Thai Transport minister pledges to install sensors to warn motorists of incoming trains

[webfact]

Transport minister pledges to install sensors to warn motorists of incoming trains



BANGKOK: -- Transport minister ACM Prajin Juntong today pledged to introduce sensor system to warn motorists of incoming trains on railway crossing following today’s train and truck crash that resulted in the death of five people, and over 20 injuries.

ACM Prajin said “In light of recent accidents, we are looking into installing sensors to supplement the available warning system. These sensors will be strategically placed approximately 1 km from railroad crossings and will trigger aural and illuminated warning systems which will give motorists advanced warning of an approaching train.”

Today’s fatal collision has been the third accident where trains have collided with other vehicles in the space of just one week in the country.

Five persons, who included the train driver, two mechanics, a monk and a passenger, died in today’s collision.

The three collisions occurred in Phetchaburi province, Phromphiram district in Pitsanulok province and Khon Kaen province and all resulted in many injuries and fatalities.

The State Railway of Thailand has released statistics where trains have collided with other vehicles for 2014 that show a total of 127 collisions.

In all, 127 people have died and 91 have suffered injuries in train related accidents which has prompted the Ministry of Transport to look into ways to improve the situation.

Some of the devices that are currently being examined are sensors and advanced warning light systems.

The recent spate of train related accidents has also prompted the State Railway of Thailand to look into the installation of a total of 1,359 barriers at railroad crossings all over the country.

These barriers however, are estimated to cost a total of 5.4 billion Baht and the government has approved a budget of only 403 million Baht for the year 2015 for barrier construction.

This budget will only allow around 130 railroad crossings to be fitted with barriers, a railway official said.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/transport-minister-pledges-install-sensors-warn-motorists-incoming-trains/


-- Thai PBS 2014-10-31

[coobah666]

How about installing sensors in these peoples brains

[terryp]

if these donkeys cant figure out that a huge train is going to smash into them let it carry on...as thailand has more than enough brain dead idiots

[Robby nz]

Will it make that much difference ?

Not when people ignore.

But as long as they have a little lady praying for safety like the one on the right of the photo everything should be OK.

[BSJ]

How about a rubber mallet that pops out of the headlining in trucks. When the driver doesn't take caution or stop at a rail xing he gets a whack in the back of the head to remind him trucks stop for trains, not the other way around! The truck owner pays for it, not the government.

[Fiddlesticks]

Does anyone really think that the problem is that the people didn't KNOW to watch out for trains???? Really! People KNOW that riding a motorcycle without a helmet drastically increases your likelihood of death in a motorcycle accident but do they pay attention? Hell no! People KNOW that driving drunk severely impairs one's ability to drive and risks injury to self and others. Do they pay attention? Hell no! Putting additional sensors at railroad crossings will not change the stupidity of the driver one iota nor is it likely to save lives. ENFORCEMENT OF TRAFFIC LAWS DETERS STUPID, SELFISH BEHAVIOR and saves lives. So Thailand, ENFORCE YOUR LAWS!

[kurnell]

It takes a special type of moron to get hit by a train. Here there seems to be a plentiful supply

[NongKhaiKid]

There's a crossing on the Nong Khai Highway about 5 mins from my home which is equipped with red lights, an audible warning and drop barriers which are unfortunately only off set half barriers, one for northbound traffic and one for southbound, so there's a gap between.

When the warning starts I've seen cars speed up to try and beat the barriers which occasionally get ' taken out ' but the worst are motor cyclists who right up to the last minute and with the train bearing down still swerve through the gap.

How does the ACM plan to legislate for road users like these ?

All sorts of warnings are fine but the problem is getting people to obey them just as it is with road traffic signs, traffic lights etc.

[Noi657]

Look left, look right, all clear? Go! Look left, look right, train approaching? Stop!

[RustBucket]

Typical reaction of the unintelligent in positions of power...... Just throw money at the problem and hope it goes away.

Well it won't go away.

The best thing to do is sack these idiots making up the remedies and replace them with someone who has a smattering of an education.

[NongKhaiKid]

Look left, look right, all clear? Go! Look left, look right, train approaching? Stop!

Train approaching, it's ok I can beat it.

[ezzra]

Will be much better to install sensors in the transport ministry to warn the public of incompetent

and useless pencil pushers in that ministry that didn't think to do just hat long time ago

and waited for a tragedy to occur to come up with this novelty of an idea...

[MESmith]

Already got my sensors fitted.

2 eyes

[bapoboy]

Does anyone really think that the problem is that the people didn't KNOW to watch out for trains???? Really! People KNOW that riding a motorcycle without a helmet drastically increases your likelihood of death in a motorcycle accident but do they pay attention? Hell no! People KNOW that driving drunk severely impairs one's ability to drive and risks injury to self and others. Do they pay attention? Hell no! Putting additional sensors at railroad crossings will not change the stupidity of the driver one iota nor is it likely to save lives. ENFORCEMENT OF TRAFFIC LAWS DETERS STUPID, SELFISH BEHAVIOR and saves lives. So Thailand, ENFORCE YOUR LAWS!

Edited October 31, 2014 by bapoboy

[meatboy]

5.4billion cheaper to build a flyover.YOU CANNOT EDUCATE MUTTON

[bapoboy]

do something so no more lives are lost.

[ramrod711]

R.I.P. to the dead. Outrage? you haven't seen outrage yet....wait until the bidding process starts for the sensors, then the real dissent will begin.

[Commerce]

5.4 Billion for 1,359 barriers equates to 4 million Baht per crossing, or 2 million per side. That's ludicrous! 2 million for up and down barrier poles?

Cheaper to build small bridges over the top; or dig underneath with tunnel supports... especially at Burmese worker rates. They'd be crying out for such work at those prices... and somewhere new for graffito too!

[kmj]

if these donkeys cant figure out that a huge train is going to smash into them let it carry on...as thailand has more than enough brain dead idiots

Except in the last accident that killed 5, the driver of the vehicle didn't die only people on the train I think... so the 'brain dead idiot' survived

Edited October 31, 2014 by kmj

[BirdsandBooze]

No matter what steps are taken to prevent it people will still drive through crossings when they know that a train is imminent. Every year back in the UK there are a number of collisions at crossings with barriers, flashing lights and an audible warning because drivers decided they couldn't be bothered to wait for the train to pass and drove round the barrier onto the line.

[ratcatcher]

Thais become anxious and frustrated at the approach of a train and rush to make the crossing. Trains in Thailand are less than a quarter of a mile long at most and most trains pass the crossing in less than 1 minute.

Some North American freight trains can be two miles long and take 10 minutes or more to pass over a crossing. That's where people get tired of waiting, here it's just a few moments.

As others have said, people gambling their lives with a moving train deserve to lose. No sympathy. The truck driver in Khon Kaen who caused the deaths of five people should do jail time and probably will.

[Thormaturge]

The problem with these situations (as with war) is that the dead can't do the lecture circuit informing people how being killed sucks.

The cause is a national trait: lack of empathy.

Edited October 31, 2014 by Thormaturge

[chainarong]

Well there is a market for sensors, so one would expect these to disappear very quickly if not secured properly and maybe resold back to the Rail system

[ratcatcher]

Well there is a market for sensors, so one would expect these to disappear very quickly if not secured properly and maybe resold back to the Rail system

How about the drivers of vehicles approaching railway crossings use their own sensors?

In some countries it is referred to as common sense.

[daveAustin]

do something so no more lives are lost.

No sheet, Sherlock. Unfortunately, where some locals are concerned, you could make the train pass a crossing at a snail's pace with a mile-high barrier and they would still find a way to get themselves killed. It's called Darwinism.

[kotsak]

You can't fix stupid!

[kannot]

Will it make that much difference ?

why 1.JPG

Not when people ignore.

But as long as they have a little lady praying for safety like the one on the right of the photo everything should be OK.

just about sums up the mentality Id say.

[kannot]

Already got my sensors fitted.

2 eyes

I can better that 2 eyes and 2 ears

[kannot]

No matter what steps are taken to prevent it people will still drive through crossings when they know that a train is imminent. Every year back in the UK there are a number of collisions at crossings with barriers, flashing lights and an audible warning because drivers decided they couldn't be bothered to wait for the train to pass and drove round the barrier onto the line.

I would suggest you read this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_level_crossing_accidents#Thailand

Then notice Thailand has only two recorded incidents hahahahahaha 39 and 27 killed I believe all the others we read about "just didnt happen" maybe the police chief has already informed wiki not to print this as it makes Thai look stupid.

Uk deaths 1 a year for a long time, Thai deaths???? in the 20.s+ at a time.

[gk10002000]

Sadly, I am pretty sure that whatever is installed, unless it is very very smalle, is likely to get stolen and sold for scrap or whatever. Times are tough.