BUS DRIVERS `FORCED TO RACE'

BANGKOK:-- Speeding, passing, swerving and cutting in are what private bus drivers are serving to Bangkok commuters every day. Viroj Srikhadkhao, 33, simply accepts the public denouncing minibuses for going too fast. He said it is the natural outcome of the commissions that drivers of private buses earn in relation to ticket sales. He drives a minibus on route 12 and has six minibuses for leasing.

``Passengers often wave their hand to call a minibus but simultaneously look for another bus. If they see a BMTA bus following behind, they will run to the BMTA bus. Minibus drivers understand that,'' Mr Viroj said, comparing the service of private operators and the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority.

However, he insisted that not all minibus drivers were as bad as the public perceived. Good ones do exist.

The returns that are based on ticket sales prompt private bus drivers to race for passengers. An ``efficient'' driver who can make five or six trips a day can earn up to 800-900 baht a day. But on a day-off, such a driver will not earn a baht.

As a minibus owner, Mr Viroj said his costs were high. Each bus makes a daily income of 3,300 baht (based on 600 tickets sold) but bears the daily costs of 1,200-1,300 baht for fuel, 660 baht for a driver (a 20% share of ticket income), 330 baht for a conductor (10% of ticket income), 100 baht for insurance and 107 baht for a concession fee. These still exclude depreciation.

The net profit is meagre and operators lose income if a bus is involved in an accident.

Nipa Boonthai, a 47-year-old minibus owner, said she had set some criteria in recruiting drivers but they were not so strict as those of the BMTA because drivers are hard to find.

She said she had to take her chances by trying to look for drivers who ``looked'' good. No operator wants a driver who is accident prone because that would affect their income.

Somchai Onjai, a 39-year-old private bus driver on route 182, admitted he had to race to pick up passengers to maximise his 8% share in ticket income.

``You must understand that private bus drivers race against time. Sometimes we must drive fast to get passengers at bus stops. If we lose at one bus stop, we must race for the next stop,'' he said.

It's a different story for BMTA drivers.

Prapassorn Panta, 50, who drives a BMTA air-conditioned bus on route 515 said BMTA drivers were under pressure. The BMTA checked their records before recruitment and gave them quarterly training. ``BMTA drivers are subject to many regulations. Failing to observe them ... can lead to dismissal,'' he said.

--Bangkok Post 2005-11-14

brightens up my day to read stories like these

I saw another one the other night, I think it was the Bangkok to Rayong bus that had beeen travelling south on 331 towards Sattahip. It had crossed the road and ploughed into a field, just missing a restaraunt. Ominously the was a motorcycle crash helmet in the ditch behind the bus.

Guess this gives a better picture to why Thais drive like maniacs.

It's a race between time and money.