Thai Transport adopts safety standard on double-decker bus

[webfact]

Transport adopts safety standard on double-decker bus



BANGKOK: -- The Land Transport Department (LTD) is in the process of putting in place new stricter standards for double-decker passenger vehicles.

These new standards will take into consideration both the structural requirements as well as the materials used in the construction of such vehicles.

Director-general of the Land Transport Department Adsathai Ratanadilok na Phuket stated that the transport department is on the progress of implementing new stricter standards for all types of passenger vehicles in particular double-decker passenger buses.

These measures are aimed at addressing the increase in incidents of accidents involving such vehicles in the country.

They have also called on educational establishments that specialize in automotive engineering to study all aspects of vehicular engineering and make recommendations.

The study will look into ways of improving construction methods as well the materials used. New factors under consideration are the proposed installation of safety belts and secure anchoring of seats to vehicle chassis and flame proof materials to be used in passenger cabins.

On top of all this, the LTD will require all double-decker passenger vehicles to pass an inspection by independent automotive engineering education establishments on top of the inspection by an authorized engineer which was the only prerequisite used in the past.

All this measures will help to increase safety standards for all passenger vehicles and they plan to have all of them in place by the end of the year.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/transport-adopts-safety-standard-double-decker-bus/


-- Thai PBS 2014-04-15

[Lou Roobprom]

They also need to make ALL drivers of public vehicles go through intensive training. These accidents are caused by drivers

[retell]

Well since Thailand is not the only country in the world that built busses some other countrys have many years of experience designing and building complete ones

They could just ask for expertise from one of those companys

[escapetheratrace4life]

Solution: Apply a comprehensive driving qualification process - one that takes more than a few minutes to complete.

[clockman]

What about the ones already on the road! These have been built to poor standards. Too high and narrow. At speed you can see them tilting.

[noitom]

They are adopting and "on top of this."

[NongKhaiKid]

I'm sure all operators will comply fully and all regulations will be rigorously enforced

[trainman34014]

Everything you read here is about million Baht 'studies' to improve something, or some department you never heard of is 'in the process' of sorting out the problems that have been around in this country since the invention of the wheel. It's easy to sort out these matters if the Political will is there to start with....but it isn't. Just a continuous stream of lip service comprised of jargon and lies to appease the public. Meanwhile; more will die in Bus crashes...guaranteed.

[horsewell]

It's because "money is god", I hear that a lot from my Thai friends. While it doesn't matter about vehicle checks, training, laws or fines. As long as those people in places of authority don't take action to make sure that drivers are well trained, vehicles are well looked after and all the proper safety checks and balances are met there will be no end to the carnage on the roads. However, it's not just the vehicles the state the roads is important too.

Edited April 15, 2014 by horsewell

[PatOngo]

I hope the busses will be blessed so they can be "lucky" in the drivers they inherit.

[chainarong]

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Well since Thailand is not the only country in the world that built busses some other countrys have many years of experience designing and building complete ones
They could just ask for expertise from one of those companys

They probably have, then reduced the total upgrade to suit the financial structure of the bus companies, this in turn gives a sub-standard construction , but better than before , the problem with buses, regardless of where in the world, they all seem to disintegrate on impact, so driver training ,as mentioned, is paramount.

[edgarfriendly]

No, Just blame the buses and/or roads...

the death toll has 'NOTHING' to do with terrible, dishonest, drunk, caffeine/amphetamine addicted 'drivers' who will run away from the vehicle they just crashed killing everyone on board.

While having 'nong' rifle through everyones bags & pockets before the 'authorities' turn up and begin rifling through pockets/bags themselves!

[slapout]

Safety standards are just like traffic laws, and other rules that apply to any part of, doing businesses in this country, virtually no constent enforcement, monitoring, nor upgrade to existing vehicles, facilities, or those charged to ensure change take place.

Another attempt to get financing to reinvent a program developed, monitored and improved by various nations, whose other product, Thailand has become expert at making copies of.

[ChrisY1]

Should be interesting to go over these standards when they come out.....

Maybe they're getting the message finally....however, a 4.0m high bus with 40+ people on board, racing along at 100+kph will more than likely disintergrate on impact with a solid object, no matter how it's built..

[silverhawk_usa]

As usual, a misleading or false headline. The headline; "Transport Adopts Safety Standard..." .

The story; "The Land Transport Department (LTD) is in the process of putting in place new stricter standards" AND "the transport department is on the progress of implementing new stricter standards"

We know how long the 'process' can take before any adoption and then enforcement(?).

[Luk Mhee]

For starters they can change the air suspenstion (which is actually ment for rough terain) to hydraulic, and fit bigger suspenstion struts. and make sure the drivers dont drive bare-foot like they do in BBK

[marko kok prong]

They should have released this on april 1st.

[a99az]

Solution: Apply a comprehensive driving qualification process - one that takes more than a few minutes to complete.

Now thats a good idea, then Thais could hold a driving license worth as much as the plastic the licence is made of.

[jaiyen]

We always pay the bit extra and travel Green Bus. A new single decker and good service and comfortable.

[crazyguyinthailand]

My bus crashed once in Thailand(not a double decker)after driving over a big dog, the wheel was lose and we later crashed even though they had changed the wheel(Long story) but the driver looked so tired he drank easily over 8 red bulls and 3 more after changing bus(everybody were chocked that the same driver drove the new bus haha he looked so zombie tired)2 tourist got minor inguries from the broken windows. anyway when it happens. you feel helpless It dosnt matter if youre the biggest strongest guy and lift maximum weights in the gym. you will fly out of your seat and even harder without seatbelt. BTW without those trees many in the bus would not live today, these trees are incredibly strong, first they bent and then they lifted the bus up again, otherwise we would smash into traffic on the opposite side of the road. I ALWAYS use seatbelt after that feeling. people can say what they I couldnt care less

Edited April 15, 2014 by crazyguyinthailand

[harada]

One recommendation should be that the front windows not be covered in advertising stickers, leaving a very small uncovered area for the driver to see through.

[Artisi]

The cause of the high accident rate has nothing to do with the roads, design, or the drivers, everyone has overlooked the most important factor that causes all accidents, "brake failure".

[Spoonman]

all the accidents seem to be caused by failing brakes. how will improving the core structure of the vehicle fix the brake problem ?

[Borzandy]

One recommendation should be that the front windows not be covered in advertising stickers, leaving a very small uncovered area for the driver to see through.

The Thai driver doesn't need to see through the front window, he knows the way......

[klauskunkel]

You can adopt anything under the sun which will make you appear proactive, international and all-around progressive. You still can't/won't enforce any of those standards...

[upena]

From today -

39 hurt in Saraburi double-decker bus accident

[ThaiTrav]

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One recommendation should be that the front windows not be covered in advertising stickers, leaving a very small uncovered area for the driver to see through. width=25 alt=thumbsup.gif>

Oh ...you forgot about the plastic flower pots they like to put on the dashboards ,that wave the petal like leaves up and down . They're great things to look as well as the dangling flower wreath as a driver ,especially when the tree ,or other car is headed at you at 150 plus kph and your sitting on the same. So Smart!

[thesweetsoul]

Ahhh...they're going for the stricter standards option.

?.

Shouldn't there just be 1 option of standards? Safe or not Safe.

Are there levels?

1. Super Strictly Safe.

2. Safe-ish.

3. Bit Risky.

4. Rolling the Dice.

Come on...it should be pass/fail, to an International standard.

[rose496900]

They also need to make ALL drivers of public vehicles go through intensive training. These accidents are caused by drivers

I agree. I am Thai and I live in the UK. now. The Thai drivers are so lack of dicipline and consideration to the traffic. I think 90 % of the accidents are not from the vehicles but from the bad drivers.

[retell]

When will seatbelt use in taxis become obligatory?

guess ... 1986

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