Minivan, bus and road accidents

[Bristolian]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... ing-misery
Published: 1 Apr 2013 at 00.00

Songkran exodus will again bring misery

Shocking results have been revealed in a joint research study conducted by the Thailand Accident Research Centre (TARC) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and Thai Roads Foundation last year.

The study, which was partly funded by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, found that at least 53% of vans and at least 67% of buses drive over the speed limit on the highways and motorways in Thailand. Speed surveys of buses and vans were done quarterly in 2012 on four major national highways (Highway 1, 34, 35 and 338) and on one motorway (Motorway Highway 7).

Driving over the speed limit resulted in a higher risk of road crashes and more severe consequences. As the speed of a vehicle increases, the driver tends to have less control and the chances of taking evasive action diminishes as well. This greatly increases the risk of an accident.

The impact of a collision that a vehicle travelling at a higher speed incurs is much higher than the impact of collision that a vehicle travelling at a lower speed incurs - the severity of injury greatly increases as the impact of collision increases. This is why speeding results in more severe accidents.

The current trend of speeding by bus and van drivers is a serious threat to public safety on the road, especially as the Songkran holiday approaches.

Public transport is the common mode of intercity travel and 87% of the people who use public transport catch either buses or vans running on fixed and non-fixed routes.

Road accidents are considered a primary cause of death in Thailand and speeding has been identified as the key contributing factor in road accidents. What is more concerning is that road accidents here are most evident during the Songkran holiday season and the New Year holiday celebrations.

The Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand (Emit) states that the total number of people who died and were injured in road crashes over the Songkran holiday last year _ just a span of seven days (between April 11 and 17) _ was 27,881.

If the current trend of speeding by bus and van drivers continues, then travelling on buses and vans cannot be considered safe during the coming Songkran holiday. Since road transport is the only major way of getting to most places in Thailand, people will have no choice but to use the unsafe buses and vans to get to their destinations. Of course it is important to note that there are other reasons besides speeding for buses and vans to be considered unsafe.

To avoid frequent stopping at gas stations, many vans have an extra gas cylinder inside the vehicle. When fully loaded with passengers and gas, these vans reach a weight of about 3,500kg, which is way over the allowed weight limit of 2000kg. The extra weight makes the vans highly unstable and unsafe and increases the chance of an accident.

Double-deck buses are used as tour buses and also on fixed routes. Investigators in many accidents involving double-deck buses found that many of them exceeded the maximum height of 3.5 metres, with some towering up to 5m high. The extra height weakens the superstructure of a bus, making it unstable and prone to rolling over, which is why the sight of over-turned double-deck buses in Thailand is quite common.

Traffic authorities are planning to implement UNECE Regulation No.R66 which will make it mandatory for buses to go through a test of the strength of the superstructure.

Road accidents have a negative socio-economic impact on the victim, victim's family and the national economy. It may even push people into poverty. Tourism plays a pivotal role in the economy but unsafe road transport may drive away tourists, which will be felt in the pocket.

Those concerned must take action now to reduce the amount of road accidents. Since there are only a few days left before Songkran, nothing drastic can be done such as weighing all vans or testing the strength of all double-deck buses, but some preventive measures can still be taken to at least minimise some of the road accidents during this coming holiday season.

Among them are strictly enforcing the speed limit and other traffic laws and campaigning against drunk driving to ensure holidaymakers are able to reach their destinations safe and sound to enjoy the water festival with joy and happiness. Passengers should also take part by encouraging drivers to follow the traffic rules

[usual suspect]

I'm not sure if there maybe a section for the minivan tales of woe here on the Forum..? But here's today's account of the half-wit driver in charge of an orange/blue striped van + passengers inbound to HH.. ETA ~ 2pm.
Checked mirror as about to go over railway bridge coming into Cha-Am..oh, here we go..a minivan on my bumper..no way can I move for him, & no way can he pass..but true to form as I have 2 vehicles in front of me & we are all passing a line of others he starts flashing at me..T**SER!
His next move was to swerve to the left, & undertake everyone..now he caused mayhem for motorbikes about to join the main drag at the Honda shop on the bend..still accelerating towards standing traffic (due to the lights being on red). After they turn to green he then pulls in on the left for passengers to get on/off..we pootle-on by.
Halfway between HH & CA I'm in the middle lane slowly catching up to a line of others..who by now are starting to pass the big yellow truck that waters the central-res...Oh FFS..our 'hero' is only barrelling up on our right & due to us all bunched-up passing the water-dispenser, he cannot push-in as is the norm...& has to slam-all-on to prevent a collision with afore mentioned truck..this water-truck has it's yellow flashing lights going, I twigged it a Km away..So what was the dip-s*** driver thinking? Do they need Breath-tests? Drug-tests?..or brain-cell tests?
If you were indeed in this particular minivan..award yourself a 'stiff' drink.

As I know many of you have similar tales..maybe you could share them..??

[Dannie Boy]

Do they need Breath-tests? Drug-tests?..or brain-cell tests?

All three - first test positive, second test positive, third test, erm let's try that one again as I didn't get a reading first time!!

All joking aside, you see similar every week with these idiots and its no wonder they get such bad publicity.

[PeteC]

I think we should torture them. Pete

[buksida]

Two killed, 12 hurt in van-truck crash
Two people were killed and 12 others injured when a passenger van slammed into a 10-wheel truck on Sunday morning in Rayong province, reports said.

The Ramkhamhaeng University-Lat Phrao van crashed into the truck on Klaeng road in Wang Chan district.

The injured people were rushed to hospital.

According to the reports, the passengers were heading to Rayong for a vacation prior to the accident.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... ruck-crash

[Terry]

re the last posting by usual suspect above...........

Now that I am on my weekly commute again, to and from Bangkok, I regularly see these bastards and can only fear for the lives of the passengers.

Despite promises of regulation etc etc, these cowboys are still risking the lives of all and sundry on the roads of Thailand.

My advice - give way to them and let them get on with it - even if it makes you want to get into your own session of road rage.

[Nereus]

........................My advice - give way to them and let them get on with it - even if it makes you want to get into your own session of road rage.

Yes absolutely correct, but it is not always possible to get out of their way as they weave across all 3 lanes.

I witnessed something on Rama 2 last week that I have not seen before. A cop in one of those highly marked "Highway Police" cars had a driver bailed up! Just after passing him an imbecile in a big truck passed me crossing back and forth across the 3 lanes. The next thing the cop went hurtling past me after the idiot. He forced him off to the shoulder and then made him follow him until there was a safe and clear place to stop. I felt like stopping and giving the cop a bonus!

Yesterday I drove back to Bangkok and north of Phetchaburi on the southbound side of the road there was a pile up of at least 5 cars telescoped one behind the other completely blocking the road, resulting in a tail back about 5 or 6 Kms long. They seem to have absolutely no idea of stopping distances at any speed, let alone the pace along that road.

[Dr Mike]

In China, whee I am now, the cops are real 'Kick-ass-cops" They are VERY active and the local chinese and ex-pats have to follow the same rules. Additionally, a lot of traffic supervision is done by cameras. If you offend and are caught on a camera the Transport Ministry computer sends you a ticket through the mail and informs you on your phone. Most people deposit money on a card and the fine is paid from there.
The BIG difference is that China is a very confrontational society. Just this morning I saw a pedestrian try to cross across against the lights and the traffic warden grabbed him, dragged him to curb, shouting abuse all the time, while people laughed at him. I don't think he'll do that again any time soon.
The lack of personal discipline in Thai seems to be deeply ingrained, don't look for change anytime soon.

[johnnyk]

Watch the little kids, they are totally undisciplined God's own perfect little Somchais. Time passes and they are totally undisciplined adult Somchais driving minivans. A friend noted that most of them don't grow up with family cars and go straight from 125cc bike to full-size car/truck at age 25 so they are clueless about vehicle dimensions, braking distances etc plus the well-known Thai disconnect between cause and effect.

[charlesh]

Most Thais ARE clueless johnnyk!!!!!!!

[johnnyk]

Most Thais ARE clueless johnnyk!!!!!!!

I know.

[dtaai-maai]

Most Thais ARE clueless johnnyk!!!!!!!

I know.

And we wonder why some Thais don't like farang.

[johnnyk]

Most Thais ARE clueless johnnyk!!!!!!!

I know.

And we wonder why some Thais don't like farang.

Thinking it is ok, showing it is not. Just do the local thing - smile.

[Nereus]

And another one:
............................................................
Seven dead in van-truck crash

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... ruck-crash

Published: 26 May 2013 at 18.02 Online news:
Seven people were killed and four others injured following a collision between a passenger van and an 18-wheel truck in Nakhon Pathom province on Sunday afternoon, police said.

Witnesses told police that the van slammed into the truck that was making a U-turn on Petchkasem Road.

On impact, the side door of the van broke open and passengers were thrown in different directions.

The injured were rushed to Nakhon Pathom Hospital

[buksida]

3 killed, 5 injured in van crash
Three people were killed and five injured when a passenger van overturned on the Mitraphap highway in Nakhon Ratchasima province on Wednesday morning, police said.

Pol Maj Trakarn Saksrikrom, superintendent of Sung Noen police station, said the vehicle was a white Toyota Commuter with Bangkok licence plate Hor Nor (ฮน) 3620, which belonged to Canon Hi-Tech (Thailand) Ltd. The van was carrying a driver and seven Canon Hi-Tech employees.

Witnesses told police the passenger van was speeding and trying to pass another vehicle. When the van changed lanes, a pickup truck was in the way, causing the van's driver to quickly hit the brakes and lose control of the vehicle. The van then skidded, crashed into a tree on a traffic island and overturned.

The three dead passengers were named as Manit Momkhuntod, 30, Arisa Plaekpromarat, 27, and Saengduan Sarnburana, 27. Their bodies were thrown from the van during the accident and were found about six metres away from the vehicle.

The injured are the driver Chalermsak Musidaeng, 33, Jirawan Wonsantier, 33, Patcharaporn Limprasert, 33, Klaewkla Hadsung, 23, and Thitirat Phrommanee, 33. They were rushed to Sung Noen hospital.

Source: Bangkok Post