Minivan, bus and road accidents

[PeteC]

Here's one with battery connections right next to the tanks! A rolling bomb may be a good description.

[Big Boy]

Be honest, if we ride in a bus, most of us have no idea how safe/dangerous the vehicle is. That probably goes for most public transport in Thailand (and many other countries in the world).

I remember in the UK on Bank Holidays they often checked buses as they used to pull into service stations. Hundreds of buses were always taken off the roads on those days and not allowed back on the road until they met the standard. We know for a fact safety checks in Thailand are far less stringent.

Just over a year ago, I had my car which flies through a Thai MOT every time, properly inspected for vital parts that were wearing out (10 years old, something had to be ageing). I was initially shocked at the list of parts that needed replacing, but after some thought decided to get the work done. I doubt many others put their vehicles through such checks, and definitely doubt public transport is a thoroughly checked. This baby was 54 years old - how many rotten parts were holding that bus together?

[Dannie Boy]

So many things in Thailand are about getting things done as quickly and cheaply as possible - doesn’t matter if that means cutting corners and ignoring safety concerns, in fact they probably don’t give safety a second thought!!

[Big Boy]

LOL - I'm just thick. I know so little about practical mechanics, I need to have things checked carefully/properly, because I doubt I'd recognise a problem unless the vehicle just stopped while I was driving it.

Unfortunately, I doubt the bigger problem will ever be addressed. Already the bus companies/drivers are crying foul at loss of revenue because all school trips have been cancelled. Safety vs a lot of people's livelihoods - a compromise will be found. Unfortunately, life is cheap.

[PeteC]

Fatal Bus Fire Probe Exposes Thai Officials and Company Fraud Claims

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/202 ... ud-claims/

Photos and video at link. A lot of information is now starting to come out.

More:

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -cylinders

[Big Boy]

If the above reports are correct, those who have been certifying the buses as roadworthy, without inspection should locked up i.e. they are certainly more culpable than the bus driver.

[hhinner]

This thread has been running for 12 years. I don't think that much has changed.

[VincentD]

Just over a year ago, I had my car which flies through a Thai MOT every time, properly inspected for vital parts that were wearing out (10 years old, something had to be ageing). I was initially shocked at the list of parts that needed replacing, but after some thought decided to get the work done. I doubt many others put their vehicles through such checks, and definitely doubt public transport is a thoroughly checked. This baby was 54 years old - how many rotten parts were holding that bus together?

BB, a lot of us do have a conscience and keep our ageing vehicles roadworthy. A side benefit is that we know how safe that vehicle is. And keep insurance policies up to date to protect yourself.
The locals are more interested in just getting from point A to point B, and will typically address problems only if they affect the ability of said vehicle to move. Sadly it is still the norm for the miscreant drivers to flee the scene; as hhinner points out, nothing has really changed.

[Big Boy]

Yes, of course, but the point I was trying to make was the value of a Thai MOT - worthless. My car always (so far) flies through, but when I had it checked more to UK standards, I had something like 90,000฿ of work needed.

Worth even less if you believe the corruption whereby documentation was being signed without inspection.

[Edit] My in depth inspection revealed I had problems with steering and suspension.

[caller]

[Edit] My in depth inspection revealed I had problems with steering and suspension.

Shouldn't that have been picked up on normal servicing?

[PeteC]

Operator of a Thai Bus that Caught Fire and Killed 23 Is Charged, As Investigators Suspect Gas Leak

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/202 ... -gas-leak/

BANGKOK — Police in Thailand on Friday said they have filed criminal charges against a bus operator in connection with a bus fire that killed 23 young students and teachers on a school trip earlier this week, as investigations suggested a gas leak may have caused the blaze......

[Big Boy]

[Edit] My in depth inspection revealed I had problems with steering and suspension.

Shouldn't that have been picked up on normal servicing?

TIT

[caller]

[Edit] My in depth inspection revealed I had problems with steering and suspension.

Shouldn't that have been picked up on normal servicing?
[/quote]
TIT
[/quote]

That'd be a Ford TIT then!

[Big Boy]

Possibly, but do Thai mechanics actually look for such in depth problems? I don't know, but I'm a self-confessed dumbo on mechanical matters.

If the problem is there, but meets the Thai Ministry of Transport legal limits, unless you enquire about it, would a Thai mechanic tell you of the non-problem (in Thailand)? Why would he even look for it?

[Dannie Boy]

This post was from the BBC so it’s gaining worldwide publicity and might just help bring about change - let’s hope so!!

Could the deaths of 20 school children help make Thailand's roads safer?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y0jm7jpx8o