110km/h or whatever. Until they cut across the traffic to the left side/shoulder to go through the lights on red and then they cut back over to the outside again.}

^{Nothing will change immediately:. The governing bodies will have to get serious about it - as will the police. And even then it will take years of education and also a total attitude change in the Thai people.}

[Benmart]

These newcomers to Thailand...

OH well,

Welcome.

When we have been here so long that we think we know the outcome of various issues, perhaps it's best to step back and reflect on our own insignificance in this great, big universe.

New comers help drive change, while complacent naysayers fade into the darkness of their closed minds.

Peace All.

[DocN]

I am appalled by the fact that it took (insert number) accidents with (insert number) casualties in the last (insert number) months, for the Thai Transportminister to wake up...

[Benmart]

The transport ministry could do a lot to improve safety of commercial vehicles in Thailand, IF they had a mind to.Regular inspection of vehicles, require training for all commercial vehicle drivers, require adequate insurance for passengers of said vehicles or a bond to cover self insurance, enforced weight limits of commercial vehicles, and just for appearance sake require commercial tags on all commercial vehicles.

Now granted these requirements may be a inconvience as well as increase cost somewhat, but just think, they could create another enforcement group to monitor, those responsible for enforcement and those companies/individuals operating under the radar at present. Or they could just require documents to be presented each year when the vehicle tax is paid. Tell the highway and city police to enforce the requirements instead of struting around, picking their nose and scratching their arse.

I was in total agreement with your post, until I hit the acidic remark concerning struting, nose picking and arse scratching by the local constabulary. I see more farangs engaged in those behaviors than our BIB.

[Scott]

Posts deleted for a variety of reasons including all caps, one nonsensical post where the poster may have had his fingers on the wrong keys etc.

[drdoom6996]

Well done to the Transport Minister but you have to wonder why he's only just noticed that in Thailand rules are regularly ignored.

I can understand that he probably doesn't use minivans but he must have have seen something whilst on the roads that would give him a clue. Obviously now he won't see much apart from drivers waiting to continue their journeys after the VIP motorcade he's in has passed. Perhaps he's been a VIP for so long he's forgotten that the traffic isn't stopped for everyone.

The real problem which is mentioned on here frequently is that as well as regulations you need someone to enforce them.

The problem with that can probably best be shown by this picture.

Another instance of people who do not know what their job is instructing authorities to do the job they are paid to do. Nothing will change. No one is interested in enforcing the law. The law that has bee there for years.

[Halion]

Sadly a day late and a dollar short as is the norm in Thailand. Commendable as his observations may be he appears to have totally missed the most salient point. The real issue is with regard to the driving practice of these minivan drivers. What is he going to do about that. His current instructions may help to reduce injuries and save lives, if applied and enforced, however, he should be more concerned with the root cause.

[Papadragon]

One of the reasons we gave up out condo in Penang was the minibus journey between Penang and Hat Yai
In a 5+ year period I did it 22 times and my wife 70 times
There were a few good older drivers who we got to know quite well however the majority were young and showed absolutely NO consideration for their passengers !

One driver had actually fitted a small rally type steering wheel and was obviously intent on breaking the record for Hat Yai to Penang - we gave him a miss !

On another occassion a driver saw another van coming towards him - he swung over into the wrong lane and they went eye ball to eye ball till at the last minute he pulled back with the passengers screaming !
On several other occassions the driver was asked politely to slow down - a request which he laughed at and proceeded to go even faster - another pulled over, stopped and threw the passenger who complained, off the bus !
I nearly always booked the seat next to the driver with the safety belt and on one occassion had to keep nudging the driver to stop him falling asleep over the wheel.

I became increasingly concerned, not only for my own safety but for my wife's safety, she was risking her life twice a month with these Thai maniacs.
Travelling by any means in Thailand is dangerous but the minivans have to be the most dangerous of all !

Edited November 6, 2013 by Papadragon

[Jim walker]

Minivan drivers are above the law they can drive in any lane that they want and switch lanes as many times as possible and there is no speed limit on minivans, and after all this huffing and puffing nothing will change including minivan drivers behaviour.

[hgma]

if a ten year old. complains, year after year, about minivans, school buses and or samlor drivers, a 'stunned' minister is a minister without any connection with reality and his electoral

[crazydrummerpauly]

...how will this help if:

-the driver is drunk

-the driver is on drugs

-the driver has not slept in 24-48 hours

-the driver is emotionally unstable

...and the van flies off the road or the expressway or into oncoming traffic at 140 kilometers an hour......

Echoes my immediate thoughts precisely.

[Papadragon]

One of the reasons we gave up out condo in Penang was the minibus journey between Penang and Hat Yai

In a 5+ year period I did it 22 times and my wife 70 times

There were a few good older drivers who we got to know quite well however the majority were young and showed absolutely NO consideration for their passengers !

One driver had actually fitted a small rally type steering wheel and was obviously intent on breaking the record for Hat Yai to Penang - we gave him a miss !

On another occassion a driver saw another van coming towards him - he swung over into the wrong lane and they went eye ball to eye ball till at the last minute he pulled back with the passengers screaming !

On several other occassions the driver was asked politely to slow down - a request which he laughed at and proceeded to go even faster - another pulled over, stopped and threw the passenger who complained, off the bus !

I nearly always booked the seat next to the driver with the safety belt and on one occassion had to keep nudging the driver to stop him falling asleep over the wheel.

I became increasingly concerned, not only for my own safety but for my wife's safety, she was risking her life twice a month with these Thai maniacs.

Travelling by any means in Thailand is dangerous but the minivans have to be the most dangerous of all !

In addition to the above there's a noticeable difference to the way they drive in each country - in Malaysia they slow down and attract as little attention as possible.

However when they are in their own country anything goes - they are Gods and they know there's no chance they will ever be stopped and/or punished for their crazy dangerous driving.

After all everyone else on the Thai roads is doing exactly the same !

Edited November 6, 2013 by Papadragon

[kimamey]

Posts deleted for a variety of reasons including all caps, one nonsensical post where the poster may have had his fingers on the wrong keys etc.

Maybe they fell asleep drunk at the keyboard.

Amazingly the next post is all in caps. Don't let them beat you Scott.

[Maggusoil]

Seems the Thai can learn something from a very poor and under developed ASEAN Neighbor. And BTW, just about everyone I met spoke on average much better English, and many I met worked day time and went to study at night......English, Thai, French, World History, etc. Siem Reap will also designate a central staging area for tour buses and tuk tuk's and keep them from entering certain city center area's.

One of the dis-advantages of never being colonised or occupied like the others. You never have to learn another language. Much the same as China. . .

This IS Thailand. Like or lump it and its the way we are. Like it or lump it and if you lump it, its

Up to you! Right?

[ignis]

The most important item missing on the list is the tachometer .

How safe it a Mini Bus when the driver is on his last run at 9 pm ? he starts at 5 am every day ?

How safe is the Mini Bus passengers on some of these lang haul trips, 10 -12 hours with 3x 15 min rest stops [driver still working, filling up etc] and just the single driver ?..

When they came Law in Europe was a pain, I hated them, but I was young, even worse was France where we had to fill out a book as well, Driving most time in Holland would get stopped just for the tachometer checks..

Before the tachometer the driver was expected to drive regardless as to hours driving, or rest times... often drove for 20+ hours straight off.

[metisdead]

Another post in all caps has been removed. Turn off your Caps Lock button when posting.

[Torrens54]

Just when I start to despair that anyone will ever do anything about some of the lunatic drivers on Thai Roads, Mini Vans, Red Cars, Trucks,Motor Cycles...you name it, along comes the Minister For Transport who ignites the Light of Hope in my heart, that someone in authority will take some action!

Okay, so it may be a long overdue move but, give Khun Charchart credit for stepping up to the plate! Don't abuse the man, we all (me included) are very quick to moan about the dire state on our roads in Thailand and then when someone has the Testicular Fortitude to take some action to improve our chances of survival, we give him a hard time!

Khun Charchart deserves all the support we can give him in this campaign, so "Fair-Go!"

[cheshiremusicman]

Well done to minister, not many people "walk the shop floor"

Agree wholeheartedly! One small step for Thailand. Hopefully he can encourage (Force) his staff to do the same thing and report back to him.

A small light at the end of the tunnel, but a glimmer of hope. Let's not forget, that here in Thailand, it takes an awful lot of BALLS to stand out from the crowd; particularly if your Thai. Well done that man, let's hope he is an inspiration to others of the same ilk!

[OZEMADE]

Just when I start to despair that anyone will ever do anything about some of the lunatic drivers on Thai Roads, Mini Vans, Red Cars, Trucks,Motor Cycles...you name it, along comes the Minister For Transport who ignites the Light of Hope in my heart, that someone in authority will take some action!

Okay, so it may be a long overdue move but, give Khun Charchart credit for stepping up to the plate! Don't abuse the man, we all (me included) are very quick to moan about the dire state on our roads in Thailand and then when someone has the Testicular Fortitude to take some action to improve our chances of survival, we give him a hard time!

Khun Charchart deserves all the support we can give him in this campaign, so "Fair-Go!"

Yeah well take away his white cane and seeing eye dog, he has known about this for years and did nothing about it and a bit of BS in the media will do nothing to stop it in the future either.

Things will remain the same as they have because of the corruption in this country on every level.

A good example is to watch a Police escort of up to 8 busses doing 110 kph up the motorway spraying stones and crap all over cars as they pass them and they are about 5 metres apart from each other, (tail gating). If one had to hit the brakes there would be the biggest pileup and deaths of innocents you would ever see.

It all spin and hype, heard it all before, he is

[beowolf2012]

Here is another way to say it...

I'm come from Europe and safety is good, but if someone forgot then there is a rule. The rule is to make hole clip in the driver license. 3 hole and you lose the driver license.

That one thing Thailand can larm to make.

rule 1:

Thailand have to male this rule very effective to make driver to remember they can luse the driver license. Drunk driving then luse the license right away

Rule 2:

Raze the ticket - now 200-500 Thai bath raze it to 800-2000 Thai bath. all after what the driver have do. Payment at the police station. And use the thicket money to repair the roads.

Rule 3:

Police can take the car or truck if the driver no more have license.

fact is i have two children and i think for there’s safety every day....

Edited November 7, 2013 by metisdead
Oversize font reset to normal. Please do not post using overly large font.

[Traveling Sailor]

"Mr. Achsathai said that if any passengers have experienced minivans that do not comply by the safety procedure, they should call 1584 to inform the officials about the matter."

If everyone who experiences a minivan that does not comply were to call, the call line would experience MELTDOWN!

[ozyjon]

I can say i have travelled in one of these vans, i can say i have travelled in one of these vans once in my life and i'm still shaking from the experience, at least in a bigger bus there might be more protection in the case of a crash.

[Udox]

Yet another high ranking official who is 'suddenly' appalled and shocked to find out something terrible is happening which they have been responsible for, for quite some time

Exactly the same happened last week with the ferry disaster in Pattaya - officials were 'shocked' to learn that ferries were overcrowded and did not carry enough life jackets - something the rest of Thailand's citizens knew for years.

it's been said time and time again - any rule is useless unless it is enforced or even adhered to.

Those whose job it is to oversee such things are often the worse culprits.

Last week I saw a policeman riding his motorbike without a helmet and smoking a cigarette

Today I saw a police saloon car sit in the lane for turning left, holding up all the traffic behind him - then when the lights changed - he did what everyone else does and forced his way into the correct lane for going straight.

It ain't gonna change anytime soon but I wish people would be honest about it instead of stark denial.

[outsider]

Good morning krub Transport Minister Charchart Sittipan. I hope you had good sleep krub!

[anon210]

Just got back from Cambodia, 2nd trip in a month. Cambodia seems much more civilized than Thailand, and it's peope are much more safety aware than the Thai's. See they at least fear the law enforcement, have respect for the rules of law, no crazy drivers. They actually use their horn's freely to warn and self correct other drivers, not like Thailand where using the horn is considered a personal invitation to fight. Seems the Thai can learn something from a very poor and under developed ASEAN Neighbor. And BTW, just about everyone I met spoke on average much better English, and many I met worked day time and went to study at night......English, Thai, French, World History, etc. Siem Reap will also designate a central staging area for tour buses and tuk tuk's and keep them from entering certain city center area's. Large buses must have people ferried to and from a keep out area by tuk tuk or people can walk. Novel concept, Pattaya would benefit from such thinking.

Same thing in Philippines, although many of the issues of Thailand plague also bus drivers and transportation across the range. Drugged bus drivers are not a rare occurrence there.