Trains vs traffic: What safety experts say about Bangkok’s deadly blackspots
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Trains vs traffic: What safety experts say about Bangkok’s deadly blackspots
11 Sept 03:48Key points summarised by AI
A recent fatal train-bus collision in Bangkok, initially attributed to human error, underscores deep-seated issues in Thailand's transport safety regulations and infrastructure.
Safety experts highlight critical factors such as flawed railway crossing designs, lax train operator practices, and Bangkok's chaotic traffic gridlock that forces drivers into hazardous behaviors like stopping on tracks.
Recommendations include establishing an independent investigative committee, integrating transport data systems, accelerating rail crossing upgrades with enhanced barriers, and incorporating AI into traffic management.
While immediate actions like restricting cargo train hours have been taken, a controversial proposal to reduce passenger train operations in central Bangkok faces strong public opposition due to increased commuter burdens and costs.
Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.