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

In a tragic incident in Thailand, twenty school children and three teachers lost their lives when their bus caught fire after colliding with a concrete barrier on a busy road in Bangkok. This heartbreaking event occurred during a school field trip, and it has left the nation in mourning. The bus was carrying students from Wat Khao Phraya School, and the fire spread rapidly, leaving many passengers trapped inside. Investigators are now examining the circumstances surrounding this devastating accident, which is being described as one of the worst road disasters in the country’s history. The investigation revealed that the bus had been modified to run on compressed natural gas (CNG), a fuel that is supposed to be cleaner and more efficient. However, while the bus had six gas cylinders installed legally, investigators discovered five additional cylinders that had been improperly fitted. This illegal installation is believed to have caused a gas leak that ignited the fire, leading to the tragic loss of life. Eyewitness accounts and video footage show that the flames engulfed the bus within minutes, leaving little chance for the passengers in the rear to escape. The emergency exit at the back of the bus was also reportedly inaccessible, although the reasons for this are still unclear. In response to this horrific accident, the Thai government has ordered inspections of all public and private buses powered by CNG, which number over 13,000 across the country. Additionally, all long-distance school bus trips have been suspended until further notice. This incident has raised serious questions about the safety of buses in Thailand, particularly those that have been modified or are older models. The bus involved in the accident was originally registered in 1970 and had undergone numerous modifications over the years. It was once a double-decker bus, but due to new regulations aimed at improving safety, it was converted into a single-decker. The upper deck was used for passengers, while the lower deck housed the gas cylinders. Many social media users have referred to this bus as a 'bomb on wheels' due to its dangerous modifications. Despite the introduction of safety regulations for buses in Thailand over the past fifteen years, the enforcement of these rules has been inconsistent. Experts point out that many bus manufacturers in Thailand struggle to meet international safety standards, which has delayed the implementation of necessary regulations. Furthermore, the existing rules only apply to new buses, leaving a significant number of older buses, which make up about 80% of the fleet, exempt from these safety measures. For instance, a regulation requiring bus interiors to be made from non-flammable materials was introduced in 2022, but it does not apply to buses manufactured before that date or those modified using older chassis. Had the bus been constructed with safer materials, it might have reduced the severity of the fire. The police have stated that the bus was inspected just a few months prior to the accident, but they suspect that the illegal gas cylinders were added after that inspection. Following the tragedy, the bus owner was caught attempting to remove the illegal gas cylinders from other buses in their fleet. As a result, the company has had its license suspended, and the owner is facing charges of negligence leading to death, along with other potential criminal charges. This devastating event has sparked a renewed discussion about road safety in Thailand, a country that has consistently ranked among the highest in road fatalities. On average, more than 17,000 people die in road accidents each year, a statistic that has not improved significantly over the past decade. Many believe that the government has not prioritized road safety, and dangerous driving behaviors are common. Speeding is rampant, and many drivers exhibit reckless behavior, weaving in and out of traffic without regard for safety. Motorbike riders often neglect to wear helmets, and commercial vehicles are frequently overloaded and poorly maintained. Some attribute the high accident rates to corruption within the police force, while others believe that cultural attitudes towards karma lead people to view accidents as mere bad luck rather than a result of unsafe practices. Although there are campaigns warning against drinking and driving, there has not been a sustained effort to improve overall road safety in the country. Researchers suggest that this lack of action may be due to the fact that many of the victims of road accidents come from lower-income backgrounds, while policymakers often travel in safer, more luxurious vehicles. Despite the alarming statistics, road safety is not perceived as an urgent issue in Thailand, and public attention to the matter is limited. Previous horrific accidents involving long-distance buses have not led to significant improvements in safety standards. In light of this recent tragedy, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has announced the formation of a special committee to investigate all aspects of road safety. However, the announcement has been met with skepticism, as many people doubt that this initiative will lead to meaningful changes. If this committee can successfully implement improvements and reduce the annual death toll on Thailand's roads, it would mark a significant shift in the country's approach to road safety.