Thailand is reeling from one of the country’s worst road accidents in recent memory. Three days ago, a devastating bus fire claimed the lives of 20 children and three teachers, sending shockwaves across the nation. The accident, which occurred after the bus collided with a concrete barrier and was engulfed in flames, has ignited a nationwide outcry over the safety of Thailand’s road transport systems.
In the days following the tragedy, investigators have uncovered a series of alarming safety lapses that have raised serious questions about how such a catastrophe was ever allowed to happen—and whether it could happen again. As the country mourns the loss of the 23 lives aboard the ill-fated bus, it is also grappling with the implications of its outdated, dangerous road safety infrastructure and regulations.
The fatal accident occurred when the bus, which was carrying schoolchildren and teachers, veered off the road and collided with a concrete barrier. Moments after the impact, video footage captured the horrifying sight of flames shooting from beneath the vehicle. Within minutes, the fire spread uncontrollably, turning the bus into an inferno. Tragically, those seated at the rear of the bus had no chance to escape.
Investigators have since revealed that the bus had been converted to run on compressed natural gas (CNG), with six gas cylinders legally installed at the rear of the vehicle. However, a critical and dangerous alteration had also been made: five more gas cylinders had been illegally fitted beneath the front of the bus. It was a pipe connected to one of these unauthorized cylinders that ruptured upon impact, leaking gas that ignited the fire.
As the bus became engulfed in flames, passengers frantically tried to flee. Disturbingly, it appears that many were unable to open the rear emergency exit—though it remains unclear why. This tragic failure cost precious time, leaving those trapped in the back with no escape route.
The investigation into the deadly bus accident has revealed a vehicle that was a patchwork of dangerous modifications. Initially registered in 1970, the bus had undergone multiple transformations over the years, earning it the label of a “franken-bus” in the media. Originally a double-decker, it had been converted into a single-decker after new regulations imposed height restrictions on buses due to their propensity to overturn in accidents. However, passengers continued to sit on what had once been the upper deck, while the lower deck was used to accommodate the additional gas cylinders—a setup that social media users have compared to a “bomb on wheels.”
The fatal fire has highlighted the broader issue of Thailand’s aging bus fleet, with many vehicles operating far beyond their intended lifespan and undergoing piecemeal modifications that compromise safety. In fact, it is estimated that over 80% of the buses connecting Thailand’s cities fall into this older, adapted category.
The devastating bus fire is a stark reminder of Thailand’s slow progress in improving road safety. Over the past 15 years, the country has gradually introduced regulations in line with standards set by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). However, the implementation of these standards has been patchy, and enforcement even more so.
“The problem is most of the manufacturers in Thailand cannot reach that standard,” explains Sumet Ongkittikul, a transport specialist at the Thailand Development Research Institute. “So the implementation has been delayed, to allow them to catch up.”
Moreover, these regulations only apply to newly manufactured buses, which leaves a significant portion of Thailand’s fleet exempt. This creates a loophole for older buses, such as the one involved in the recent accident, which can continue operating despite falling far short of modern safety standards.
For example, UNECE regulation UN R118, which mandates the use of non-flammable materials in bus interiors, was only introduced in Thailand in 2022. But the regulation does not apply to older buses or those retrofitted with older chassis. Had these materials been in use, they might have helped to mitigate the spread of the fire on the ill-fated bus.
Even within the limited framework of regulations that did apply to the bus involved in the accident, there were clear violations. According to police reports, the bus had undergone its most recent inspection in May 2024. However, investigators now believe the illegal addition of the front gas cylinders occurred after this inspection.
In a disturbing twist, just two days after the accident, police caught the bus owner attempting to remove improperly installed gas cylinders from five other buses in his fleet. The company has since had its license to operate buses suspended, and the owner now faces charges of causing death through negligence. Additional criminal charges are also being considered.
Despite these revelations, many are left wondering whether this tragedy will finally serve as a catalyst for long-overdue reform—or if it will simply become another grim chapter in Thailand’s dismal road safety record.
Thailand has long struggled with road safety. The country is currently on its fifth National Road Safety Master Plan, but progress has been minimal. Thailand consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest per capita road fatalities, and at times, it has held the grim title of second place.
According to data from the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), an average of 17,914 people died in road accidents annually over the 10 years leading up to 2023. By comparison, the UK, which has a similar population size, records fatalities at a rate 10 times lower.
This appalling death toll is the result of a combination of factors, including reckless driving behavior, insufficient law enforcement, and a lack of robust safety regulations. Speeding, for example, is rampant and rarely punished. Drivers regularly weave through traffic, taking dangerous risks that leave little room for error. Commercial vehicles are often overloaded, poorly maintained, and inadequately lit, while motorbike riders routinely flout helmet laws.
Some have pointed to deep-seated cultural attitudes as contributing to Thailand’s road safety crisis. Corruption within the police force is often blamed, as bribes and lax enforcement allow dangerous behavior to go unchecked. Others suggest that Thailand’s Buddhist belief in karma plays a role, with many people viewing accidents as a matter of fate or bad luck, rather than preventable events caused by human error.
Despite some public awareness campaigns—such as posters warning against drunk driving—there has been little sustained effort from the Thai government to mount a comprehensive road safety campaign. Researchers speculate that this lack of urgency stems from the fact that road fatalities disproportionately affect lower-income groups, such as motorbike riders and public bus passengers, while wealthier individuals and policymakers tend to travel in safer, private vehicles.
This disconnect between those most at risk and those in positions of power has contributed to the lack of public attention and political will to address the problem. Although horrific accidents like the recent bus fire draw temporary outrage, they are often followed by a return to business as usual.
In the wake of the tragic accident, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced the formation of a special committee to investigate all aspects of road safety in Thailand. The committee has been tasked with identifying the root causes of the country’s high accident rates and proposing reforms to prevent future tragedies. However, the initiative has been met with skepticism, with many questioning whether it will lead to any meaningful change.
Indeed, Thailand has a long history of announcing road safety initiatives that ultimately fail to make a lasting impact. The current National Road Safety Master Plan is just one in a series of attempts that have produced little tangible improvement. If the latest initiative is to succeed where others have not, it will need to go beyond symbolic gestures and address the systemic issues that have plagued Thailand’s road safety efforts for decades.
The deadly bus fire that claimed 23 lives is a heartbreaking reminder of the urgent need for reform in Thailand’s road safety systems. For too long, the country has tolerated dangerous practices and lax enforcement, putting countless lives at risk every day.
If this tragedy can serve as a turning point, it will require sustained political will, comprehensive safety reforms, and a cultural shift in how road safety is perceived. The victims of this horrific accident deserve more than temporary outrage and hollow promises—they deserve meaningful action that will save lives in the future.
