Mini-bus smash to BKK

[usual suspect]

The Mrs showed me todays Thai newspaper with a photo of the HH-BKK
mini-bus embeded in the cement wall on the parapet of a bridge.
Seemingly the driver was doing his usual cunning stunt of high-speed
undertaking up the very left-hand side (hard-shoulder area),when the
road narrowed for the bridge and WHAM!
With regret,two people lost their lives for the sake of these idiots
shaving 10mins off their journey time.
I know this is Thailand and not a western country, but surely some form
of speed limitation/vehicle test/licence suspension policy could/should
be put into practice by the local amphor/police to govern these muppets
to drive a max of 100kph.
(Or maybe everyone should go back to using the 'big' bus to BKK.)

[Len]

I am suprised it does not happen more often . . . When taking the mini-van I always make sure I am seated at the back. Not that this makes you safer however I feel more chance of survival then in the front. The blue bus is slower with 850 stops however you do feel more secure . . .

[kendo]

I am suprised it does not happen more often . . . When taking the mini-van I always make sure I am seated at the back. Not that this makes you safer however I feel more chance of survival then in the front. The blue bus is slower with 850 stops however you do feel more secure . . .

The big blue bus only stops once between HH and Bangkok south bus station.

[Guess]

The Mrs showed me todays Thai newspaper with a photo of the HH-BKK mini-bus embeded in the cement wall on the parapet of a bridge. With regret,two people lost their lives for the sake of these idiots
shaving 10mins off their journey time...........but surely some form
of speed limitation/vehicle test/licence suspension policy could/should
be put into practice by the local amphor/police to govern these muppets
to drive a max of 100kph.
(Or maybe everyone should go back to using the 'big' bus to BKK.)

I don't think they have a concept of a PSV at all. Maybe not even HGV. A minibus driver can carry fare paying passengers with a motor cart license.

Yes of course they should be restricted with regards speed and so should all the other vehicles on the road especially on a shitty road like HWY 35. BTW the national limit is 90KpH already but only enforced when someone need a salary boost.

As for the big blue bus, I have been in a horror situation on one of those too. I have seen many up north that have left the road and been decapitated. The don't seem to enforce any restriction on driving hours either. On the relatively short night time journey from Phuket to Chumporn the driver was constantly nodding off and woken by the boy who collects the fares.

Take the train wherever possible. If enough people used them they may be able to afford new stock.

[Wanderlust]

I have to agree with Guess (probably much to his horror!); basically all road transport is hazardous in Thailand because of the way many Thais drive. To add to the discussion on buses, the only bus accident I have ever been involved with was in a big blue bus from BKK to HH about 8 years ago, where the driver of the bus went straight into the back of a heavy truck carrying sand, resulting in the truck ending on it's side in the central reservation, the bus miraculously perched on a bit of the hard shoulder and a steep bank at an angle of about 30 degrees, the passengers of the bus having to escape from the emergency door at the back on the drivers side which was now about a 10 feet drop to the road, as everyone was worried that any movement to the usual exit would cause the bus to topple over, and the bus driver last seen with blood streaming down his face running along the road trying to get a lift from any trucks. The front of the bus was completely caved in, and we had to wait at the side of the road for a couple of hours until they got another one out to us - thankfully the hostess on the bus had not done a runner and had called the station! As far as I know, no one else was hurt in the bus, but it made me a bit more wary, and aware of where I sat in the bus from then on.

[redzonerocker]

When taking the mini-van I always make sure I am seated at the back. Not that this makes you safer however I feel more chance of survival then in the front.

it certainly won't if the van hits the car in front & a juggernaut ploughs into the rear end

think guess has the right notion, take the train

[bozzman101]

what is the national speed limit??????????

i was told by a local taxi driver on dual carrige 110 max in los??

other than that stick to the road sigins??

[johnnyk]

No natinal speed limit.
What is posted is the minimum.

[HHTel]

Maximum speed limit in LOS is 90kph. Brought in by Taksin on his 'conserve energy' kick and never been revoked.

Maximum 60 within city limits.

In Hua Hin town area it's 50 and once passed Salesian school it becomes 60 until you've passed the flyover.

And buses regularly do 100+ along Petchkasem as do most of the other drivers. Travelling 2 or 3 metres behind the vehicle in front. Makes my blood boil but it's not going to change.

[Guess]

what is the national speed limit??????????

i was told by a local taxi driver on dual carrige 110 max in los??

other than that stick to the road sigins??

I have already posted that. You can see it on many signs (in Thai) on trunk roads and repeated on Thai maps. It is 90 KpH for light vehicles which I think includes minibuses and I think is only for dual carriageways.

All other limits are lower with the exception of motorways where you can do 120 KpH. Apparently there are a few roads that are motorway specification but I only know the Chon Buri motorway.

A local taxi driver is the last person to ask about traffic regulations. My wife has two brothers who have driven BKK taxis and one of them is not fit to drive a skate board.

[HHTel]

An interesting sign was erected going past Puktian.

'CITY LIMIT - INDUCE SPEED'.

Short English lesson with the local MIB and it was changed!

[Ray123]

The drivers think in their newer unciomfortable smaller harder seated mini buses that they can drive even faster and stop quicker.

Hopefully now something will be done to address them clowns driving like drunks. I never use the minibuses anymore since they changed to the newer fleet of uncomfortable leased toyotas, an unnessessary stress.

Well wishes to the occupants of that crashed minibus and their families.

[margaretcarnes]

Yes Guess - trains are the way to go whenever possible. But we are probably opening a can of worms again since many folks seem so opposed to them.
I once managed to persuade a reluctant farang friend to try his first train trip in LOS - from HH down South. They ended up delayed because the train ploughed into a pickup on a crossing! Can't win.

[Jockey]

I am suprised it does not happen more often . . . .

It happens quite a lot!

[Governor]

Yes Guess - trains are the way to go whenever possible. But we are probably opening a can of worms again since many folks seem so opposed to them.
I once managed to persuade a reluctant farang friend to try his first train trip in LOS - from HH down South. They ended up delayed because the train ploughed into a pickup on a crossing! Can't win.

Following your post Margaret, I decided to give to train a try when I needed to visit Hua Hin last week. I don't like the mini-bus and the bus station is a fair way out of town, whilst Hualamphong is easy to get to via the MRT.

I decided to try the 08.05 express; the train didn't actually leave until 08.45, getting into Hua Hin about 12.30. The journey was good, despite the delay, and I was served with drinks, a snack and a light lunch, I thought the experience was fine and would certainly use the train again.

I returned to Bangkok late on Wednesday afternoon, and the train times were not so good so I got a taxi back. I got a returning Bangkok taxi for 1,500 Baht, door to door, which I thought was pretty good value especially as there were two of us.