Dangers of songthaew rides unpacked after Hong Kong policemans death in Thailand

Publish date: 2024-08-11

A Thai police spokesman said officers would meet with local songthaew operators to discuss how to prevent such accidents in the future.

The Post explains what the songthaew are and how to ride them safely.

What are songthaew?

The word “songthaew” in Thai literally means “two rows”, and refers to converted pickup trucks with covered back seating areas that feature two benches which face each other.

While passengers are required to remain seated while travelling in the vehicles, some opt to stand so they can get off quickly, especially during rush hours.

The vehicles are a common form of public transport in some parts of Thailand, including tourist hotspots such as Chiang Mai and Pattaya.

Leanne Leung Lai-yan, a Chiang Mai-based travel blogger, said the songthaew often offered a more flexible travel option as passengers could negotiate the route and prices.

They are also known for their low fares of about 20 Thai baht, or HK$4.3 (55 US cents), making them popular with blue-collar workers and students.

Songthaew vans could also follow fixed routes, meaning passengers could flag them down from a roadside or a designated stop, Leung said.

“Because there is no subway system or a comprehensive bus system, so this is the cheapest way to get around for locals,” she said.

How safe are they?

Leung said most tourists would prefer to use ride-hailing platforms, such as hire cars, which were more comfortable.

“[Travellers] can ride a songthaew to travel short distances between tourist attractions for a more local experience. I do not think it’s dangerous,” she said.

The blogger said tourists usually ride a more upmarket version of the songthaew than the ones used by locals, with such trips costing more but offering greater space.

While an ordinary songthaew can typically fit about 10 people in the back, rush hour periods can result in more packed vehicles and some commuters standing.

“There is no door at the back, so passengers really have to hold on tight onto the handles, and not move around,” she said.

“If passengers try to swap seats or move around when it’s moving, that is dangerous because there are no seat belts.”

But the vehicles tended to have some panels and railings to reduce the risk of passengers falling out, Leung added.

How are they regulated?

Last year, Thailand enacted a federal law that banned passengers from standing while riding on the back of a songthaew, in a bid to improve commuter safety.

The law also states that drivers cannot go over a speed of 60km/h (37mph).

But the new regulations recently failed to deter a band of students from standing as they travelled in a white songthaew in Pattaya.

An image of the group went viral online last month and sparked safety concerns, with Thai social media users saying the dangers of the transport option had shown no signs of improvement in the past decades.

Are such accidents covered by travel insurance?

The Hong Kong Federation of Insurers said that travel insurance coverage generally included claims under personal accident protection.

An insured person could claim a lump sum cash compensation if they sustained bodily injury from such an accident, it said.

Some policies also provided an additional indemnity if the customer suffered an accident while riding on public transport, it added.

The federation said that in the event of the insured person’s death, policies would also cover the return of their remains to Hong Kong.

How common are accidents like this?

Thai media in June reported on an incident in a province near Bangkok that involved a 12-year-old girl who was thrown from a songthaew as it made a turn.

The girl injured her leg and suffered several abrasions from the fall.

The driver was later brought in for questioning.

In 2019, a 27-year-old Hong Kong man was killed after he fell from a songthaew.

Local media at the time reported the man had lost his balance while “joking around” in the back of the vehicle. The driver fled the scene before police arrived, they added.