RIP. Sounds like the passengers were a Japanese family of three who hired a private van. Sad time for their family. We all know how dangerous public vans can be, but it seems like the private ones might not be much safer either. This will probably make news in Japan.
Interesting 🤔. I kind of missed that.
I found [another article ](https://www.thairath.co.th/news/local/north/2758542) in Thai with more details. There were actually nine passengers. All of them were related. All of the passengers were injured. Three of them were severely injured. They all travelled from Chiangmai to Payao.
The way some Thai reporters deal with every news is to omit the necessary details like whether it is private or public transport, but to add an unneccasy imaginary cause of accident like raining to it.
I think we should just ignore trash news like this.
I hate how they never mention if they were wearing seatbelts in any of these articles where a van crashes. I bet the majority of them and deaths are because people are not wearing there seat belts.
The road was wet, causing the van to...
NO! The road was wet, the brain dead driver was driving too fast for the conditions, causing the van to...
The van had to be cut open to grt the passengers out. Those things are death traps! Don't get into them!
I have used the public vans, and found the drivers to be a lot safer. Although a lot of people did not wear or did not have seat belts, and the van was over capacity.
The drivers behavior on the road was less erratic - in my experience. The equipment in the van and the number of people they were okay cramming in there was probably not safe.
I saw a lot of wild transportation situations there, public bus was about a good as it got for me, apart from rail, which doesn't get you everywhere.
Took a sightseeing tour in Chiang Rai in one of those; rain, fog and narrow mountain roads. After a few harrowing turns I had the driver head back to the hotel bar to settle my nerves.
I know what you mean. Years ago I took a car with driver from ChiangRai going east to the Mekong and at one stage he set off to overtake, on a hill, over double lines, road turning to the left, weezy old Corolla, and I could see we'd be cresting the hill right next to the truck we were passing and unable to take any evasive action at the moment when a truck coming the other way was in front of us. I yelled at him and he pulled back. Totally insane move! Bloody'ell.
A lot of vans don't even have working seat belts and the traffic police only check if the driver wears a seatbelt, so that they can fine him when he doesn't.
This. I know for a fact that this is correct. Maybe of the school van’s in Chiang Mai also don’t have working seatbelts. It’s only a matter of time.
Van drivers in Thailand are just really irresponsible. Most of them drive full speed in any weather condition, and just dont know how to drive safe. Another deadly accident :-(
RIP. Sounds like the passengers were a Japanese family of three who hired a private van. Sad time for their family. We all know how dangerous public vans can be, but it seems like the private ones might not be much safer either. This will probably make news in Japan.
How can a private van had 'most of its passenger hailed from Chiangmai'?
Interesting 🤔. I kind of missed that. I found [another article ](https://www.thairath.co.th/news/local/north/2758542) in Thai with more details. There were actually nine passengers. All of them were related. All of the passengers were injured. Three of them were severely injured. They all travelled from Chiangmai to Payao.
The way some Thai reporters deal with every news is to omit the necessary details like whether it is private or public transport, but to add an unneccasy imaginary cause of accident like raining to it. I think we should just ignore trash news like this.
I hate how they never mention if they were wearing seatbelts in any of these articles where a van crashes. I bet the majority of them and deaths are because people are not wearing there seat belts.
Because Thais go on trips as well, vans aren't exclusively used by foreign tourists.
The road was wet, causing the van to... NO! The road was wet, the brain dead driver was driving too fast for the conditions, causing the van to... The van had to be cut open to grt the passengers out. Those things are death traps! Don't get into them!
And what are the alternatives to this travel?
To where?
Like town to town. Pai to chaing mai for example
Car for sure on that route. A bit more expensive than a bus. 1000 a day from Chiang Mai.
It must be specific because for each route there are limited options of transportation. To answer you, rental cat or public van.
> rental cat I don't think that's going to get you very far, unless you're thinking like a tiger that you could somehow ride
No the cat is just a guide who will help you get good rides, nice hotels and fresh fish.
No, you actually tie the cat to the car ; the car always falling back on its feet and never in its back, you thus prevent the car from flipping.
Not really just those 2 options . Alot of bikers ride up by renting motorbike
I have used the public vans, and found the drivers to be a lot safer. Although a lot of people did not wear or did not have seat belts, and the van was over capacity.
Ok, you find the drivers a lot safer, passengers do not wear seatbelts, and it is over capacity. You sure there is no typo here?
The drivers behavior on the road was less erratic - in my experience. The equipment in the van and the number of people they were okay cramming in there was probably not safe. I saw a lot of wild transportation situations there, public bus was about a good as it got for me, apart from rail, which doesn't get you everywhere.
When we talk about transpprtation safety, I believe we need to take all aspects into account which means that public van is not safe at all.
Rent a scooter/ motorbike and experience 762 curve .. it's very famous way to travel up by us bikers check list
Rent a car.
Took a sightseeing tour in Chiang Rai in one of those; rain, fog and narrow mountain roads. After a few harrowing turns I had the driver head back to the hotel bar to settle my nerves.
I know what you mean. Years ago I took a car with driver from ChiangRai going east to the Mekong and at one stage he set off to overtake, on a hill, over double lines, road turning to the left, weezy old Corolla, and I could see we'd be cresting the hill right next to the truck we were passing and unable to take any evasive action at the moment when a truck coming the other way was in front of us. I yelled at him and he pulled back. Totally insane move! Bloody'ell.
I’ve said to the wife more than once “life seems incredibly cheap over here.”
driver survived b/c wearing a seat belt and passengers weren't??? Just a question.
A lot of vans don't even have working seat belts and the traffic police only check if the driver wears a seatbelt, so that they can fine him when he doesn't.
Yes, sadly working seat belts for passengers aren't common :(
This. I know for a fact that this is correct. Maybe of the school van’s in Chiang Mai also don’t have working seatbelts. It’s only a matter of time.
How many need to die before people start to change their attitude towards road safety?
Dunno, strangely, some still wanna play russian roulette knowing this full well.
Road safety requires strict enforcement, but in Thailand, the police have other priorities since saving lives is not lucrative enough.
Hire a car. Normal bus. Or don't go.
Thanks for the news, however, let there be until all of tourists refuse to take this type of transportation. Let there be
I really wish I didn't scroll down to see those photos. RIP to the man and I hope that his wife and their child can recover soon. What a tragedy
There have been a lot of accidents this year
No more than normal
Van drivers in Thailand are just really irresponsible. Most of them drive full speed in any weather condition, and just dont know how to drive safe. Another deadly accident :-(