The driver of the ill-fated double-decker bus, which was involved in a fatal accident in Prachin Buri early Wednesday morning, allegedly did not stop every four hours for a rest as legally required, according to Sorapong Paitoonphong, deputy permanent secretary of the Transport Ministry, today.
Three chartered double-decked buses were taking more than 130 officials of from the Porn Charoen Tambon municipality in Bueng Kan province for a two-day inspection trip to Rayong province. One of the buses skidded off the road and plunged into a ditch as it was travelling downhill at Khao Thone in Nadee district of Prachin Buri at about 3am. 19 people were killed and 32 others injured.
Sorapong said data from the GPS system in the bus show that it left Porn Charoen district at 5.01pm on Tuesday and continued through Sakhon Nakhon, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen. It arrived in Nakhon Ratchasima at about 11.55 pm. Then the bus headed for Prachin Buri province and arrived at Nadee district at 3.09am on Wednesday. The bus was travelling at an average speed of 85kph, which is within the limits.
He noted, however, that the GPS system shows that the bus travelled for six hours non-stop, exceeding the 4-hour limits set for a journey from Nakhon Ratchasima to Prachin Buri, adding that police will be asked to investigate.
Sorapong said that chartered buses are not required to have two drivers working shifts for long-haul services, as required for public buses, but the drivers are required to take a brief rest after every four hours of driving.
He also said that no decision has been made yet about decommissioning all double decker buses for long-distance travel for safety reasons.
A funeral is being held today at Pa Vivek Thammakhun Temple, in Porn Charoen sub-district, for the 18 people who lost their lives in the crash, after their remains were taken back to Bueng Kan province from hospitals in Prachin Buri last night.
Bueng Kan Governor Chumpot Wannachatsiri said that the families of the victims will be properly compensated and offered counselling if needed.
