Thailand, February 28th, 2025 – Surachai Liengboonlertchai, the chairman of the subcommittee on road safety and accident prevention, addressed the February 26 bus crash in Prachinburi, where a double-decker bus overturned, killing at least 18 people and injuring 30 others, reigniting concerns over Thailand’s road safety.
Surachai stated that officials had convened to determine the cause of the bus crash in Prachinburi—whether from vehicle safety issues or road conditions. He reiterated long-standing concerns about double-decker buses, which have been under scrutiny since 2016 due to their high center of gravity, making them more prone to accidents.
Although new registrations have been restricted, over 6,000 older buses remain in use, according to Surachai.
He also referenced the devastating October 2024 accident, where a double-decker bus carrying students on a field trip crashed, killing 23 children. He stressed that lessons must be learned from these tragedies to prevent further loss of life.
Surachai noted that the latest crash site’s location within a national park complicates road improvements due to legal restrictions. If road conditions are found to be a factor, authorities may push for intervention from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
He emphasized the urgency of a national safety strategy, citing Thailand’s high annual road fatality rate. He urged stronger government policies and better agency coordination to prevent further tragedies.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
