An unfortunate incident unfolded in eastern Thailand early Wednesday morning as a chartered bus overturned, claiming the lives of 18 individuals and leaving 31 others injured. The tragic accident took place in Prachinburi province during a journey from northern Thailand to coastal Rayong province, where passengers were headed for a municipal study tour.
The Department of Land Transport has pledged to collaborate with law enforcement in conducting a thorough investigation into the latest road mishap. Additionally, authorities have committed to ramping up inspections of all public transport vehicles to ensure compliance with safety standards.
Thailand grapples with a significant road safety challenge, as evidenced by its ranking of ninth out of 175 member countries for road traffic fatalities, according to the World Health Organization. The urgency of addressing this issue was underscored in October of last year when 23 young students and teachers lost their lives in a devastating bus fire during a school field trip. Suspicions of negligent maintenance and inspections arose in connection with the tragic incident.
Further highlighting the gravity of the situation, in December 2023, a bus crash in Prachuap Khiri Khan province resulted in 14 fatalities and over 30 injuries. The bus, carrying 49 passengers, veered off the road and collided with a tree. Authorities are exploring the possibility that the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel.
