Passenger vans are the champion of road accidents among public transport services

[webfact]

Passenger vans are the champion of road accidents among public transport services

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Passenger vans rank the Number One culprit of all public transport services involved in road accidents with a monthly average of 19.5 accidents resulting in a monthly average of 9.4 deaths.

 

The above road accident statistics involving passenger vans were disclosed on Thursday by Mr Kongsak Chuenkrailart, coordinator of the public transport safety programme of the Foundation for Consumers.

 

The foundation, in cooperation with the Road Safety Centre, collected data of road accidents concerning public transport during January-November period this year and found out that that passenger vans were involved in 215 road accidents, averaging 19.5 accidents per month, resulting in 103 deaths and 1,102 injuries.

 

Reckless driving was blamed as the main cause of the accidents while the poor road worthiness from illegal modifications of the vans was blamed for the main cause of serious injuries and fatalities.

 

Regular tour buses on fixed routes were on second place after passenger vans with a total of 141 accidents, resulting in 56 deaths and 1,252 injuries.

 

The third on the list were irregular tour buses for involvement in 52 accidents, resulting in 47 deaths and 576 injuries. Taxis came fourth with 77 accidents, resulting in seven deaths and 84 injuries. Ordinary buses were involved in 48 accidents with 10 deaths and 75 injuries.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/passenger-vans-champion-road-accidents-among-public-transport-services/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-12-23

[Thaiwrath]

2 minutes ago, webfact said:

Reckless driving was blamed as the main cause of the accidents while the poor road worthiness from illegal modifications of the vans was blamed for the main cause of serious injuries and fatalities.

 

 

Surely reckless driving has to be to blame for the serious injuries and fatalities also ?

[jerojero]

What! No faulty brakes mentioned?

[Somtamnication]

Good to finally know! Now, what is the govt going to do about it? Rhetorical question...

[PatOngo]

Competitive business these road accidents.........at least a champion has emerged.

[trogers]

And we have some TV members here championing these champions when they were relocated from Victory Monument...

[NongKhaiKid]

If ever the word ' champion ' was misused, totally inappropriate or is it face to be Number One at something no matter what ?

[JAG]

Good to finally know! Now, what is the govt going to do about it? Rhetorical question...

Well, now that they are getting free WiFi in all their police stations they will be able to hold really long video conferences about it, all for free!

[NongKhaiKid]

Just now, JAG said:

 

Well, now that they are getting free WiFi in all their police stations they will be able to hold really long video conferences about it, all for free!

 

All that talking will be thirsty work but luckily the national police chief can help as he has some ' connections ' in that respect.

[z42]

Oh my god, even with the hugely watered down statistics (fatalities only counting at the scene), the numbers are still absolutely disgraceful. And the same problems manifest themselves on an even grander scale year on year seemingly. You just have to wonder how someone, somewhere in a position to do something about it isn't even  a tiny bit ashamed by such systematic carnage...

[NongKhaiKid]

7 minutes ago, z42 said:

Oh my god, even with the hugely watered down statistics (fatalities only counting at the scene), the numbers are still absolutely disgraceful. And the same problems manifest themselves on an even grander scale year on year seemingly. You just have to wonder how someone, somewhere in a position to do something about it isn't even  a tiny bit ashamed by such systematic carnage...

Never any shortage of pathetic excuses and there's always the occasional ' crackdown ' which seems to last about as long as it takes to say it.

 

[Wilsonandson]

Driven by manics who overtake you then slam on the brakes and stop, causing you skid to a halt on your motorbike whilst screaming blue murder. A typical day on the road for a motorcyclist in Thailand.

I loath van drivers. Wishing I had a HGV truck instead of a motorcycle or a giant tank and when the son of a gun pulls a trick like this I could just slam into his van and squash him like an ant onto the asphalt.

[Sphere]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Passenger vans are the champion of road accidents.....

 

Still time to push this sport instead of muay thai at the 2020 games.

[JAG]

Oh my god, even with the hugely watered down statistics (fatalities only counting at the scene), the numbers are still absolutely disgraceful. And the same problems manifest themselves on an even grander scale year on year seemingly. You just have to wonder how someone, somewhere in a position to do something about it isn't even  a tiny bit ashamed by such systematic carnage...

No. It simply doesn't affect them.
They have police escorts, intersections are closed and roads cleared by legions of saluting heel clicking policemen. Nobody overtakes them or cuts them up. If by some mischance there is an accident their expensive western cars have airbags and crumple zones, they will be rushed to the best hospitals.

A dead buffalo is just that to them - roadkill.

[chiang mai]

I live not far from a major tourist trail road and have to deal with these guys every day. The article is spot on, many van drivers are absolute maniacs, by far the worst drivers on the road.  The problem is that many of them own their own vans and are motivated solely by how quickly they can get from A to B because time is money.

[mok199]

I refuse to let my wife and our child ride in these unkept,unmanaged unprofessional, vans,where as a passenger, everyone just bites their toungue and lets the, driver, drive as he pleases...''this is where education and police checks would help...just because they run on a schedule...THEY TOO MUST OBEY THE LAW...

[fruitman]

Again, it's sad but this is what you get without police.

[Briggsy]

Firstly the statistics are useless unless one divides the number of deaths by kilometres travelled or at least journeys. In order to understand fatality frequency, the rate of fatality should be quoted as 'fatality per 100,000 km' or similar unit.

 

Secondly, if one accepts that vans are more dangerous than buses, taxis or trains, then one need not look very much further than the evolution of the van service and the recruitment and training of the drivers. Van services evolved illegally for the most part. They were simply set up with no licences by influential figures such as local politicians or senior police officers. The drivers were picked from their gang of thugs. Influential people, by definition, have their gang of thugs. With no specific driver or customer training, an aggressive attitude, impunity through their boss, possible drug use and a view that opposition has to be forced off the road, what kind of driver do you think they make? Many van services still use the same model, run by the same influential people and employing the same thugs as drivers.

 

Thirdly, why have motorbike taxis been omitted from this list?

[ChrisY1]

These figures are completely meaningless.....the LTD wouldn't be able to even compile a proper statistical spreadsheet if they had their best working on it...

These figures are just spin in an attempt to save some face.

[fruitman]

Thailand the hub of public transport accidents...and nothing is done to stop it.

[khunano]

1 hour ago, Wilsonandson said:

Driven by manics who overtake you then slam on the brakes and stop, causing you skid to a halt on your motorbike whilst screaming blue murder. A typical day on the road for a motorcyclist in Thailand.

I loath van drivers. Wishing I had a HGV truck instead of a motorcycle or a giant tank and when the son of a gun pulls a trick like this I could just slam into his van and squash him like an ant onto the asphalt.

Get a car at least. I keep wondering why so many foreigners here are driving motorbikes with all the maniacs around them that want to push them off the road.

[Honthy]

Every minivan driver drives far too fast, I should say. God only knows their reasons, because they usually chatting, passing their time long hours and all of the sudden they jump into their vehicle and start like a fighter jet pilot. This one man war against the rest on the road, traffic rules, facilities and natural circumstances are continuous until they reach their destination.  Then they are chatting passing their time, until the next action. 

Some of these drivers are really good, but as it is usual, some of them are too tired or simply too bad. This latest, together with their passengers are the possible victims of this unavoidable war.

[Honthy]

The other problem, there is no real alternative to road transport in Thailand. Flight can be complicated if you are not lucky enough to live close to an airport, but more expensive for sure.  Thai railway, at least in the South line is hopeless. 5-6 hours delay is so normal, that I could curb the interests by saying I just had a three-hour delay from Bangkok.  It was not true, I made a miscalculation. For shorter-100 -150 km or less we have either no train at all, or is will start 4-5 hours later, plus the actual delay. 

If you take your own car, that is the entering fee of Drivers and Pratts War game. 

 

[al007]

The statistics are horrendous

 

The statistics exclude those who die after the accident in hospital so in reality it is even worse

 

Tachometers should be mandatory in all vehicles carrying passengers

 

Where deaths occur there should be a high fine on both the owner and driver for first offense

 

The vehicle should be confiscated, let the police keep the proceeds, this will ensure better enforcement

 

On second offense both owner and driver 10 years in jail

 

Harsh yes but this problem has to be tackled,

 

Those selling drugs are jailed,

 

Those murdering people on the roads should be treated similarly 

 

 

When driving long distance what are the most aggressive in the rear mirror mini van drivers tells us a lot

 

 

[trogers]

1 minute ago, Honthy said:

The other problem, there is no real alternative to road transport in Thailand. Flight can be complicated if you are not lucky enough to live close to an airport, but more expensive for sure.  Thai railway, at least in the South line is hopeless. 5-6 hours delay is so normal, that I could curb the interests by saying I just had a three-hour delay from Bangkok.  It was not true, I made a miscalculation. For shorter-100 -150 km or less we have either no train at all, or is will start 4-5 hours later, plus the actual delay. 

If you take your own car, that is the entering fee of Drivers and Pratts War game. 

 

 

The God given freewill - you can choose to stay where transport is convenient!

[Honthy]

2 minutes ago, trogers said:

 

The God given freewill - you can choose to stay where transport is convenient!

 

Yes, it is like Russian Roulette. Thais like to play every day.  

[AlQaholic]

Once again Thailand is number one!! Congrats!! the Hub of van accidents!!

[fruitman]

46 minutes ago, khunano said:

 I keep wondering why so many foreigners here are driving motorbikes with all the maniacs around them that want to push them off the road.

 

I drive both, the motobike is because it goes 3-5 times faster than a car in traffic jam.

 

Also taxidrivers don't speak english and drive very crappy vehicles.

[AlQaholic]

4 hours ago, jerojero said:

What! No faulty brakes mentioned?

Yes! of course the brakes in these vehicles are all crap! they should take legal action against Toyota!!

[trogers]

2 minutes ago, fruitman said:

 

I drive both, the motobike is because it goes 3-5 times faster than a car in traffic jam.

 

Also taxidrivers don't speak english and drive very crappy vehicles.

 

Convenience before safety - a deliberate choice.