Ministerial Regulation On Thailand Infrastructure Provided For Disabled People

Special Report:

Ministerial regulation on infrastructure provided for disabled people

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet approved in principle a draft ministerial regulation on tools, equipments, facilities and services to be provided in the country’s infrastructure and public transportation to serve people with disabilities as proposed by the Ministry of Transport. The draft ministerial regulation will be further considered by related committee for the next process. Following are summary details in the draft ministerial regulation:

Buildings and premises under road transportation of the Transport Ministry including bus terminals are required to provide facilities for disabled users as imposed in the Building Control Act and the Disabled Persons Promotion and Development Life Quality Act, while related characteristics of vehicles provided for the disabled must be in line with the conditions set by the Department of Land Transport.

Facilities and services as well as premises under marine transportation are required to be provided with appropriate standard facilities such as the zone of seats for the disabled with outstanding signs as defined by the Marine Department.

The same criteria apply to aviation and railway transportations, tools and equipments must be provided for handicapped users with acceptable quality standard for safety purpose including the places provided for wheelchair storage. Each train is needed to set at least two seats for disabled persons as well as noticeable signs or electric signs of required information for their acknowledgment.

Buildings and premises at the rest stops along the highways of over 300 square meters-size or the rest and service areas on one rai of land must have rest rooms provided for the public with particular service for disabled people as well. The premises have to arrange a place for wheelchairs and parking lot for the disabled with the assigned space in proportion to their sizes, also railings and wheel brakes at the risk area provided to prevent any accident of slipped wheelchairs.

Highways and involved agencies must arrange noticeable symbols or signals for those with disabilities including audio signals or stepped path for sight disability people. The draft ministerial regulation defines that service providers must facilitate those people with the best effort so that they can get the services properly with full rights obtained as prescribed by the laws.

Those land and rail vehicles which are in service as well as buildings which are completed or having construction contract made before the enforcement date are exempted from provisions in the regulation.

-- NNT 2010-07-20