Bus drivers face random drug and alcohol tests

By Suriya Patathayo, 
Chompit Pinmuang, 
Sutthipong Settharangsi 
The Nation

 

File photo

 

POLICE and other officials will join forces to conduct random drug and alcohol tests on public-transport and chartered-bus drivers.

 

The urine tests, aimed at preventing accidents, will be conducted before and during journeys, deputy national police chief and police spokesman Pol General Weerachai Songmetta said on Tuesday.

 

Weerachai said national police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda had instructed police nationwide to accommodate travellers during the unpcoming Songkran holidays and implement measures for road safety and crime suppression.

 

Weerachai said police would exercise “careful discretion” as to whether passengers would be able to ride to and from their home towns on the cargo beds of pick-up trucks. Any cargo-bed passengers seen drinking alcohol or sitting dangerously, such as by dangling their feet over the edge of the tray, would be arrested.

 

Chaiyaphum police have already implemented random urine tests for bus drivers. Suspect Sitthipong Laterng, 40, who was taking 60 teachers and students from a school in Kaeng Khro district to visit Nakhon Ratchasima, was pulled up at a checkpoint in Khon Sawan district and tested positive for methamphetamine use. 

 

Police ordered the bus company to replace Sitthipong, who was arrested for drug abuse, with a sober driver.

 

The issue was tragically highlighted last week when a double-decker coach crashed in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Wang Nam Khieo district, killing 18 travellers from Kalasin and wounding 30 others.

 

Weerachai said the owner of the chartered bus in this incident would face a charge of violating the Land Traffic Act 1979 by allowing another person to drive a public-transport vehicle under the influence of alcohol or a narcotic substance. This offence is punishable with up to two years in jail or a fine of up to Bt40,000, or both. 

 

Coach driver Krissana Juthacheun, 44, who fled the scene but was captured the following day, was charged with reckless driving causing death and injuries, failing to stop to provide aid to injured passengers and having narcotic substances in his body while driving.

 

At the Kalasin Office of Insurance Commission on Tuesday, provincial governor Kraisorn Kongchalard watched on as Southeast Insurance PCL handed compensation worth Bt650,000 to the families of each of the 18 dead crash victims.

 

Thai Life Insurance PCL also presented additional compensation totalling Bt11.6 million to the families of five deceased crash victims, and Chubb Samaggi Insurance PCL handed compensation totalling Bt400,000 for four deceased crash victims.

 

Kalasin police chief Pol Maj-General Montri Jaranpong said Wang Nam Khieo police investigators would interview the survivors and their relatives to gather evidence for their criminal-code actions against Krissana and the coach company.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30341862

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-3-26

it's a start, but 20 years too late

 

also this should be nationwide 365 days a year with automatic jail terms and heavy fines for those caught

Hopefully, this will reduce the ridiculous amount of 'brake failure' claims, and hold drivers responsible for their criminal actions ?

So it took 18 deaths to finally cause a reaction. How long until this initiative is swept under the carpet and forgotten about? 

Didn't they  announce this a few years ago?

Anyway it should be carried out everyday!

Just another knee-jerk reaction after a big accident.......Seen it too many times before, to really pay any attention....

OMG the Police will have to stop Buses and coaches, I see Tea Money disappearing for them, not happy about that I bet. Stop moving buses and coaches almost too much , doubt if it will have any IMPACT .  

Edited March 28, 20188 yr by Khun Paul

Good!

 

People die because drugs/drink driver is evil and stupid!

The families got 30,000 each!!

How about a "too tired to drive" test?

15 hours ago, smedly said:

it's a start, but 20 years too late

 

also this should be nationwide 365 days a year with automatic jail terms and heavy fines for those caught

seems to me as "hyper" activity. Wonder how long will it lats and how many people will be controlling...?

Answering to journalists Pol General Weerachai Songmetta assured it was not a measure taken urgently to reassure the public after this week's horrible tour bus accident that killed so many people, it will last... at least two-three weeks!

about bloody time...

4 hours ago, sawadee1947 said:

seems to me as "hyper" activity. Wonder how long will it lats and how many people will be controlling...?

yep...

 

welcome to the 21st century.

A very good idea... But, we know this is nothing more than authorities paying media lipservice... 

 

Upon announcing a local school trip I enquired of my son's school regarding their transport policy and child seats etc 

 

The transport was outsourced to a well known (Bangkok Transport company... their response shocked me... well, their response was professional, with the exception of the DUI policy which stated that their Bus drivers are tested daily and if one is found to be over the legal limit would face suspension for the day !!!

 

For the day !!!!.... Yes, the only punishment for someone turning up to work drunk to drive children is that would face a days holiday (suspension) !!! - Say What ??????

 

With this mentality being the cultural and social norm I have trouble seeing any genuine changes unless the enforcement is significant and penalties severe enough. 

Edited March 28, 20188 yr by richard_smith237

Some troll posts have been removed.

This should be enforced all year, not just Songkran. It should also apply to trucks. 

Severe penalties for all caught, including the transport companies. 

This of course won't happen but it is certainly needed. 

Drug / alcohol test should be mandatory and the start of shift and random once on the road,  but no problem for druggies and alco's  --  it won't happen.  

Random? Why not regular and random?

"will be conducted before and during journeys, deputy national police chief and police spokesman Pol General Weerachai"..........Oh Great !!!..."Conducted During Journeys"......And there's a bus load of PAX out somewhere with no driver because he was arrested??...What we do BOSS ?? 

Edited March 29, 20188 yr by bruceamstutz

650.000 baht life is cheap in Thailand come on give a better deal here 3-4 mill is a correct price that is 40year salary on a low job