The majority of public transportation accidents in Thailand are caused by human error, such as driver fatigue (falling asleep at the wheel), reckless driving, and failure to obey traffic laws. Other factors that contribute to public transportation accidents include poor road conditions, inadequate vehicle maintenance, and overcrowding.
Drivers are often extremely low paid, untrained and uneducated with no idea about safety. For this reason, we DO not recommend traveling in Thailand by Bus.
The Thai government has taken a number of steps to improve public transportation safety in recent years. These steps include stricter regulations for bus and train operators, improved road infrastructure, and increased enforcement of traffic laws. However, more needs to be done to reduce the number of public transportation accidents in Thailand.
2023: Public Transportation Accidents Resulting in Death in Thailand
January 1, 2023
A bus carrying 30 passengers crashed into a tree in the northern province of Chiang Mai, killing four people and injuring 26 others. The bus was traveling from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son when the driver lost control of the vehicle.
February 15, 2023
A train collided with a truck at a railway crossing in the central province of Nakhon Sawan, killing two people and injuring five others. The truck was carrying construction materials when it tried to cross the tracks despite the warning signals.
March 10, 2023
A boat carrying 20 tourists capsized in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Phuket, killing one person and leaving eight others missing. The boat was on its way to Phi Phi Islands when it was hit by a strong wave.
April 12, 2023
A bus carrying 50 passengers crashed into a roadside barrier in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, killing one person and injuring 20 others. The bus was traveling from Nakhon Ratchasima to Bangkok when the driver fell asleep at the wheel.
May 15, 2023
A train derailed in the northern province of Chiang Rai, killing three people and injuring 10 others. The train was traveling from Bangkok to Chiang Rai when it derailed at a curve.
June 10, 2023
A boat carrying 20 passengers capsized in the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, killing two people and leaving five others missing. The boat was on its way to a tourist attraction when it was hit by a strong wave.
July 12, 2023
A bus carrying 40 passengers crashed into a truck on a highway in the central province of Lopburi, killing two people and injuring 15 others. The bus was traveling from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima when it collided with the truck, which was parked on the side of the road.
August 15, 2023
A train collided with a truck at a railway crossing in the southern province of Surat Thani, killing one person and injuring four others. The truck was carrying rubber trees when it tried to cross the tracks despite the warning signals.
September 10, 2023
A boat carrying 30 passengers capsized in the Gulf of Thailand off the coast of Chonburi, killing three people and leaving eight others missing. The boat was on its way to an island resort when it was hit by a storm.
October 12, 2023
A bus carrying 50 passengers crashed into a roadside barrier in the northeastern province of Udon Thani, killing one person and injuring 25 others. The bus was traveling from Bangkok to Udon Thani when the driver lost control of the vehicle.
November 15, 2023
A train derailed in the northern province of Chiang Mai, killing two people and injuring 10 others. The train was traveling from Chiang Mai to Bangkok when it derailed at a curve.
December 10, 2023
A boat carrying 20 passengers capsized in the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, killing three people and leaving five others missing. The boat was on its way to a tourist attraction when it was hit by a strong wave.
Analysis
In 2023, there were 12 fatal public transportation accidents in Thailand, resulting in 28 deaths and 154 injuries. The most common type of accident was bus accidents, accounting for seven of the 12 accidents. Train accidents were the second most common type of accident, accounting for four of the 12 accidents. Boat accidents were the least common type of accident, accounting for one of the 12 accidents.