Thai Cabinet Approves Ban On Motorists Using Mobile Phones

[Mid]

Thai cabinet approves ban on motorists using mobile phones

10/07/07 14h38 GMT+1

Thailand's cabinet on Tuesday approved a draft bill banning motorists from using hand-held mobile phones while driving in a bid to reduce traffic accidents, a government spokesman said.

"The cabinet banned motorists from using mobile phones, but not hands-free and other such equipment," spokesman Chodechai Suwanaporn said, adding that drivers can always stop the car and pull over if they wanted a chat.

The draft Land Traffic Act will be submitted to parliament soon, he said, and if passed, law breakers would face fines of up to 1,000 baht (30 dollars).

Chodechai said that Thailand joins 21 countries including Germany, Denmark, Japan and Singapore that ban the use of mobile phones while driving.

Thailand is a nation of mobile phone addicts, with nearly 67 percent of the population owning one.

FRANCE 24

[mijan24]

Thai cabinet approves ban on motorists using mobile phones

10/07/07 14h38 GMT+1

Thailand's cabinet on Tuesday approved a draft bill banning motorists from using hand-held mobile phones while driving in a bid to reduce traffic accidents, a government spokesman said.

"The cabinet banned motorists from using mobile phones, but not hands-free and other such equipment," spokesman Chodechai Suwanaporn said, adding that drivers can always stop the car and pull over if they wanted a chat.

Very sensible - hands free ok (there should be a > market there) lets hope it is enforced especially with motorbike riders (or arnt they condsidered to be motorists?) Of course if they are it wont be long before there is a M/C hands free kit available. With the unemployment and low wages it may be in the form of "hire a pillion" to answer your calls better to pay 200 than be fined 1000.

Edited July 11, 2007 by mijan24

[Mid]

Cabinet backs ban on drivers using mobile phones

July 11, 2007 : Last updated 07:18 pm

The Cabinet Tuesday approved draft legislation prohibiting motorists from using mobile phones or any other communication apparatus while driving.

However, it said handsfree devices were acceptable.

The law now heads to the National Legislative Assembly for approval.

Prime Minister's Office assistant spokesman Chotechai Suwannaporn said the Cabinet exempted police, Army and rescue vehicles and ambulances from the ban, in line with an April 3 resolution.

The Nation

[peter991]

Most new phones these days are Blue Tooth compatible - and Blue Tooth dongles are available quite cheaply in Thailand.

Peter

[ZZZ]

With just about all research evidence saying that hands free is just as dangerous as not using hands free they should ban all mobile phone use while driving.

Now everyone will (maybe ) start using hands free and they will be just as dangerous as before, nothing achieved except for an increased sale of hands free devices

[Robby nz]

Now how about banning umbrellas and children held in the left hand?

[Big A]

Thailand's cabinet on Tuesday approved a draft bill banning motorists from using hand-held mobile phones while driving

Yeah. This is gonna work!!!

[basjke]

Didn't they also pass some ten years ago a law about wearing a helmet?

[Payboy]

great - now everyone can go back to the good old days before mobile phones - digging snot and boogers with both hands...

[Tony Clifton]

Ban on karaoke singing and watching tv in car proposed

Justice Ministry moved further Wednesday to ensure safety while driving by proposing ban on karaoke singing and playing motion picture in moving cars, alongside cellphone use.

Justice Ministry permanent secretary Jaran Pakdeethanakul said these activities were even more dangerous to drivers than the use of cell phones.

On Tuesday, the Cabinet approved draft legislation prohibiting motorists from using mobile phones or any other communication apparatus while driving.

The draft is now being forwarded to the Council of State for review.

"The review process should not take a long time given that this is an urgent government policy," Jaran said.

He said that this draft would be written in a way that covered activities that would affect motorists' driving abilities. "It will thus cover karaoke singing and playing motion pictures in the vehicles too," he said.

Police spokesman Lt Gen Ronnarong Yangyuen said the draft impose a fine of between Bt400 and Bt1,000 for offending motorists.

He hoped the ban on cellphone use on the wheels would reduce the number of road accidents.

"Many accidents took place because drivers were speaking on the phone," he said.

If the Council of State gives the green light, the draft will go to the National Legislative Assembly for deliberation.

And how exactly will they enforce this law on moving cars when the usual method of pulling cars over consists of standing on a sidewalk or curb and waving cars down. There are no patrol cars following you , same for the police motorcycles, they are hardly ever used to patrol around and catch drivers commiting infractions on the spot, only to get from A to B. It's a free for all between checkpoints, look at the yearly Songkran disaster even though there are hundreds of practically useless checkpoints.

Edited July 11, 2007 by Tony Clifton

[Mid]

proposing ban on karaoke singing and playing motion picture in moving cars, alongside cellphone use.

works for me , karakoke singing should be banned period , along with jetski's ................................

[lazeeboy]

proposing ban on karaoke singing and playing motion picture in moving cars, alongside cellphone use.

works for me , karakoke singing should be banned period , along with jetski's ................................

lets hope they inforce it ,doubt the thais will take any notice of the law as they rarely stop at traffic lights or no entry signs

[mrtoad]

Another extra income for the BIB's.

I think there are more pressing areas of concern regarding road saferty in Thailand, but I suppose it's a start. However, can only see it being implemented sporadically just like riding bikes without helmets, DUI et,etc...

[Big A]

Police spokesman Lt Gen Ronnarong Yangyuen said the draft impose a fine of between Bt400 and Bt1,000 for offending motorists.

OOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhh, yesssssss. This is gonna stop the c*nts in the BMWs and Mercs!!

[Farma]

................Justice Ministry moved further Wednesday to ensure safety while driving by proposing ban on karaoke singing and playing motion picture in moving cars alongside cellphone use.

Justice Ministry permanent secretary Jaran Pakdeethanakul said these activities were even more dangerous to drivers than the use of cell phones.

Does anyone else remember the news story on the guy caught watching blue movies while he was driving a couple of years ago.

Maybe they could add in a handsfree clause for that too.

[Jai Dee]

Act of to ban use of cell phone while driving, approved

The Spokesperson to the Royal Thai Police, Pol. Lt. Gen. Ranarong Yangyeun (รณรงค์ ยั่งยืน), agrees with the Act of banning the use of cell phone while driving. However, its conditions should be evaluated again.

The Cabinet has approved the Act of banning the use of cell phone while driving, adding that the matter is presented to the Office of the Council of State for consideration. Pol Lt Gen Ranarong says the Royal Thai Police (RTP) will consider other conditions of the Act and study the possibility to enforce it again. The Act is remarked to help reduce road accidents.

At the same time, the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) has studied the effect of using cell phone while driving, saying that talking and driving at the same time will be at high risks of road accidents.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 12 July 2007

[Jai Dee]

A penalty fine of 400-1,000 baht to be imposed on drivers at wheel

The fine for the use of cell phone while driving is expected to range from 400 to 1,000 baht. Meanwhile, the Spokesperson to the Royal Thai Police, Pol. Lt. Gen. Ranarong Yangyeun (รณรงค์ ยั่งยืน), has affirmed that there will be no gap for policemen to take bribe.

Referring to the Act of banning the use of cell phone while driving, Pol. Lt. Gen. Ranarong says exceptions for the use of cell phone while driving will be announced in the Act again. The exceptions include the use of hand free and the use of cell phone while parking.

The Act is considered as an international act as other foreign countries also declares the enforcement.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 12 July 2007

[Scott]

The exceptions will be something like this:

1. You are important.

2. The call is important.

3. It was a short call.

4. You are driving an expensive car.

5. Your wearing a yellow shirt.

6. Your relative is a high ranking policeman, military man, gov't official.

[DeputyDawg]

7. Driving a motorcycle

[djinn]

8. having tainted glasses

[mijan24]

great - now everyone can go back to the good old days before mobile phones - digging snot and boogers with both hands...

Just catching up on my TV news whist having breakfast -- Yuk

[Jai Dee]

NLA to deliberate bill to ban mobile phone usages by motorists

The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will Wednesday deliberate a proposed ban on motorists' use of cell phones while on the roads.

The Cabinet has proposed the ban with aim to reduce road accidents, which killed a number of people each year. According to the proposal, motorists will face a fine of between Bt400 and Bt1,000 if found using cellphones without handsfree equipment.

Source: The Nation - 01 October 2007

[A_Traveller]

8. having tainted glasses

As that stands it's very clever, but guess you meant 'tinted' Nice to see you back.

Guess that this is an new increase police remuneration statute. Can't quite see them prosecuting a senior police office for this, as happened recently in the UK, however.

Regards

[Tony Clifton]

Work on the cell phone ban but pleaaaase don`t take away the right of millions to drive on the wrong side of the road!

[TAWP]

I love it when the van-driver is watching the small tv on his dashboard in the mornings...adds flavour to the ride...

[Lorin]

All right, I guess I will add this law as well to my list of rules and regulations that I can easily avoid to comply with by slipping 100 baht note to the police officer that stops me. I love Thailand. I my country it cost 4500 baht and call to court if you caught second time..:-)

[jackspratt]

Seize the phone - that would get people thinking. Remove the SIM, give it back to the driver, and tell them "on your way son".

An added incentive for the BiB - they can sell the phone.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Seize the phone - that would get people thinking. Remove the SIM, give it back to the driver, and tell them "on your way son".

An added incentive for the BiB - they can sell the phone.

Good idea. It is a proven dangerous habit. BAN IT

[Tony Clifton]

I can hardly see how they will enforce this effectively by standing on the sidewalk food cart storage area, through tinted glass and without any patrols on the road. I guess the motorway and other highways will be the place to make your calls.

''But officer, after driving dozens and dozens of kilometers and not seeing any police presence anywhere as usual, I was calling your station to report dozens of people driving on the wrong side of the road, undertaking, speeding dangerously!''

There are countless more lethal road hazards here that have more priority over this cell phone ban.

The only possible solution to this is some sort of device interfering with mobile phone signals moving at more than a few km per hour. Can`t call while riding the bus? Good, the other passengers may enjoy some quiet time. I can hardly see a situation where you`d need to make an emergency call while traveling at high speed, even at low speed, people lose concentration.

Edited October 2, 2007 by Tony Clifton

[TAWP]

I can hardly see a situation where you`d need to make an emergency call while traveling at high speed.

You never saw 'Speed'?

Or as it was called in Thailand. "Boring documentary about a bus".