Public hearing on driving penalties

[webfact]

Public hearing on driving penalties

By The Nation

 

FILE photo

 

The Royal Thai Police will hold a public hearing next month on plans to introduce a points system aimed at weeding out bad drivers.

 

Pol Maj-Gen Ekkarak Limsangkas, chief of the ticket management project and in charge of amending the traffic law, said on Wednesday that the hearing would be held from 1pm to 4pm on June 7 at the Royal Thai Police Club.

 

About 500 residents have been invited to express their opinions during the hearing, he added.

 

The hearing is required by Article 77 of the charter that says a new law impacting on the public needs a public hearing.

 

In the system designed by Ekkarak, each motorist would start with 12 points that would be cut down as drivers commit traffic offences, like the British system.

 

As a point is lost for a violation, it would not be returned for a year. If all 12 points were erased, the driver would be banned for 90 days. If they are banned three times within three years, the Land Transport Department would be notified, they would have their driver’s licence annulled and they would not be allowed to drive for a year, Ekkarak said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30346601

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-30

[Maverell]

A great idea but as many drivers here in Thailand have not got a drivers licence I cant see it doing much.

[BigBadGeordie]

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

The Royal Thai Police will hold a public hearing next month on plans to introduce a points system aimed at weeding out bad drivers.

Good idea to let the public voice their view on how to allocate points to each member of the RTP.

I see them everyday no helmets, driving down the wrong side of the highway etc. Some of the public are just as bad I have to admit.

[darksidedog]

It doesn't matter how many points drivers have to lose, if there is no enforcement of the rules. As it stands you need to cause a bad crash before the cops turn up and start dishing out charges. Only when they get seriously proactive, will any scheme focused on improving driving standards work. Given the cops are both bone idle and have no idea how to enforce traffic law, I sadly don't see this having much effect.

[observer90210]

Time to fill up the glove box with brown enveloppes.

[kevvy]

They passed a law over 20 years ago , something about wearing a helmet on a motorbike . Was that law in forced ?

[George Bowman]

3 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

It doesn't matter how many points drivers have to lose, if there is no enforcement of the rules.

Therein lies the rub.

[ThreeEyedRaven]

It always annoys me that the cops put up tea money stops all over the place, but not once have I ever seen them doing anything positive for road safety. I hate to think how many are killed and injured every year from people jumping the lights. Won't matter how many points that is worth, if no one ever bothers to stop people doing it.

Edited May 30, 2018 by ThreeEyedRaven

[madmitch]

An hour or so ago I slowed down upon seeing an amber light and stopped as it turned red. No fewer than three cars and one motorbike changed lane to the empty one next to me and drove straight through the red light. A common occurrence.

 

Drivers like this could lose all their points in one day!

[tracker1]

A public meeting of about 500 INVITED residents so much for a public meeting !

[Artisi]

Lots and lots of smoke, but very few mirrors

 

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, missoura said:

Therein lies the rub.

 

 

And where's the  system to ensure all offenders are caught and are punished everytime and appropriately?

 

 

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, tracker1 said:

A public meeting of about 500 INVITED residents so much for a public meeting !

 

Yep just like the hearings on development issued by plod, public meeting by invitation only and register with full details.

[connda]

Heck, how many Thais simply drive without licenses?  Until Thailand actually enforces the laws already on the books, implementing a 'Points System' is utter lunacy.  What? They're going to deduct points from someone driving without a license?  And because the average citizens understands that there is next to no consequences for driving without a license short of a hand-slap and a small fine, who really cares if their license is revoked. 
Nothing changes until Thailand adopts First World traffic policing methods.  Until then, it's one big joke.  Their 'solutions' amount to putting a band-aide on a bullet wound. Their traffic policing system is completely useless and nothing short of a total redesign is going to change much of anything. 

Edited May 30, 2018 by connda

[stanleycoin]

Have they sorted out the double points and double 

brown envelope tier system for the Falangs.

Is it double at the side of the road or Treble at the police station ?
 

As if any of this nonsense will get the fools to

drive or ride better.

Just more tom foolery from the numpties

 

 

 

 

[edwarda909]

Coming back to the states after 5 months in LOS i had to consciously change my driving habits-  slow down and stop at yellow light.

[Lupatria]

What happened to the ban covering the face and wearing shades while on duty?

[goldenbrwn1]

Technology and the realisation of how much money the RTP can make through the use of it will hopefully make the changes on Thai roads in the near future. I’m quite sure they will then soon motivate themselves on the collection of fines because of the sheer amount of money due. 

[thailand49]

As noted, the reason all these idea's don't work is you just don't have the enforcement to do it. 

The main point is with all the money spent on building Highways around here along with the toll booth, they haven't invested any money in a National system to track every driver no matter where they are in Thailand. Everything is still written in logs books in each province.

Then you got all the tea money which will continue to keep those so call points from being removed. 

How are they going to know asap a driver license should be removed?  They announced hundred/thousand of radar guns?  anyone see one?

This is another example of this government letting the public they know about the problem but after the meeting will do what they been doing for decades Nothing!

Edited May 31, 2018 by thailand49

[Aupee]

I agree with all of the above there is no enforcement therefore there is no law. Time Thailand had an Elliot Ness to get rid of the current brown envelope collectors. It may not be Al Capone but its the same lawlessness.

[graemeaylward]

Will these laws only apply in Bangkok? Surely Public discussion should be nationwide and not up to 500 "groomed" invitees! Besides such a system requires a national driving licence database to record violations, and a proper police force to enforce it, not a a Toytown plod!


Sent from my Lenovo A3000-H using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[AhFarangJa]

[stanleycoin]

46 minutes ago, edwarda909 said:

Coming back to the states after 5 months in LOS i had to consciously change my driving habits-  slow down and stop at yellow light.

What !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

So can you tell us why,   you obviously had been driving or riding,  in a stupid way whilst you were in Thailand. ?  Was it,  just because others drive like idiots,  you did the same ?

you should know better. same as all falangs should. 

 

Edited May 31, 2018 by stanleycoin

[bluesofa]

16 hours ago, webfact said:

In the system designed by Ekkarak, each motorist would start with 12 points that would be cut down as drivers commit traffic offences, like the British system.

I think Ekkarak needs to do more homework. The British system starts with a clean slate, and points added - not "cut down" - for offences.

Or have 'misunderstood' it for decades?

 

[connda]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

About 500 residents have been invited to express their opinions during the hearing, he added.

500 'invited' residents (wherever that means) are representative of populace of the entire country. Lmao.

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, connda said:

500 'invited' residents (wherever that means) are representative of populace of the entire country. Lmao.

Invited means carefully screened, so no one has a view opposing the outcome required.

 

 

[connda]

1 hour ago, thailand49 said:

Then you got all the tea money which will continue to keep those so call points from being removed. 

The points are entirely irrelevant.  A significant proportion of the Thai public drives without a valid license.  Believing that adding a 'points system' is going to deter Thais from driving poorly is simply Magic Thinking.

Edited May 31, 2018 by connda

[garzhe]

Might be a good idea if first they ensured that everyone had a licence to revoke.

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, connda said:

The points are entirely irrelevant.  A significant proportion of the Thai public drives without a valid license.  Believing that adding a 'points system' is going to deter Thais from driving bad is simply Magic Thinking.

That's a spot-on comment: Those 'believing' no licence is required, often putting their faith in a magic amulet (fitted with new improved 'longer life' lithium batteries).

 

[NextStationBangkok]

Make public buses free, and BTS at 20 Baht ride all destination. Then you see the magic in Thailand. Most people will give up motorcycles and cars.

That would save lot of foreign exchange, and less traffic. Win-win for both.