Minivan operators appeal to Pattaya mayor to lobby PM against new safety rules

PATTAYA:--Interprovincial minivan operators appealed to Pattaya’s mayor to use his influence with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to lobby for relaxation of rules phasing out old vans and requiring operators convert to larger, safer minibuses.

 

The rules, put in place in response to Thailand’s world’s worst highway fatality rate and the large number of fatal minivan crashes, call for the phasing out of more than 2,000 minivans this year and thousands more in each of the next three years.

 

Boonsong Srisakul, president of the Provincial Public Van Association, and the heads of associations of operators of Bangkok and interprovincial minivans, presented a letter to Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome, asking him to give it to Prayut and lobby on their behalf.

 

Sonthaya, appointed by Prayut as Pattaya’s mayor after serving as his political advisor, is seen as having the premier’s ear.

 

Read more: http://www.pattayamail.com/news/minivan-operators-appeal-pattaya-mayor-lobby-pm-new-safety-rules-229325

 

-- © Copyright Pattaya Mail 2018-11-02

So these people would rather drive the old vans putting lives in danger instead of upgrading to the larger safer minibuses .  TIT .

While I agree that their call for some financial assistance, given the way it was introduced with essentially no notice is fair, they are blatantly overlooking the fact that this measure is being brought in for passenger safety. Many of theses minivan drivers think they are on a time trial run and the accident statistics are just awful. Anything that saves lives, lots of them, should be embraced without question, and there should be no excuse for continuing to use dangerous vehicles, just to save a few Baht.

26 minutes ago, Rimmer said:

Boonsong Srisakul, president of the Provincial Public Van Association, and the heads of associations of operators of Bangkok and interprovincial minivans, presented a letter to Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome, asking him to give it to Prayut and lobby on their behalf.

 

Sonthaya, appointed by Prayut as Pattaya’s mayor after serving as his political advisor, is seen as having the premier’s ear.

Nothing to do with who his extended family is

Literally weld a bolt under the accelerator pedal of every van, 50baht solved, 1000s of lives saved! If the restricted pedal has been removed, van is crushed.

9 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

While I agree that their call for some financial assistance, given the way it was introduced with essentially no notice is fair, they are blatantly overlooking the fact that this measure is being brought in for passenger safety. Many of theses minivan drivers think they are on a time trial run and the accident statistics are just awful. Anything that saves lives, lots of them, should be embraced without question, and there should be no excuse for continuing to use dangerous vehicles, just to save a few Baht.

"........Anything that saves lives, lots of them, should be embraced without question, and there should be no excuse for continuing to use dangerous vehicles, just to save a few Baht."

 

In the real world yes.....but this is Thailand.

Hopefully it takes a better bribe than a ''basket of fruit''...mabey the big bills are on the bottom..

Welcome to Pattaya.

Where money comes first, and safety costs too much... 

2 hours ago, Rimmer said:

 

The rules, put in place in response to Thailand’s world’s worst highway fatality rate and the large number of fatal minivan crashes, call for the phasing out of more than 2,000 minivans this year and thousands more in each of the next three years.

Where did they find so many parking places for all those Rolls Royce's???

1 hour ago, keith101 said:

So these people would rather drive the old vans putting lives in danger instead of upgrading to the larger safer minibuses .  TIT .

 They should be aware that Vietnam made this change several years ago, now all much bigger and much stronger small buses, and with limited luxury seating.

 

As is usual in VN the transition to these vehicles was very smooth.

 

2 hours ago, Rimmer said:

appeal to Pattaya mayor to lobby PM against new safety rules

Says all you need to know about Thais and safety rules.

2 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Many of theses minivan drivers think they are on a time trial run and the accident statistics are just awful.

Exactly, it has nothing to do with 'the old' vehicles. Give those drivers a new, state of the art van and they'll drive just like they did before. Won't save any lives, just extra money in the pockets of the van salesmen.

If they all have new vans   then they may have to think of a new excuse for crashing other than "brake failure"

 

what's needed of course is not new vans but a speed limiter, careful considerate drivers who have passed a stricter "public vehicle" drivers test who are not under pressure to work too many hours and take methamphetamine to stay awake !!!

+ "Proper" regular public vehicle safety inspections  + stop weaving around on the road like a formula 1 driver and tail gating everyone  ohh and when it rains  slow down..????

Can't have safety rules, that plain unfair

Bigger van more people killed/injured in an accident whats the difference.

Appeal against safety? Unbelievable.

 

Oh, I forgot, no need, Thailand is very safe already.

They will also get no sympathy from the mayor after no chicken broth gifts either. Cheap charlies.

1 minute ago, Notagain said:

Bigger van more people killed/injured in an accident whats the difference.

The difference is, no matter what the size of the bus / van is obviously attitude.

 

Mini vans / small buses are used in dozens of countries, in many the accident record is small, why, as we know proper strong respect for the law, additional needs / training /experience to gain a licence to operate van / bus, proper maintenance. 

 

I've used the same van / bus company (new bigger stronger buses and very comfortable, no extra passengers packed in), from Vung Tau to Saigon many times, never ever had a delinquent, crazy driver, before the door is closed the driver checks (really checks) that everybody has their seat belt fastened, and the drivers are always polite and never weave in and out etc.

 

When the van / bus stops for a toilet break / snack break there's an instant message on the entertainment screen in English, French and Chinese to indicate why we have stopped and how many minutes we will be stopped.

 

It's all about attitude and common sense and a strong desire for professionalism.

 

About 1.45 hrs trip Vung Tau to Saigon airport, approx. US$7.- / 230Baht. 

 

 

A lot of these guys drive like crap - most of the older vans are in a better state than the drivers (but I hate the LPG vans) - an upgrade in driver behaviour and skills is far more necessary than new vans.

 

But these so-called "drivers" only have themselves to blame.  

1 minute ago, scorecard said:

The difference is, no matter what the size of the bus / van is obviously attitude.

I was referring to thailand not vietnam.

3 hours ago, SkyNets said:

Literally weld a bolt under the accelerator pedal of every van, 50baht solved, 1000s of lives saved! If the restricted pedal has been removed, van is crushed.

Unfortunately, that restricts engine speed not just in top gear but also intermediate gears when maximum revs might be required to accelerate out of a traffic situation. 

3 hours ago, Rimmer said:

lobby for relaxation of rules phasing out old vans and requiring operators convert to larger, safer minibuses.

Better yet, no doubt, for the total abolishment of the rules.

Send all drivers  on a driving school first . 

It matters not one jot which type of mini-van , micro bus or a tuk-tuk you give to these Morons to drive.

they will always drive like they are in " Wacky Races "

Please Sir, Do not listen to them.

They have shunned the system for greed in the past killing thousands in the process.

It is time to start again & fix it properly.

Last Tuesday I rode with a "Driving Instructor "as a passenger for about a 15 minute drive.

All I can say is that the roads are not going to get better in the future if you "licence" idiots like him to teach

They are absolutely right ,Money greed first , Safety ,,,, not imported,,,, That's their view.

3 hours ago, balo said:

Send all drivers  on a driving school first . 

But, they will miss the first day because day 1 is not important just admin. stuff, then from day 2 1 hour late, go to toilet for one hour, not come back from lunch, and when in the class room play games on their smartphone or just simply chat to the people nearby. Not turn-up for 50% of the classes with excuse 'but my wife said it was OK. Total waste of time and resources.

 

Giant fines for breaking traffic rules and van operation rules, like 20,00Baht for first offence and 1 year license suspension plus van owner does automatic jail min. 6 months and fine 100,000Baht might help. 

4 hours ago, Notagain said:

I was referring to thailand not vietnam.

 

I realized that, just making a comparison.

8 hours ago, keith101 said:

So these people would rather drive the old vans putting lives in danger instead of upgrading to the larger safer minibuses .  TIT .

Yes lol

2 minutes ago, Media1 said:

upgrading to the larger safer minibuses .  TIT .

What is going to make them any safer ? Same drivers, and of course they will be made here at the cheapest possible price by someone with connections. Automobiles-vans-trucks dont crash by themselves Its the drivers and no mention of that in the article. I wouldnt feel any safer in one.