Thai crackdown on vans after 25 killed
Print Edition
THAILAND’S prime minister pledged yesterday to crack down on the private van transportation industry after a fiery crash that killed 25 people.
Thailand has one of the world’s highest traffic fatality rates, and vans especially used for commuting, but also for inter-provincial travel, have been involved in numerous accidents involving multiple deaths.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said he would tighten regulations on van transport in response to revelations that the 64-year-old driver responsible for the crash may have skirted regulations and not had enough sleep, causing him to doze off while driving. Experts say private van drivers push themselves to the limit, often driving overtime and going over the speed limit in order to earn as much money as possible.
“Why have past governments allowed illegal vans to operate? Nobody’s been following regulations from the start,” Prayuth said at a news conference, addressing the problem. “From now on, I will be strict. If anyone cannot drive, then don’t.” He also said he will set up more checkpoints to enforce the law. As head of a military government, he can shortcut normal legislative requirements.
The van with 15 people had been on its way to Bangkok from eastern Thailand on Monday when it swerved into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a pickup truck carrying 12 people. One person from each vehicle survived.
Officials said the crash occurred during the fifth time in 31 hours that the van driver was making the five-hour, 250-kilometer journey, suggesting exhaustion was a key factor in the crash.
“Thailand has one of the highest vehicle fatality rates at 36.2 deaths per 100,000 people, according to a 2015 World Health Organization report.
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