Four-Car Shunt Sparks Alarm for Motorists in Phuket's Underpass
By Prasit Tarnsirisin Tuesday, May 26, 2015
PHUKET: Four cars crashed into each other in an alarming incident in Phuket's traffic underpass today.
The spectacular crash - known as a shunt - came about 6.30pm and included four vehicles heading south that crunched into each other.
Officers from Vichit Police Station confirmed that the vehicles were quickly separated. Passing traffic managed to skirt the scene of the incident without creating further problems.
It's not the first crash in the Central Festival Phuket underpass - that occurred on April 20 when a u-turning motorcycle sidecar was gently sideswiped.
But authorities are certainly hoping that this evening's underpass crash will be the last. The underpass opened in early April.
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Comments
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Took longer than I expected but crashes in that tunnel are inevitable
Certainly won't be the last, despite what people wish for.
Posted by
Discover Thainess
on
May 26, 2015 20:35
In who's world is a simple multi-car pileup known as a Shunt?
Posted by
mike
on
May 26, 2015 21:19
Hoping for no more accidents!!!!!
Are they hoping to find money from tooth fairy under the pillow too???
Posted by
Nicky
on
May 26, 2015 22:04
That underpass is a trap. If a driver of a car from opposite direction, because the driver is falling asleep, or busy with his phone, comes on your lane, than we have a nice head to head accident, as you can not escape it. I avoid the underpass, stay above, more safe, and the traffic above is not very busy anymore either.
Posted by
Kurt
on
May 27, 2015 00:28
I wonder or Phuket rescue teams, ambulances, fire brigade held already a underpass disaster exercise.
Simulation for example a six car accident, fire, death and wounded people.
Are fuel tankers allowed through the underpass?
After all, a underpass is a new thing on Phuket. People have to be trained to fight a disaster down there, like they do in Singapore.
Posted by
Kurt
on
May 27, 2015 08:30
The problematic danger is the fact that many local people, not used to underpasses, will act in the underpass as if they are on a normal road, with or without driving license. ( see that u-turning motorcycle side car accident.
Ok, motorbikes not allowed through underpass ( was not published prior the many openings of the underpass). But who is going to enforce this 'law'? Who prevent motorbikes going through the underpass?
Probably there are camera monitors, but that is watching what happens, not preventing. If the cameras are working.
Here and there on the island are speed cameras. It is a public secret that most not operational, airport minivan and taxi can tell you exactly which are not operational. ( there are police officers driving taxis in their free time).
Posted by
Kurt
on
May 27, 2015 09:19
Only two days ago I passed into the tunnel from Lotus going to Chalong. Despite the red cross on the first line on the left, a big truck engaged the line passing all the cars in slow queue in the adjacent line.. I dread to think what might have happened if there were renovations going on with the parked construction vehicles.
Posted by
dave
on
May 27, 2015 10:00
Dear Dave, yes, I experienced similar things during just 2 times I went through underpass.
That is why I say to retired people: If you not in a hurry, avoid the underpass. It is a potential 'tunnel of death'.
Imagine what could happen when 2 trucks from opposite directions are doing this in the underpass.
They should have build-in a 24 hours manned police box at the lowest level of the underpass.
Posted by
Kurt
on
May 27, 2015 11:06
It should have been 1 wide lane with a central divider in each direction. Better still to have made it two wide lanes in each direction. This periodic swapping of 3 lanes etc is ludicrous.
Perhaps they could improve the situation with one of those movable divider road zipper systems.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMkLcAstxgA
Posted by
A local
on
May 27, 2015 14:50
Doubt will be the last
Mike check your dictionary shunt is there referring to this type of accident.(British term) also heard it on NASCAR racing as well in the states so that a few hundred million people that use that word.
Posted by
Michael
on
May 27, 2015 16:21
Editor Comment:
A British F1 racer of the 1970s hit the back end of so many rivals he was known as ''Hunt the Shunt.'' The rivals probably had other names, too.
Did affirmative action enter there minds or just hope
Posted by
slickmelb
on
May 30, 2015 17:20
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Took longer than I expected but crashes in that tunnel are inevitable
Certainly won't be the last, despite what people wish for.
Posted by Discover Thainess on May 26, 2015 20:35