29 killed in Thailand bus accident: police

[ginjag]

Next week I have to travel from Chiang Mai to Vientiane. I went to the bus station and asked all the bus companies if any of them have daytime busses. One had a bus that leaves in the afternoon and arrives in the middle of the night, the others said we no have.

Please - does anyone know of a bus I can take on my way back form Vientiane (friendship bridge) to Chiang Mai, that travels in the daytime?

Maybe this sounds stupid but fly to Udon, or Vientiane or even KKhen and get your visa KKhen and bus to Vientiane.

I am going to fly to Udon and was going to take a bus back to Chiang Mai. I guess maybe my question sounded stupid, but my point was, I believe daytime busses would be much safer than nighttime busses.

ps: I believe living in Thailand is great. I love it here. And I understand that safety and the infrastructure in western countries is not here. Sad to hear about the fatalities. Someone wrote the Thai people don't care, I don't believe that. This is the worst bus accident I heard about, I hope it is a wake up call to the bus companies and drivers.

Flying to Udon is definitely the safest option, but another solution would be to make daytime bus journeys over 2 even 3 days with an overnight stopover each way somewhere. Change your conception of the trip into a mini holiday. Relax and enjoy it instead of enduring an uncomfortable 12hrs + cramped up on a cold overnight bus seat worrying if you're about to die on every bend and if you're going to survive the journey! I try to do this when I visa run into Laos and have to stay over for a couple of nights so I dont overstay in Thailand before my booked flight home to the UK when my 3x60 day visa expires. I treat it not as an inconvenient visa run but as a holiday. Another problem is that u can freeze to death on these overnight bus trips at this time of year as the driver will not or cannot turn off the very efficient air conditioning in the more modern buses. They are warm and cosy in their separate cab in the front and dont care about the passengers freezing in the back. I had this problem just this week on a Sombat Nakhon Phanom to Chiang Rai bus, and I was only going as far as Udon Thani which arrived at 18.45! I was absolutely freezing wearing socks, shoes, jeans, 2 fleeces over my T shirt and a fleece hat! The 'steward' ignored my 'Naow mak mak' and 'Mai aow air krap' comments/requests from about 5pm onwards, and I even saw him opening the overhead air vents after passengers who had previously closed them got off the bus. Another safety plus about travelling by day bus is their crawling along picking up and dropping off students everywhere. This used to really annoy me but at least it keeps their speed down.

Winter (drawers on)

[Neeranam]

I am in shock, a good friend of mine was on that bus and died.

Nick Dunbar, R.I.P and condolences to his family.

[Emdog]

earlier post "Absolutely shocking". I wish it were. Human brain has evolved to habituate to circumstances, and the total lack of concern for safety here in Thailand would be one of those circumstances. Here such happenings are accepted as 'just one of those things". We have no say here, can institute no change. Protective mechanism leads those who have been here a long time to just shrug shoulders (if that) and perhaps say "Oh well, another one".

[Ghostnigel]

Until they start going after the owners with big lawsuits, nothing is going to change.

Brown envelopes have already seen to that one!

[FM505]

Tragic... All too common and avoidable. Not only the bus, but a nation out of control.

[ginjag]

I am in shock, a good friend of mine was on that bus and died.

Nick Dunbar, R.I.P and condolences to his family.

I am sorry for all on that bus, BUT when it comes more (close to home) as in your case it hurts even more, takes a long time to heal the wounds.

Have a better new year.

[skorchio]

2 words: absolutely shocking.

Unfortunately, 'absolutely normal' is also applicable.

[ginjag]

2 words: absolutely shocking.

Unfortunately, 'absolutely normal' is also applicable.

Fits the stats on road deaths --Thai 3rd highest in the world and if population-land area are considered could be near the worst.

[finnomick]

...And so the carnage has started and what a good opening score -- 29 dead in a single bus accident. Obviously the police safety caravan hadn't reached that far north. The longer I live here, the less I understand the people. I would have thought it would have been the reverse. Is it a case that you cannot bring back the dead so one doesn't bother to demand any actions ? I've just come back from our local town and already the traffic build-up has started. Time to park the pickup and stay at home so hopefully we avoid becoming a statistic....but it shouldn't be like this. What is it going to take to get the government to get off their lard-<deleted> and actually do something ( for the safety and benefit of the people )?

[Mangkhut]

Its terrible and very tragic News.

The police suspect that the driver felt asleep - the news says. Well - most of the long distance buses in Thailand are nightbuses and usually leaves at 6 - 9 o clock in the evening. and arrives their destinations in the morning. For sure there will be a problem with drivers being tired and thus there are dangers about the drivers falling asleep or not being attentative in the traffic. Last year I was with a group of people and we rented a minibus with driver and we were going from Chiang Mai to Pattaya. We left Chiang Mai around 10 pm and at around 1 am the driver who had been looking tired from the first moment admitted that he was tired, too tired to drive anymore. At least he was very honest - and the problem was solved by one of us in the Group took over the driving duties.

I also work many nightshifts (but not as a bus driver however) and its not easy to be rested and relaxed at 8 pm and ready to perform 100 % for 10-12 hours when you normally should be asleep. And I think this is the major issue here.

Many of the routes have a tight schedule as well and have to keep a speed that makes it even more risky.

Edited December 27, 2013 by Mangkhut

[cup-O-coffee]

Next week I have to travel from Chiang Mai to Vientiane. I went to the bus station and asked all the bus companies if any of them have daytime busses. One had a bus that leaves in the afternoon and arrives in the middle of the night, the others said we no have.

Please - does anyone know of a bus I can take on my way back form Vientiane (friendship bridge) to Chiang Mai, that travels in the daytime?

Maybe this sounds stupid but fly to Udon, or Vientiane or even KKhen and get your visa KKhen and bus to Vientiane.

I am going to fly to Udon and was going to take a bus back to Chiang Mai. I guess maybe my question sounded stupid, but my point was, I believe daytime busses would be much safer than nighttime busses.

ps: I believe living in Thailand is great. I love it here. And I understand that safety and the infrastructure in western countries is not here. Sad to hear about the fatalities. Someone wrote the Thai people don't care, I don't believe that. This is the worst bus accident I heard about, I hope it is a wake up call to the bus companies and drivers.

Good man, I don't think your post was stupid, true re safer daytime, but with a bad driver/company near the same.

In my opinion Thai people do care in general but are put off expressing their opinion. Rarely do you get feedback from Thai people they think it's wrong to ask or QUESTION. With Thailand being in the top 3 of deaths re road accidents wake up call has long been forgotten. Mostly words no action all be it limited.

Happy New Year mate.

Agreed! We butchered our own beef when I was a youngster. Never forgot how the other cows and bulls would just stand around watching us with their big, sad eyes whilst we finished the work, and they never once questioned or protested.

[Hawk]

As I have become accustomed to saying

"Thailand - a great place to die in"

Should be the new PR slogan.

Actually Thailand is not a great place to die in, its just a cheap one.

[friendphil]

Until they start going after the owners with big lawsuits, nothing is going to change.

Good point but nothing will happen because its likely the bus company owners are friends or relatives of influential people. The company owner may himself be an influential person.

Nothing changes in Thailand.

Yes. And, it's my understanding that many (most?) of the buses are government owned and operated. So, it would not be correct for them to go after themselves, now, would it?

[Hawk]

Is this really considered news in Thailand?

28 deaths not significant enough for you, eh?

He's talking about Thailand(Thai people) where its only considered as a 5 minute wonder, insignificant, because everyone watching firmly believes it will never happen to them, game on.

[Nemesis7]

Deepest condolence to the family members who are suffering the huge loss.

[Jeremy50]

Why hasn't this tragedy been reported in the local press? I can see no mention of it in the Bangkok Post. Can it really be possible that such loss of life on the roads doesn't make the headlines?

Meanwhile Thailand braces itself for the '7 dangerous days' on the roads. 7 days which are in fact only a little more dangerous than all the other days during the year. About 40 people die every day instead of the usual 30. It is the same during Sonkran, non-stop reporting of accidents on the radio for 10 days while for the rest of the year there is only silence.

My own rules for personal safety on the roads of Thailand are:

1 Never take a bus at night.

2.Never get in a mini van at any time.

3.Never get on a motorbike.

4.Only ever drive yourself.

5.Drive defensively.

6 Drive a brightly coloured car.

6.Use your horn.

Only the people of Thailand can change the catastrophic death toll on the roads. And most of them are just not interested.

[jerome2]

there are no 30m ravine on the petchabun-Lomsak-Loei motorway

[ttl]

Thailand firstly needs a concise publication such as the N.Z.Road code.(N.Z. Embassy could make some available) of course modified to suit.It should then be compulsory for ALL ( REPEAT ALL)who drive on the Roads

It then must be the first step in obtaining a drivers license. Only when questions selected from the context are answered correctly(no errors) would a license be considered..

At this point a practical driving test HAS to be passed.This to be done ON THE ROAD, not just on the test tracks (that are available in some districts )

Three attampts with failure means one is out for 12 months before another attempt.

In addition for Heavy Transport drivers a Log Book must be completed daily.Any infringement means instant on the spot ARREST and vehicle confiscation.

with the owner of the vehicle responsible,and subject to a heavy fine.

Another component for road safety is a vehicle WARRANT OF FITNESS.N.Z can again provide details of this scheme.Great business for the industry but would put many Thai vehicles off the road,and provide a better standard.

I live adjacent to a major highway and as this is the Sugar Cane season dozens of ,trucks pass by every day and night.Some are even X American Army vehicles,most of which are appear to be,almost dead and overloaded,struggle to take a small rise near us.many have no lights,are enveloped in a cloud of diesel smoke,

and with insecure loads which are shed as they drive.

Highway patrols do a great job,but their only apparant use is to escort VIPs at high speed with sirens blaring.There are 3 police road check points in the area set up with cones and lights,but 9 times out of 10 when I pass they are not manned.HUH!??Good time for BLOW IN THE BAG TESTS right now.

[simple1]

Thailand firstly needs a concise publication such as the N.Z.Road code.(N.Z. Embassy could make some available) of course modified to suit.It should then be compulsory for ALL ( REPEAT ALL)who drive on the Roads

It then must be the first step in obtaining a drivers license. Only when questions selected from the context are answered correctly(no errors) would a license be considered..

At this point a practical driving test HAS to be passed.This to be done ON THE ROAD, not just on the test tracks (that are available in some districts )

Three attampts with failure means one is out for 12 months before another attempt.

In addition for Heavy Transport drivers a Log Book must be completed daily.Any infringement means instant on the spot ARREST and vehicle confiscation with the owner of the vehicle responsible,and subject to a heavy fine.

Another component for road safety is a vehicle WARRANT OF FITNESS.N.Z can again provide details of this scheme.Great business for the industry but would put many Thai vehicles off the road,and provide a better standard.

I live adjacent to a major highway and as this is the Sugar Cane season dozens of ,trucks pass by every day and night.Some are even X American Army vehicles,most of which are appear to be,almost dead and overloaded,struggle to take a small rise near us.many have no lights,are enveloped in a cloud of diesel smoke,

and with insecure loads which are shed as they drive.

Highway patrols do a great job,but their only apparant use is to escort VIPs at high speed with sirens blaring.There are 3 police road check points in the area set up with cones and lights,but 9 times out of 10 when I pass they are not manned.HUH!??Good time for BLOW IN THE BAG TESTS right now.

Sorry all comments a total waste of time without actual law enforcment. It would be the same disaster on the roads, perhaps not on the same scale due to driver education, within our home countries without consistent and non corrupt traffic law enforcement.

Edited December 27, 2013 by simple1

[boone57]

You know..............some of you have some pretty good ideas and maybe some free time also. I wonder if you formed a commitee and networked to find one or more Thai nationals in a position to get you an appointment with the right department of government if you could emplement some or all of your concepts into some sort of action. Heck you might even end up creating some jobs for foriegners.

Personally I think that maybe the people in government that possese the power to make the right changes, can afford to take the airlines and are not very concerned about road fatalities that involve the poor.

That would be awesome if you guys with your education and experience could make a difference that would be reflected in the taffic death stats. You would not know who you saved, but you would have done something that I have always wanted to do, save a life.

I think a good start would be to create a schpeal about how making the roads safer would save the government money and benefit Thailand as a country.

[harber8]

And why would you drive a bus full of people if you're tired?

[Larry001]

Unbelievable the number of bus accidents in Thailand. I have see bus drivers do some absolutely unbelievable things, such as ripping off awnings of shops, going the wrong way down one way streets, through red lights.It just goes on and on. Another joke in Thailand.

[Fookhaht]

Mahasarakham University lost a professor and two university students. Unspeakably tragic to the Mahasarakham University family.

[harber8]

You know..............some of you have some pretty good ideas and maybe some free time also. I wonder if you formed a commitee and networked to find one or more Thai nationals in a position to get you an appointment with the right department of government if you could emplement some or all of your concepts into some sort of action. Heck you might even end up creating some jobs for foriegners.

Personally I think that maybe the people in government that possese the power to make the right changes, can afford to take the airlines and are not very concerned about road fatalities that involve the poor.

That would be awesome if you guys with your education and experience could make a difference that would be reflected in the taffic death stats. You would not know who you saved, but you would have done something that I have always wanted to do, save a life.

I think a good start would be to create a schpeal about how making the roads safer would save the government money and benefit Thailand as a country.

You're right. All 6 pages of comments already won't bring anyone back or save lives.

Your ideas are good but Thais are the greatest race on earth remember?! Accepting our input is mighty difficult for them and rarely happens. We see expat volunteer police but these are recruited in busy tourist areas where they are mainly policing farang. Not too many farang in rural areas where these disasters are usually happening.

My feeling is the current national unrest will eventually end up in foreign intervention. This intervention will eventually spill down to help many parts of Thai society not just road safety.

Edited December 27, 2013 by harber8

[webfact]

ACCIDENT
29 killed in bus tragedy in Phetchabun
Sanom Boonjanteuk
The Nation
December 27, 2013 5:19 pm



BANGKOK: -- A bus skidded off a local bridge and plunged down by a 50 meters, killing 29 passengers and seriously injured four others late on Thursday in Phetchabun's Lom Sak district.

The bus skidded off a local bridge at about 11pm on Thursday night, said Pol Capt Sawaeng Sangthong of the Ban Klang Police Station in the district. "It plunged down by about 50 metres," he said.

More than 100 rescue workers rushed to the scene to deliver assistance. However, with steep depth off the Huai Tong Bridge on the Lom Sak - Chum Phae Road, it was very difficult to stage rescue operations.

"We believe the bus was speeding at the time it reached a curve and steep bend," Sawaeng said.

He said police saw marks showing the bus had banged against barriers of the bridge.

The bus driver was identified as Surin Kaewmusee.

The bus, which belongs to the Sombat Tour Co Ltd, was servicing the Chiang Rai - Khon Kaen route at the time.

"All injured victims were sent to the Lomsak Hospital," Sawaeng said.


-- The Nation 2013-12-27

[Travelman868]

Words fail me. If this happened in NZ it would be considered almost a national disaster and there would be a royal commission established to determine causes.

If there were any discrepancies in the drivers log book, hours spent driving versus the legal allowed hours, vehicle maintenance logs or any other causes that could be attributed to the company or its managers, then manslaughter charges would be made.

In Thailand, it's just same <deleted>, different day.

Every week, sometimes more than once a week there is a major accident involving a bus or mini bus. The journey from Khon Khen to Chang Rai

is a monster. There is very little duel carriageway and overtaking in a car is difficult.

[fishhooks]

Life in Thailand is cheap, grieving families not wanting to create 'scene' bury their dead

and continue with life, no uproar, no graveness, no demand for investigation, and until

this situation will change where someone will have to be ultimately liable for the carnage

and lack of safety measures put in place to insure the safety of the traveling public, it will

continue to be like that.... life in Thailand is cheap...

Exactly and precisely why I have not renewed my Retirement Visa after a few years of validity.

I worked hard for 40 years and had hopes of living a reasonable and comfortable life here with my Thai Wife, but no, we are staying put where we are and will only visit this place for a matter of a few weeks each year to catch up with family.

It's just not worth the risk!

[thhMan]

Until they start going after the owners with big lawsuits, nothing is going to change.

Good point but nothing will happen because its likely the bus company owners are friends or relatives of influential people. The company owner may himself be an influential person.

Nothing changes in Thailand.

Wow ... Thats some fantastic news...

Who are these influential people you talk about. How to you get such amazing insight into why things happen here.

Is this REALLy why nothing changes in Thailand, or is it because some low brow retards assume to much?

[deepcell]

No words!

[geriatrickid]

Until family members of the 5% of the population who can bring about real change suffer similar fates, it is unlikely there will be any immediate change. It has to inconvenience or upset this segment first before they react.

It is unlikely that the families of Suthep, Thaksin, Abhisit, Korn, Chalerm, Prem et al take the bus or other more risky forms of transit. Perhaps, if some of the ministers of the various governments had ever taken rode a motorbike to work, they might be more sensitive to road conditions.

Edited December 27, 2013 by geriatrickid