Buses in Thailand
Are they safe?
Last updated: 2007-04-16
Come to Thailand in any capacity and you'll likely have some kind of involvement with the various bus services of the country, be that as a passenger, a pedestrian or in a taxi sitting next to the noisy, fume belching bus engines.
It's fair to say that Thai bus drivers and bus operators don't enjoy a favorable reputation with the more safety conscious amongst us, a reputation that is perhaps deserved in light countless nasty accidents, most of which go unreported. Take today's two accidents in Bang Sai district in the early hours, followed by another shortly afterwards in Nakhom Phanom province on the service bound for Chiang Rai.
The first accident was allegedly caused by brake failure, resulting in loss of control and causing the bus to overturn. 36 passengers ended up in hospital. The second accident also involved the bus overturning only this time, 3 passengers lost their lives at the scene and another 11 wound up with injuries.
In truth, many of these accidents are not investigated properly. Drivers work long hours and often drive without having had sufficient sleep to be fit for work. Provision is not made for drivers to be fresh enough for night time driving. Deadlines are tight and drivers will often drive too fast and take unnecessary risks to make time.
Overcrowding is often a problem, particularly on long distance services. When all the seats are filled, plastic stools are produced for more passengers to use in the aisle of the bus, making for an uncomfortable and crowded journey.
The skills of the drivers are also questionable, as they often take the bus out of gear to allow it to coast downhill, putting greater pressure on brake linings when the speed needs to be reduced. There are also concerns about the level of alcohol sometimes found in drivers.
Just weeks ago, 2 serious incidents of buses bursting into flames hit the headlines, one of which resulted in the tragic death of many of it's passengers, many of which were burned beyond recognition. These accidents lead to calls for operators to be forced to retire buses after they reach a certain age and to ensure more stringent and regular safety checks are carried out.
However, in Thailand such measures are often proposed and then forgotten about, or are difficult to properly enforce, so it remains to be seen if they are actioned.
As the author of this article, I can confirm that I have personally had some bad experiences of Thailand's bus drivers, particularly private minibus drivers, who seem to think nothing of overtaking on blind corners and taking great risks with the lives of themselves and their passengers. There is no doubt that even on larger passenger carrying services, Thailand's buses are often a roller coaster ride. Lets hope this is one aspect of Thailand that changes for the better.
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