Car Phone Ban

[cclub75]

A very tasty "decision" from the Cabinet...

"A proposed ban on using mobile phones while driving has failed to win support from the cabinet, which felt it lacked the information to make a decision.

Justice Minister Charnchai Likhitjitta said police had been told to provide adequate statistical information to convince the cabinet of the merits of the ban.

Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham said a careful study was needed because the proposed ban could have a bearing on human rights issues. "

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/04Apr2007_news01.php

[Mid]

###### right 'n all ,

it's my right to be run into by some clown on a phone .......................

there are places for TIT ,

this is one of 'em

[cdnvic]

Before they add another law to sporadicly enforce, I think they need to start applying the traffic laws that are in place already and try and cut down the road toll. It's not like there's a shortage of traffic policemen.

[Jai Dee]

Mobile ban needs more study

In its weekly meeting yesterday, the Cabinet turned down a proposal to ban people from using mobile phones while driving and requested the Royal Thai Police re-evaluate the impact before resubmitting it for Cabinet consideration.

Deputy government spokeswoman Netpreeya Chumchaiyo said the Cabinet had "widely debated" the land-transport draft, which includes a ban on the use of communications devices while driving - except for hands-free models.

Netpreeya said many Cabinet members agreed to have the police carry out more in-depth studies to back the amendment before it was resubmitted to the Cabinet.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Charnchai Likhitjittha told reporters the Cabinet approved a criminal-law amendment not to punish juvenile delinquents under the age of 12. The current criminal code applies to children under seven. Charnchai said the move was in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Cabinet also gave the nod for delinquents aged 12-15 not to be punished and authorised the court to "warn the children" and call their parents to ensure the children did not commit a crime for three years - or else the parents would have to pay up to Bt1,000 for each crime. The current law applies to children under 14.

Source: The Nation - 4 April 2007

[OlRedEyes]

Since when do they care about human rights

[bingobongo]

this is so that when the tanks come back out of the bunkers for the next coup, no one can contact the press like last time

[The Dan Sai Kid]

my favourite is the Toyota Tiger drivers (no power steering) attempting to do a one-handed u-turn whilst talking on his phone. Inevitably they need to reverse to get more room to turn!

[Sing_Sling]

How about adequate driver's education . . . . crawl before you can walk.

Neither will happen, of course . . . and yet another example of how au fait Thailand is with the rest of the world where it has been illegal for a long time to use your phone while driving.

This self-sufficiency dogma vertainly is a good one.

Next - how to invent a wheel. By Somchai Porntip

[Phil Conners]

Before they add another law to sporadicly enforce, I think they need to start applying the traffic laws that are in place already and try and cut down the road toll. It's not like there's a shortage of traffic policemen.

I don't often agree with you, this case is an exception. Why bother having any traffic laws in Thailand? The only ones enforced are helmet and seatbelt requirements, and only to allow the cops a couple of drinks later.

[ercorn]

I am confused why handfree was invented...............oh yes now I know when my mobile phone gets too heavy I can put it in my pocket and plug handfree in and use it when I`m walking down the street.That it would be for being used in a car when I`m driving so I can keep 2 hands on the steering wheel ..................ne...ne

[gummy]

Why all the fuss? Most people I am sure understand the importance of not using a mobile whilst driving and I suspect that also most of us have abused that logic in the past. Unfortunately many Thai drivers do not fully appreciate the fact that loss of concentration = driving without due care an attention. It is easy for us from the West, and those Thais with experiance of the West to criticise but I have yet to see any posts, and correct me if I am wrong, highlighting the equally dangerous problem of DVD screens being visible to the driver whilst the car is in motion. Many times have I seen people driving, should I say strangly !, and on approaching/overtaking/letting them speed on their merry way etc etc only to find that they have the DVD on - placed slap bang on the top of the dashboard. Now I don't know what is more dangerous but I suspect both habits should be viewed with equal concern. But there again this is Thailand and after 20 years it does not surprise or worry me I suppose but just something else I have to be mindfull about whilst driving myself.

I have to admit though that it must take a lot of concentration to talk on the telephone propped under the shoulder, watch a DVD and hold a can of beer in one hand whilst driving with the other! no wonder autos are popular !

[raro]

I am confused why handfree was invented...............oh yes now I know when my mobile phone gets too heavy I can put it in my pocket and plug handfree in and use it when I`m walking down the street.That it would be for being used in a car when I`m driving so I can keep 2 hands on the steering wheel ..................ne...ne

yeah...they look a little bit like loonies talking to themselves.

Interesting actually reading those old news again. I remember well there was a big boohaha about speaking on the mobile while driving. I know lots of people who ewre fined in Bangkok.

After two or three months the spook was over and everything back to normal...

[PhilHarries]

I agree with Phil C. Why have all these laws that nobody obeys anyway.

In fact they only need one road traffic law in Thailand:

Any and all actions, whether intentional or not, performed by the driver of any road vehicle and/or any passenger or hanger on of said vehicle may, at the discretion of a member of the Royal Thai Police force, be deemed illegal and subject to a spot fine not less than 50 Baht for Thai nationals and 200 Baht for alien guests. Receipts for spot fines may, at the discretion of the issuing officer, be written on the back of a cigarette packet for an extra charge of 500 Baht (not refundable).

[Gary A]

Would that apply to motorcycles too? I saw a woman riding in VERY heavy traffic on Sukhumvit Pattaya. She has two kids on the bike with her and was chatting on the phone when I passed her. In the first place it's idiotic to have two kids on a bike in that heavy traffic and it's absolutely INSANE to be talking on a phone at the same time.

[astral]

What about the Human Rights of the people who get run down whilst someone is talking on the phone??

Why is Thailand bucking the worldwide trend??

[sriracha john]

Ban the use of mobile phones while driving.

[hammered]

Banning the use of mobile phones while driving is an excellent idea. Praise where it is due. Hopefully it would also be properly enforced.

[cdnvic]

Hopefully it would also be properly enforced.

:D

[John K]

Very interesting on this. Allow me to point out some facts along with an interesting story.

When we drive we need to use a significant part of our mind. Having a conversation that does not make you sound like an idiot also requires you to use a significant part of your mind.

When we are driving and talking our mind becomes divided. Anyone who understands hypnosis will recognize this. As a result much of the driving is shifted to the subconscious in order to have a phone conversation. It does not matter if it is hands free or not it is a limitation we have as humans. The underlying driving skills that are part of the subconscious differ from person to person. So in that respect lies much of the answer, but this is Thailand.

Back in 1970's when CB radios were the hot ticket and everyone was warning each other about speed traps, the police took notice. The police got involved with a prosecutor who proposed in court that cars had to pull over and stop to talk on their CB radio. Obviously this would put a serious dent in warnings about speed traps. During the court hearing the judge call the attorneys to the bench and informed them he was ready to rule in favor of pulling over, however that would also need to be applied to police and other emergency vehicles as the drivers of those vehicles could not be put above the ruling. A 2 way radio is a 2 way radio. Needless to say ‘Case withdrawn.’

[Donnyboy]

A very tasty "decision" from the Cabinet...

"A proposed ban on using mobile phones while driving has failed to win support from the cabinet, which felt it lacked the information to make a decision.

Justice Minister Charnchai Likhitjitta said police had been told to provide adequate statistical information to convince the cabinet of the merits of the ban.

Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham said a careful study was needed because the proposed ban could have a bearing on human rights issues. "

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/04Apr2007_news01.php

ok say if they did pass this law, do you think it would be enforced properly?

like most other road rules, unlikely.

So what is the point of passing a law without sufficent enforcement?

-but I love the last sentence "a careful study was needed because the proposed ban could have a bearing on human rights issues"

[jetjock]

A human rights issue ? I seriously doubt it ! Most courts have confirmed that driving is a privilege and not a right.

I have no problem in giving up my privilege to use a cell phone while driving if it will make the roads a safer place. The use of a cell phone while driving requires multitasking capability and the research studies I have read all seem to agree that the ablilty to multitask seems to decline with age, people vary greatly in their ablility to multitask and some people are totally incapable of multitasking. (Unfortunately I see many drivers that fall into that last category !)

Researchers have been studying the gender differences in our brains so an interesting thought on this subject is whether men or women are better at multitasking capability such as driving while talking on the cellphone.

Edited April 4, 2007 by jetjock

[sriracha john]

Anyone venture to think that the whole "human rights" issue is nothing more than an oh-so-common translation/writing/editing error?

[peter991]

Will the ban also apply to motor cyclists? It's not uncommon to take a motor cycle taxi and have the driver sending a text message on his mobile phone while he weaves in an out of traffic.

Peter

[hammered]

Anyone venture to think that the whole "human rights" issue is nothing more than an oh-so-common translation/writing/editing error?

Could be referring to the god given right of the wealthy and elite to not have laws written that could impinge upon their personal liberty to speak into multiple phones at the same time as they drive their latest humongous Benz over a beggar or two due to an even lower than normal ability to multitask possibly linked to a certain degree of inbreeding. Then again.....

[Artisi]

Talking or not talking on a phone for the majority of Thai's doesn't impact on concentration due to the fact there isn't much concentration being applied in any case.

[Plus]

People spend upto four hours in traffic everyday. You can't stop them from using mobiles for so long. It IS a human rights issue.

There are also many borderline "emergency" cases - "sorry boss, I'm on my way" kind of calls. You also have to ANSWER the phone, too. Your kids might call - "mommy, where are you, I want to go home". You might call someone for directions and on half of Bangkok roads pulling over is either not allowed or there's no place to park.

As long as people think that some important calls must be allowed while driving, police is helpless.

Then there are lots of other things people do in the cars. Girls do the make up. It's as distracting as talking on the phone (and some male drivers get distracted, too). Some people read newspapers (that's me). I sometimes finish the whole paper while stuck in traffic. Then there are DVDs and TV tuners. There control buttons on these systems that need even more attention than using your mobile.

Another issue is handsfree. There are studies showing that it does not improve people's concentration while on the phone and hence is useless from safety point of view.

The clincher, though, is that there's no statistics to show that safety would significantly improve with banning of mobile phones. People might lose a bit of concentration, true, but they also don't drive as aggressively when talking on the phone. In fact, from the traffic law point of view, their driving improves - they don't speed, they leave enough space between them and the car in front, they rely on indicator lights when they want to change lanes and so on.

[DisainaM]

Ban the use of mobile phones while driving.

but think about the situation,

while a hungry policeman will charge you,

and you`ll try to explain him,

that there is no mobile phone in the whole car.

[BigSnake]

WOW!! What's next. They need to crack down on parents that allow their 10 years old or in some cases even younger to ride their motorbike, dam near hit another one yesterday, kid just haul ass down main street not a care in the world, even pass a few cops, they act as if they could really give a crap; oh well This is Tahiland(TIT)

[astral]

Stupid Thai morality, at odds with the rest of the world..................

[sonthaya]

I'm living in Denmark and that law has now been in force here for a number of years, you are allowed to use a hands free model, but not a handheld mobile.

Even a high ranking police officer got caught using a handheld, and had to pay the fine.