Avoidable bus tragedies

The sight of a wrecked double-decker bus that overturned on Highway 12 in Phetchabun’s Lom Sak district over the weekend was horrifying. The doomed vehicle was carrying a group of elderly tourists to Khao Kho district in this lower northern province. One passenger was killed and more than 20 were injured, three severely, when the bus driver lost control of the vehicle while navigating a three-kilometre downhill slope, causing it to slip and crash into the road barrier. The bus overturned and came to a rest on its side.

One tourist who suffered minor injuries said before the crash, he heard the driver’s assistant yell to alert the passengers that the vehicle had suffered a brake problem and that they should be prepared for the worst. Their dream holiday had turned into a nightmare.

In the initial investigation, authorities blamed brake failure for the crash as there were no complaints about the driver being reckless, though suspicion emerged later he might not have been familiar with such a challenging route with sharp curves and steep slopes.

Authorities seem to be content with finding the failed brakes to be the main culprit. But they have forgotten to ask an important question: Why did the tour organisers choose a double-decker bus for a route that covered such a tough area? Another vital question that entirely slipped authorities’ attention is whether the bus, which is a public vehicle, had been properly maintained.

In fact, there has already been quite a lot of public discussion about how such vehicles, designed and manufactured by local auto makers, do not meet safety standards. If authorities don’t ask the same questions, then such negligence will only lead to more such tragedies taking place.

The Phetchabun crash raised this question.

So did a previous crash that took place in March, when the country suffered a great loss. A double-decker coach carrying high school students on a study trip crashed while travelling on the winding Highway 304 in Prachin Buri province.

That crash claimed six lives — youngsters who were supposed to be part of this country’s bright future.

Double-decker buses are popular among tour operators despite their safety problems. Each crash usually results in many casualties, with the vehicle reduced to wreckage, triggering a public outcry and many promises by state officials to regulate the use of this type of vehicle, since an immediate ban on them is deemed impossible.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was so upset with the high number of crashes that he ordered the Department of Land Transport to put in place a plan to force bus manufacturers to phase out the vehicle.

It remains unclear whether the prime minister still wishes for this to happen.

One of the measures is a restriction on double deckers on certain routes with sharp curves and/or slopes where the vehicles are at high risk of crashes, such as Highway 304 in Prachin Buri and Highway 21 in Phetchabun.

The need for restrictions and regulations is apparent after a series of road tragedies involving double deckers last year, resulting in many lost lives.

But both accidents in Prachin and Phetchabun underline the fact that promises by state authorities about regulating this type of vehicle are just empty words. One main loophole in route restriction is that it is unclear which agency has the power of enforcement.

Of course, the authorities and tour bus companies deserve some recognition for the decrease in number of crashes this year. But they must not stop at that.

The Phetchabun crash makes many wonder if this was a tragedy that could have been avoided.

Each crash usually results in many casualties.