Vans in Thailand caused the most accidents and deaths in 2017 when you look at those involving public transportation
If you have ever ridden in a van anywhere in Thailand, you know how dangerous they can be.
Often driven by drivers that drive too fast, take too many risks and, in some cases, are not even properly licensed to drive a passenger van, it is no wonder there are so many van accidents in Thailand every year.
So it is really no surprise that, according to Kongsak Chuenkrailat of the Foundation for Consumers this week, most traffic accidents in Thailand in 2017 involving any kind of public transport were often caused by vans.
Khun Kongsak said there were 236 accidents between January and November that involved passenger vans. In those accidents, 906 people were injured and 113 people were killed.
Bus accidents throughout Thailand were far lower with 332 people injured and 26 killed in 102 accidents.
And while the installation of GPS systems has reduced traffic accidents in Thailand a little bit, the truth is riding in a passenger van in Thailand is still far more dangerous than any other form of public transportation.
That is why, if you are considering taking a van to do a visa run or to travel somewhere in the kingdom, if at all possible you are much safer taking a public bus.
In the 14 years I have lived in Thailand, I have taken hundreds of vans to many different destinations, including Cambodia, Laos, Rayong, Chiang Rai and many other places.
In all that time, I have traveled in vans with drivers that have driven far too fast and too dangerously for the conditions at hand, including several times in torrential rain, more often than not.
That is why I always tell people who use public transportation to get around Thailand, buses, trains, and even boats tend to be much safer than passenger vans. So, until the number of accidents falls quite drastically, choose to take any of these modes of public transportation first.