Obec wants stringent rules for student trips

[Lite Beer]

Obec wants stringent rules for student trips
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) yesterday called for a stricter rule on students' educational trips, while a fund-raising account was opened to aid families of the Prachin Buri accident victims.

Obec's moves followed the horrific crash on Friday when a bus carrying Nakhon Ratchasima students on an educational trip crashed into a truck, in Prachin Buri, killing 15 people (including 10 students and two female teachers) and injured 35 others.

Ten injured persons - six of them in a serious condition - were still being treated at Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital yesterday, said Boonman Khathong, Obec's acting director for the Nakhon Ratchasima Primary Educational Service Area 7.

Boonman's office also opened a bank account (052740839502) at Government Savings Bank to raise donations for the injured persons' medical bills and provide assistance money to the families of the deceased, he said. People could call 044-477014, extension 18, for details.

After attending the funeral for 10 deceased students of Ban Dong Lhob School at Wat Mai Samakkheetham in tambon Chong Maew of Lam Thamenchai district yesterday, Obec deputy chief Rojana Kitcharoen said the commission had urged stricter regulations in arranging educational trips and prioritising the safety of students and teachers.

Obec would give the injured Bt3,000 each and Bt5,000 to the relatives of the deceased. There would be a compensation of Bt900,000 for each deceased teacher if they were members of the teachers and educational personnel funeral assistance fund, he added. At the funeral, Tambon Chong Maew Municipality also provided Bt100,000 in funeral assistance money.

Meanwhile, Nakhon Ratchasima Office of Insurance Commission director Pornpayong Buasri said a compensation of Bt550,000 each would be paid to the relatives of the 15 deceased people from insurance policies. The relatives of deceased teachers and students would each get an additional Bt80,000 from an accident insurance policy. Officials were looking up documents to determine compensation payments. The injured persons' medical bills would be covered by related insurance policies, she added.

In Prachin Buri, where six student victims remained at Nadee Hospital, parents and relatives said they did not want schools to host any educational trips that required travelling long distances for students and teachers, as too often there were accidents on such trips.

-- The Nation 2014-03-02

[noitom]

Condolences to the families. Thai transport officials should press companies for vehicle maintenance, standards, and regulations. Fine them and jail them if they violate laws and rules. Keep Thai vehicles safe for the road.

[stubuzz]

The article only mentioned compensation. What about the stringent rules?

[Jessi]

It all comes back to corruption, too much money changing hands.

[Artisi]

Bus accidents happen all over the world, however accidents are accidents whereas most so called bus accidents in Thailand come down to poor maintenance, poor driving and spupidity.

Time to get tough on the bus companies/owners and drivers.

[fleeing]

The article only mentioned compensation. What about the stringent rules?

They'll announce the stringent rules when they get around to thinking of some.

In the mean time they thought it important to announce that they wanted some stringent rules, at some point.

Terribly sad that it takes an incident like this to produce what amounts to a lot of nothing, but we should be used to it by now.

[leggo]

It is reported that the driver of the bus was not licensed and fled the scene - typical cowardly action.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 2 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[chainarong]

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Bus accidents happen all over the world, however accidents are accidents whereas most so called bus accidents in Thailand come down to poor maintenance, poor driving and spupidity.
Time to get tough on the bus companies/owners and drivers.

I think the construction could be upgraded , they , like all busses explode when in a high speed impact, seat belts need fitting ,however the rest needs to stay together for them to be effective, some western Euro guidelines would be handy.

[kuiburi]

Our kids are the most precious things we have in life and they should be protected at any cost .

Government should invest in decent transportation and a 2 driver system on long trips .

I am worried sick when our kids go on a schooltrip .

On 1 trip they got loaded in a 30 year old 10 wheel dumptruck (from the government )

Although the kids had a lot of fun , this is not the way to transport people .

[ChrisY1]

The 3rd and 2nd last paragraphs indicate the real level of concern......how much money will be paid....!

As long as compensation is paid.....all crimes seem to be overlooked.

Hopefully.....they go after the bus company owner....however...it's very doubtful there will be much trouble for him or her....even though they employed an unlicensed driver on this bus!

[JoeThePoster]

Yada yada yada, blah blah blah.

Every morning thousands of students take life-threatening journeys to basically learn nothing.

[HerIndoors]

Whilst travelling in a car behind a school bus 'convoy', we couldn't keep up with them they were going so fast. They thundered through built up areas and intersections at around 120 kph... but it was safe cos the BIB had their car parked across the intersection to stop oncoming traffic.... what a joke !!!

[Travel Dude]

In Europe there needs to be a distance of 100 meters between two busses when driving in the highway. This law was adopted about 30 years ago after a dramatic accident.

In Thailand I reel at seeing those lines of buses following each other... One emergency stop needed and all the other busses crush into each other.

Politics, please action instead of words

[seajae]

well lets see, roadworthy busses, licenced & experienced drivers, strict speed limits, no overcrowding, all these would be a great start. Then there could be huge fines and mandatory jail time for company bosses/bus owners that did not have these rules followed

[LomSak27]

They used to be called Thai Tiows; everyone jumps in a bus and heads off across the country with bongos or karoeke blazing - education is likely involved although I can't really explain where

But this should have happend 30 years ago. NOW Its a tradition .... it is part of the culture .....

so I do not think you can touch it .... even if you want to save lives

[Tomtomtom69]

Our kids are the most precious things we have in life and they should be protected at any cost .

Government should invest in decent transportation and a 2 driver system on long trips .

I am worried sick when our kids go on a schooltrip .

On 1 trip they got loaded in a 30 year old 10 wheel dumptruck (from the government )

Although the kids had a lot of fun , this is not the way to transport people .

What I found interesting is the very different Vietnamese perspective on people travelling at the back of pickups, trucks etc.

An elderly Vietnamese woman on a bus from Phnom Penh to Saigon remarked when she saw a truck full of factory workers standing at the back, as we neared the Bavet industrial zone less than 10km from the Vietnamese border how people sitting or even standing on the back of trucks etc. was "barbaric" and how those factory workers looked like "animals caged in a zoo exhibit".

Indeed I have not once seen any Vietnamese travelling at the back of, or on top of any public or private pickup truck, truck or other type of vehicle with 4 or more wheels. It's kind of strange when you consider that Vietnam is even poorer and the driving even more chaotic than Thailand, but about the craziest things you'll see in Vietnam is a family of 5 on a scooter, but even that has largely been confined to rural areas now.

In a sense, Thailand looks less developed than Vietnam on this issue.

[upena]

It is a sad shame and OBEC will do absolutely nothing.

[Fookhaht]

"In Prachin Buri, where six student victims remained at Nadee Hospital, parents and relatives said they did not want schools to host any educational trips that required travelling long distances for students and teachers, as too often there were accidents on such trips."

Most of these trips have very little to do with education.

They're just an excuse for kids to get out of classes, and teachers to put off their much-needed lessons for another day or another week.

Very similar to "seminars" for government officers.

It's the Land of "Form Without Substance" when it comes to any government-related enterprise, including the educational system.

[tiffanystoyz]

I offered my services free to Thai officials to help bring this under control. I have driven a million and a half plus miles without an accident as a professional truck driver. Just a few simple things could reduce this carnage by 75% and not cost the government a single satong. Just by charging passengers 1 baht per rider on buses and cabs. Enough would be made to make it safer for all.

[Mudcrab]

Our kids are the most precious things we have in life and they should be protected at any cost .

Government should invest in decent transportation and a 2 driver system on long trips .

I am worried sick when our kids go on a schooltrip .

On 1 trip they got loaded in a 30 year old 10 wheel dumptruck (from the government )

Presumably you already have your ticket for you and the kids to the nanny state?

If you are so concerned why did you allow your children to get in to the dump truck?

We often see this sort of critical posting here......someone should do something about XYZ situation .....as long as it isn't me...that would be called being personally responsible - lets just blame the Government.

[Mudcrab]

well lets see, roadworthy busses, licenced & experienced drivers, strict speed limits, no overcrowding, all these would be a great start. Then there could be huge fines and mandatory jail time for company bosses/bus owners that did not have these rules followed

and then....and then...and then....we would have the country that we left to come here in the first place!!!!

[kimamey]

Bus accidents happen all over the world, however accidents are accidents whereas most so called bus accidents in Thailand come down to poor maintenance, poor driving and spupidity.

Time to get tough on the bus companies/owners and drivers.

The Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) yesterday called for a stricter rule on students' educational trips,

And where did he call for this? Presumably not to the minister for transport. Words speak louder than actions here.

RIP

[Sakeopete]

These crazy bus and van accidents are why I refuse to let my children go in them my wife or I take the kids ourselves to school trip destinations. We are not alone many other parents do the same thing my kids are not allowed in a vehicle without a seatbelt that is mandatory.

[Scott]

A post with messed up quotes has been deleted.

[kuiburi]

Our kids are the most precious things we have in life and they should be protected at any cost .

Government should invest in decent transportation and a 2 driver system on long trips .

I am worried sick when our kids go on a schooltrip .

On 1 trip they got loaded in a 30 year old 10 wheel dumptruck (from the government )

Presumably you already have your ticket for you and the kids to the nanny state?

If you are so concerned why did you allow your children to get in to the dump truck?

We often see this sort of critical posting here......someone should do something about XYZ situation .....as long as it isn't me...that would be called being personally responsible - lets just blame the Government.

NOPE , i want my kids to grow up here . i myself transport school kids in my old pick-up truck because there is no other way of transport here on short trips ,

What I try to explain is that it would be better if the government had a strict system for schooltrips .

Like decent busses and drivers .

About responsibility , Anybody that is in my car is my responsibility when I am behind the wheel .

[Langsuan Man]