Better late than never means not taking the bus!

Published: 11/06/2011 at 02:01 AM
Newspaper section: News

In a horrific and entirely avoidable accident last Sunday, a 50-year-old mother was killed when a private bus crashed into the bus stop where she was standing.

Somchai Onjai, the driver of a private bus operating under a concession from the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, says: ‘‘Private bus drivers are forced to race against time.’’

Before the accident occurred, it is alleged the No. 39 bus and the No. 8 (also privately owned) had been involved in a race. They were trying to see who could get to the bus stop first, and therefore pick up more passengers.

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: Writer: Arglit Boonyai; Position: Multimedia Editor

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cleardawn
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Discussion 6 : 12/06/2011 at 08:47 PM6
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It's easy to solve this problem. At the moment, the bus drivers are paid per passenger. This incentive causes them to drive like lunatics and cause deaths such as these. Instead, the drivers should be paid per day, the same no matter how many passengers. Problem solved. Why is that so difficult?
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wantmyony
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Discussion 5 : 12/06/2011 at 01:17 AM5
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If anyone been to singapore, you will see bollets at the bus stop. These concern pillars are put up to protect people waiting for bus, because pass accidents happen before when cars would crash into bus-stop. Those pillars can crush a car so no driver would risk killing himself ramming into a bus stop. Their bus system is privately run by 2 companies and are subjected to strict regulation and standards, no one compete for passengers as routes are fanned out equally. The buses must be renewed every 8 years and must meet Euro 5 emmission standard to cut down pollution. Bangkok being a capital city lack basic public transport, its as bad as Indian cities.
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Victor
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Discussion 4 : 11/06/2011 at 08:06 PM4
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Lax of law enforcement is the key, as anyone knows.
There is actually a way to control those reckless bus drivers but nobody cares to give it a chance.
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Ozman_Bkk
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Discussion 3 : 11/06/2011 at 07:34 PM3
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From ABC Online : Twenty-six people will receive hospital treatment after their bus travelling through the New South Wales Snowy Mountains rolled over this evening.

So accidents happen anywhere. But it's true that Bangkok buses need a big shake up. Maybe this accident will finally see some progress. And maybe THIS post will get published.
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barryw
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Discussion 2 : 11/06/2011 at 06:08 PM2
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Nearly every problem in Thailand results from poor or non-existant law enforcement. If the police stopped dangerous driving then we would not have drivers treating their buses as racing cars. And if drivers were paid a proper wage instead of basing it on the number of passengers they pick up then they wouldn't be racing each other anyway.
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saltation
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Discussion 1 : 11/06/2011 at 03:57 AM1
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Why is it so impossible to install black box event data recorders in the busses? Everyone admits these vehicles perform a public service, and nobody denies that some, or even many, of them are driven dangerously, so why does it look like it will be easier to bring reconciliation to Thailand than to get the government to simply monitor this driving behaviour? Black boxes have been around for more than 40 years, and many countries require them on all public vehicles. Why isn't Thailand among them?

All you have to do is have a coalition of interested parties inspect the black boxes regularly and note when the busses are driven unsafely. Then, the government progressively fines the concession holders with increasing amounts until they decide it is in their own best interest to fire the unsafe drivers. Drivers, knowing they are being monitored and knowing their job is at stake, will drive more safely. This isn't even difficult. It is so obvious that it is painful.

It is criminal that the government is letting greed get in the way of the public good. Stop this insanity. We don't need exotic technology with impressive corruption payments, or hollow promises about making more rules that will just be ignored. We need black boxes, and we need the government to impose fines based on the results.

How many lives will need to be lost before this is taken seriously?
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Better late than never means not taking the bus! | Bangkok Post: opinion