A recent tragedy in which two tourists died in a boating accident off the coast of Phetchaburi last week speaks to the urgent need to improve safety standards across the transport network.
On Saturday, a 27-year-old local tourist and a 25-year-old visitor from Bangkok drowned after the boat they boarded for a sunset cruise along Bang Taboon River in Phetchaburi's Ban Laem district was hit by a waterspout. Rescue workers were able to rescue five other people who survived the sinking, along with the boat's owner.
Bang Taboon's estuary is known to be a popular whale watching hotspot, with tourists coming from all over the country for boat trips to catch a glimpse of a migrating Bryde's whale.
Immediately after the accident, district officials told the media that the boat's captain "did not violate the law", as the number of passengers on the boat were well within the boat's certified limits, and the boat was equipped with life jackets.
However, reports revealed later that none of the passengers had bothered to put the life jackets on. As such, contrary to the officials' statements, there was actually an unforgivable compromise on safety when the accident took place.
Every year, there are numerous accidents involving boats across the country -- both private and public boats. Most are reported in Ayutthaya, a major tourist destination.
In 2016, the province reported its most serious boating accident to date, in which 20 people died as a public ferry capsized, reportedly due to overcapacity. There weren't enough life jackets onboard, and most passengers on the boat declined to wear them.
Meanwhile last year, a couple in Ayutthaya drowned when the boat they were travelling in overturned due to strong currents on the river. The couple, police said, were known to be able swimmers, but they nevertheless drowned when their boat capsized.
In the wake of the deaths, authorities improved rules governing boat operations and safety standards. However, enforcement is still an issue that remains unresolved.
Last year, the country was shocked by the death of actress Nida "Tangmo" Patcharaveerapong, who drowned after falling off the back of a boat on the Chao Phraya River on the evening of Feb 24.
A police investigation determined those who were present on the boat at the time of the accident had been drinking heavily, and the person in command of the boat did not have a licence.
None of the individuals, Nida included, had life jackets on. The case was eventually settled out of court.
After the accident, rescue workers and safety experts reminded the public about the importance of wearing a life jacket while on a boat, regardless of one's swimming ability. Having a life jacket on will improve one's chances of survival, especially in large bodies of water with low visibility, such as the Chao Phraya River, they said.
It is unfortunate that such an important advice is often ignored. In the case of Bang Taboon, the decision to ignore a safety measure turned a dream holiday into a tragedy.