Video: Taxis refusing fares - it's not news but footage is poignant

[webfact]

Video: Taxis refusing fares - it's not news but footage is poignant

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai social media widely shared a video of a father and young daughter trying in vain to get a taxi to take them home.

 

As the rain starts to fall the father and his daughter - who is carrying a soft toy - go from one Bangkok cab to another in their futile attempt to get a ride.

 

Then when it is obviously hopeless they go and sit and wait for a bus.

 

The footage was uploaded by Rangsit University lecturer Netthip Surasirikun who asked why the taxi drivers in Bangkok bothered to put on their lights if they were not going to pick up passengers.

 

She said it was a pitiful and all too common sight as she condemned the capital's taxis for their poor service.

 

Some 28,000 netizens shared the story.

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-05-31

 

[cornishcarlos]

2 minutes ago, webfact said:

go from one Bangkok cab to another in their futile attempt to get a ride.

 

He asked 1 taxi, something, could have been for spare change to buy a bus ticket !!

Then wanders off, not from taxi to taxi... Now I'm starting to comprehend "fake news" ?

[ezzra]

Do not try to hail a taxi if it is raining, outside an entertainment venues, rush hour, downtown lower Sukhumvit, Silom and central bangkok, unless you don't mind to get ripped off or be told that that are finishing their shift and have no change for your 500 baht note, on top of being surly faced Issan drivers...

Edited May 31, 2018 by ezzra

[observer90210]

How many times has it been repeated here that those official taxi chaps are just a bunch of rascals.

 

It's really about time to send out Mr Big Joke to bust all these crooks, including at the airport.

Edited May 31, 2018 by observer90210

[amexpat]

Grab

[KittenKong]

In most civilised countries it is an offence for official taxis to refuse a fare to any destination within the city limits if their "for hire" sign is on (assuming the prospective passenger is in a fit state to be in a vehicle). Also an offence to carry a fare without the meter being on.

Drivers who offend can have their cab licence revoked or suspended.

Probably about time this was implemented in Thailand, especially as it's not hard to do.

[a977]

1 hour ago, KittenKong said:

In most civilised countries it is an offence for official taxis to refuse a fare to any destination within the city limits if their "for hire" sign is on (assuming the prospective passenger is in a fit state to be in a vehicle). Also an offence to carry a fare without the meter being on.

Drivers who offend can have their cab licence revoked or suspended.

Probably about time this was implemented in Thailand, especially as it's not hard to do.

It is already an offence in Thailand to refuse a fare and to not put the meter on, It's just a matter of getting the RTP off their collective fat asses to actually enforce the law 

[B T Justice]

What we're dealing with here is a complete lack of respect for the law 

[Stuart F]

UBER

[sanuk711]

3 hours ago, observer90210 said:

including at the airport.

There is nothing wrong with the 2 Airports "obsever90210"----that was settled some time ago.....unless you dont take one from the official rank.

 

At least that my experience, & I fly into both on a monthly bases.

[Krungbin]

4 hours ago, amexpat said:

Grab

You can have dishonests and incompetent drivers at Grab too...

[peperobi]

That can be a good possibility for Big Joke to show how good he really is!

[peperobi]

1 hour ago, Krungbin said:

You can have dishonests and incompetent drivers at Grab too...

They are finally the same peoples that think with Grab can do better and easier money.

[Graemej100]

VIVA GRAB.

[Chicken George]

Ten taxis reffused to take me to the hospital in Bangkok. I should have videoed them. Had to get private car hire in the end.

[chrisinth]

8 hours ago, cornishcarlos said:

 

He asked 1 taxi, something, could have been for spare change to buy a bus ticket !!

Then wanders off, not from taxi to taxi... Now I'm starting to comprehend "fake news" ?

Would have to agree with that as well. That part of the video coverage didn't show him going from taxi to taxi, and certainly didn't run with what was being described in the OP.

[digger70]

6 hours ago, B T Justice said:

What we're dealing with here is a complete lack of respect for the law 

Nah ,it's Failing to ENFORCE the Law.  

[cracker1]

6 hours ago, Stuart F said:

UBER

No Uber in Thailand

[Moonmoon]

And they complain against Grab and Uber... 

[richard_smith237]

18 minutes ago, cracker1 said:

6 hours ago, Stuart F said:

UBER

No Uber in Thailand

GRAB... 

 

That said, last night a 'GrabCar' accepted my ride... then 10mins later messaged me through the App to ask me to cancel as he didn't want to take me to my destination. 

 

I suspect that he didn't want to cancel himself as this would lose him some sort of service rating. 

 

Unfortunately, the 'Thailand' still can't be eradicated from these services.... 

[kuzie57]

7 hours ago, B T Justice said:

What we're dealing with here is a complete lack of respect for the law 

Welcome to Thailand.

 

[scorecard]

9 hours ago, KittenKong said:

In most civilised countries it is an offence for official taxis to refuse a fare to any destination within the city limits if their "for hire" sign is on (assuming the prospective passenger is in a fit state to be in a vehicle). Also an offence to carry a fare without the meter being on.

Drivers who offend can have their cab licence revoked or suspended.

Probably about time this was implemented in Thailand, especially as it's not hard to do.

 

Singapore a good example, even small complaints are investigated, if found to be true automatic license suspension for 30 days, second offence taxi license cancelled for life can never be renewed, plus fines. And anybody caught driving without appropriate license jail time.

 

Which means taxi driver behave themselves. 

 

 

[manhood]

Grab, Uber.....taxi in thailand need!!!!!!!!!!

competition

and not only taxis.......the government support all not to face competition!!!!!!!!!!

[FNQ]

19 hours ago, Stuart F said:

UBER

Sold to Grab

[cgphuket]

Refuses a fair, 7 day car impound.  followed by 30 days for 2nd offense, etc.  In Thailand only financial punishment makes an impression.   We now have a country with no adult supervision or role models.    Worse traits coming to the surface on a regular basis.

[Somchai Logic]

They are ALL "See you next Tuesday's" 

[KittenKong]

It is already an offence in Thailand to refuse a fare and to not put the meter on, It's just a matter of getting the RTP off their collective fat asses to actually enforce the law

Surprising that the article does not mention that. Also surprising that the social media comments dont mention it either.

Both appear to suggest that it is up to the driver, rather than being a legal requirement.

[Bangkok Barry]

At the same time, drivers will complain they are poor, They haven't yet managed to work out that if they take passengers then the passenger will give them money. But then, Thais aren't too good with cause and effect, are they.