Passenger van crashes, 5 dead, 8 hurt

[Have a cigar]

Dont worry I wouldnt book my ride on your advice solely. Ive previously travelled to Koh Chang (twice) and Pattaya by taxi so I am aware of the increased risk. The only difference being this time we are bringing my 1 year old and my parents along, otherwise I would have no hesitation in jumping in an airport taxi to wherever. Obviously safety is more of a concern this time so I looked on the TAT website to find a recongnised/reputable BKK to HH transfer. That is where i found the mentioned company. I realise just because they are mentioned on TAT website this doesnt mean they are safe, but thought they would at least be a reasonably professional company. If anyone has any recommendations I would be glad to hear them. Cheers

[Takiap]

Yes, you should be okay with a private hire since you can then lay down the law, and also make it known even before you depart.


As for the minivan drivers driving like assholes because the want to do as many runs as possible.......the company could have devices installed which prevent drivers from speeding. In a case such as the one being discussed, the company should be held directly responsible, and heads should role. That huge truck had clearly pulled over. so really, there is no possible excuse. The driver must either have dozed off, or if the truth be known, he was yapping on his bloody stupid telephone. Hands free or not, it should be illegal to use a phone inside any moving car, or on a bike.

I also feel dreadfully sorry for the rescue workers who were forced to stand by and watch as people burned to death

[hhfarang]

All forms of travel, road and rail certainly, in Thailand attract more risks than in more developed countries.

Yes, even the Bangkok inner city taxis. On our last visit to the Big Mango we unfortunately had to go to a medical appointment in a part of town not served by the BTS or MRT, so we hired a meter taxi. The driver was a maniac, driving twice the speed limit and weaving in and out of traffic. He asked if he could take the expressway (if we would pay the toll) and we said yes thinking "anything to get us out of this car faster". That was a mistake as once he got on the tollway he never dropped his speed below 140 and continued with the same weaving in and out through traffic and passing at that speed on the shoulder with poor visibility ahead and only a couple of inches between the wall and cars in the first lane.

We were terrified and both of us shaking when "Mr. Toad's wild ride" finally ended. My wife even asked, then demanded he slow down a few times and his answer was not to worry, he knew what he was doing.

I had another experience years ago in a taxi from the airport to Pattaya where the driver kept falling asleep and I had to keep punching him in the shoulder. After the first incident where he nearly drifted off the road, I positioned myself in the back seat so that I could see his eyes in the mirror and even though he stopped twice for those little bottles of caffeine he kept nodding off every four or five minutes and I had to punch him. I tried to get him to let me drive but he wouldn't.

I used to take minivans and hired cars with drivers, but now I drive myself or when in the city, use the BTS or MRT.

We will only use a taxi, van, or bus now when no other option is available.

[Nereus]

We were terrified and both of us shaking when "Mr. Toad's wild ride" finally ended. My wife even asked, then demanded he slow down a few times and his answer was not to worry, he knew what he was doing.

Don`t understand why you where worried, hhf. You both had seat belts on, didn't you?

[Takiap]

I agree with you HHF. I never use the minibuses anymore, and will only use a regular if it's the last option I have. I don't mind the tuk-tuks though since you never seem to see those involved in accidents. When I take a regular bus, I also try for the usual 1st or 2nd class ones, rather than risk my life by getting onto a tour bus or one of those so-called VIP buses.


When I stayed in Samut Sakhon, I used to use my Honda Wave for trips into Bangkok, and I felt safer driving around the big mango on that than I do in a taxi. Credit where it's due though, many regular taxis are okay. The minivans are by far the worst.

[Takiap]

We were terrified and both of us shaking when "Mr. Toad's wild ride" finally ended. My wife even asked, then demanded he slow down a few times and his answer was not to worry, he knew what he was doing.

Don`t understand why you where worried, hhf. You both had seat belts on, didn't you?

The seat belt had more than likely been removed to allow for greater speeds.


Motorcycle owners here often remove their mirrors as well in order to streamline their bikes, and so that the mirrors don't catch on cars when they overtake. Strangely enough, I actually saw a Thai getting a fine the other day for not having any mirrors on his bike. Poor bugger, he thought he was okay since he had a helmet on....

[hhfarang]

Maybe I just haven't been paying attention, but I don't ever remember seeing functioning seatbelts in the backseat of a Bangkok taxi... at any rate, with the speeds that driver was going, I seriously doubt a seatbelt would have made any difference in a crash.

[traveller2]

Dont worry I wouldnt book my ride on your advice solely. Ive previously travelled to Koh Chang (twice) and Pattaya by taxi so I am aware of the increased risk. The only difference being this time we are bringing my 1 year old and my parents along, otherwise I would have no hesitation in jumping in an airport taxi to wherever. Obviously safety is more of a concern this time so I looked on the TAT website to find a recongnised/reputable BKK to HH transfer. That is where i found the mentioned company. I realise just because they are mentioned on TAT website this doesnt mean they are safe, but thought they would at least be a reasonably professional company. If anyone has any recommendations I would be glad to hear them. Cheers

We've used vans/cars and drivers from a company called 'Hotelbeds and destination services'. They are part of the 'Pacific World (Thailand) Ltd' company. They have always been safe, informative and punctual (used them 5 times and they are booked again for this year) .
I cant give a price because they've always been booked as part of a package, but may be worth a look?
Phone number is +66 (0) 2245 1551

I hope this is of help.



t2

[PeteC]

Here's more, the driver turned himself in, and it was the van driver Nereus, not the truck driver. He fell asleep. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 73448.html Pete

[Takiap]

So, he fell asleep behind the wheel. I guess this can happen, but falling asleep has nothing to do with speed, and as some of the survivors stated, he was driving very fast. In my opinion, the transport company should definitely be charged as well. It was their vehicle, being driven by a driver they employed. Had he been travelling at 100km/h, the accident might not have been quite as bad as it was.

[PeteC]

This weeks instant replay! Pete

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... sh-14-hurt

Passenger van-truck crash, 14 hurt

Published: 13/01/2012 at 11:03 AM
Online news:

A passenger van ran into a 10-wheel truck on Rama II road, injuring 14 people, with one in a critical condition, police said Friday.

Samut Sakhon police officer Prasert Manolert said the Bangkok-Pranburi passenger van slammed into the back of the truck at the 24th kilometre marker this morning (van pictured below).

Fourteen people, including the van driver, were injured and were rushed to Ekachai Hospital. One of them was in a critical condition.

The driver told investigators that he did not see the back of the truck while taking passengers to Pranburi district in Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The driver has been charged with reckless driving, Pol Capt Prasert said.

Last Friday, another passenger van ploughed into the back of an 18-wheel truck on the motorway heading to Chonburi, killing six people and injuring seven others.

[Takiap]

Isn't it unbelievable? How the bloody hell do you not see a truck in front of you? My wife had to go to Bangkok today, and she was adamant that she would rather drive there and back herself than risk her life in a minivan. She's used them many times in the past, but now vows that she'll never set foot in one again.

She's also told me that the minivan are no longer allowed to drive faster than 100km/h.........yeah right.

[STEVE G]

She's also told me that the minivan are no longer allowed to drive faster than 100km/h.........yeah right.

Some of them have slowed down as on Wednesday evening I got one from Hua Hin to Victory monument from the operator next to the normal bus office and it took nearly four hours. At a stop I asked the driver to to talk to my partner over the phone as I was getting a bit worried about the time and the reason given by him was that they were driving slower due to an increase in the price of gas.
There weren't many passengers so perhaps there was a profitability issue as we did get overtaken by just about every other minibus on the road!

[Nereus]

[quote="Takiap"]She's also told me that the minivan are no longer allowed to drive faster than 100km/h.........yeah right.[quote]

I guess the 6 or so that passed me yesterday have not been told about it yet!

Bloody imbeciles! I travel up and down from Bangkok to Hua Hin a lot, and I must say that one of the biggest contributing causes of road accidents is the absolute a---holes that INSIST on traveling in the fast lane at a slow speed, thereby encouraging those that just have to be there before everybody else, to constantly weave across the 3 lanes.

[PeteC]

.....My wife had to go to Bangkok today, and she was adamant that she would rather drive there and back herself than risk her life in a minivan. .......

Wise choice in my opinion. The stress, fatigue and elevated BP of driving yourself cannot be as bad as sitting in the back of a van on (as HHF so well put) "Mr. Toad's wild ride", and just sitting there and having no control at all over the driver's behaviour.

If one is getting older and fears driving into the city themselves, I guess the best choices are:

1) Rent the entire van enabling you to instruct the driver how to drive.

2) Go for the blue/white public aircon big buses, and just taxi around in Bangkok after getting there. Pete