Bus Drivers Reported As Reckless By Passengers To Be Fined

[webfact]

Bus drivers reported as reckless by passengers to be fined

BANGKOK, 16 April 2013 (NNT) – The Land Transport Department will fine drivers of buses who were reported by passengers as reckless drivers.

As many as 12,000 calls were made to the department’s 1584 hotline for protection of public transport users, during the Songkran period. The calls were mostly made to inquire about bus routes, tourism sites and items left on public transports.

Complaints were lodged against taxi drivers that declined to pick up passengers and those who were offensive or who failed to let passengers get off at the agreed spot.

Complaints were also made against public van, bus and minibus drivers who drove recklessly, who did not stop at bus stops, and who displayed offensive behavior. Excess charging of fees were also reported.

The department will call in the drivers in question for interrogation, and then fine them.


-- NNT 2013-04-16

[arthurboy]

Unenforceable and, as usual, an utter waste of time.

Yet another day in la la land.

[fareastguy]

Fined.... but NOT taken off the road !!

The carnage will continue.. in the L.O.D (land of death)

[Payboy]

Complaints were also made against public van, bus and minibus drivers who drove recklessly, who did not stop at bus stops

Bus stop? Or in other words, middle lanes of a 6 lane road?

Edited April 15, 2013 by Payboy

[lovetotravel]

Fined.... but NOT taken off the road !!

The carnage will continue.. in the L.O.D (land of death)

Doubt they will be fined. Very wealthy people are behind these transport companies.

[edwinchester]

Whilst I am all for passengers reporting reckless driving I fail to see how a driver can be prosecuted and fined merely on a passengers say so, a court will never accept heresay.

[Thai at Heart]

Whilst I am all for passengers reporting reckless driving I fail to see how a driver can be prosecuted and fined merely on a passengers say so, a court will never accept heresay.

That is the wonder of social media.

[Dancealot]

Last week i barely survived going downhill with an old Thai bus down the Kao Koh mountains...

A friend of mine experienced the same awhile back.

It's crazy and reckless and something needs to be done about it before more people get hurt.

[Thai at Heart]

Last week i barely survived going downhill with an old Thai bus down the Kao Koh mountains...

A friend of mine experienced the same awhile back.

It's crazy and reckless and something needs to be done about it before more people get hurt.

I drive that stretch twice a month. It is a death trap for heavy vehicles

[Dancealot]

Last week i barely survived going downhill with an old Thai bus down the Kao Koh mountains...

A friend of mine experienced the same awhile back.

It's crazy and reckless and something needs to be done about it before more people get hurt.

I drive that stretch twice a month. It is a death trap for heavy vehicles

Route 12... The bit to Kohn Kean is not so bad as the Kao Koh bit..

[kurnell]

Fined.... but NOT taken off the road !!

The carnage will continue.. in the L.O.D (land of death)

Land of death? Isn't that just a bit melodramatic?

[Thai at Heart]

Last week i barely survived going downhill with an old Thai bus down the Kao Koh mountains...

A friend of mine experienced the same awhile back.

It's crazy and reckless and something needs to be done about it before more people get hurt.

I drive that stretch twice a month. It is a death trap for heavy vehicles

Route 12... The bit to Kohn Kean is not so bad as the Kao Koh bit..

The kai koh hill is shocking. They even have the lanes wrong. Two down and one up as opposed to the other way.

[meatboy]

thank you for your complaint,and your name and address,ohhhhhhhhhhh, mai-pen-rai.

[Locationthailand]

More chin wagging and headline grabbing and useless dialogue. When they publish the numbers of people fined then I will believe it and only when compared to the number of complaints. Driving yesterday through the city I saw at least 10 taxis refuse passengers. Many were not wet or drunk and simply looking for a ride. I am sure the excuse was pay a flat fee and no meter which is what I experienced the day before. Many taxi are crooks and take advantage of the situation. And like all these complaints - the public transport division will be incapable of doing anything about it simply by sheer volume of complaints alone.

[MaxLee]

Police: " You nasty, nasty bus and taxi drivers, you'll have to pay a nasty nasty fine,... okay, next time don't get caught...!!!!!

[retell]

Fined.... but NOT taken off the road !!

The carnage will continue.. in the L.O.D (land of death)

Land of death? Isn't that just a bit melodramatic?

they smile afterwards ,,thats cynical and completely inappropriate but me still recovering from that massive hangover in about 4 hours

[DocN]

The department will call in the drivers in question for interrogation, and then fine them.

...was that just a pig, flying by my window?

[Thai at Heart]

The department will call in the drivers in question for interrogation, and then fine them.

...was that just a pig, flying by my window?

And the company gets?

[retell]

The department will call in the drivers in question for interrogation, and then fine them.

...was that just a pig, flying by my window?

And the company gets?

a tab on the shoulder and more privileges ?

[LuckyLew]

The department will call in the drivers in question for interrogation, and then fine them.

...was that just a pig, flying by my window?

No was not a pig ..

Was a wheel that flew off one of the old buses

[BrianCR]

Love to see all the positive comments from the TV experts! It might be small but at least it's something and a start in the right direction!

[A Member]

Whilst I am all for passengers reporting reckless driving I fail to see how a driver can be prosecuted and fined merely on a passengers say so, a court will never accept heresay.

Exactly but it sounds good for public consumption. Note too the phrase " ... will be interrogated " rather than interviewed as interrogation is a military / security services term and has a sinister ring. Will any fines be the actual official tariff or of the usual " discounted " variety and no record kept that the driver was ever called in ? How many times will a driver be seen before he's sacked etc ? Just more official BS from a government that believes it can fool all of the people all of the time

[WhizBang]

Fined.... but NOT taken off the road !!

The carnage will continue.. in the L.O.D (land of death)

Land of death? Isn't that just a bit melodramatic?

Not as melodramatic as you might want to believe.

[scorecard]

Whilst I am all for passengers reporting reckless driving I fail to see how a driver can be prosecuted and fined merely on a passengers say so, a court will never accept heresay.

Agree, there must be a process which follows proper laws and appropriate investigation and is seen by all as balanced and fair.

Thailand already has very serious problems with lack of respect for the law and unbalanced application of laws and unbalanced application of punishments.

What we don't need is more kangaroo courts.

90% of the countries across the world have developed systems / laws / processes which have seriously reigned in bad drivers, etc.

There's no need to reinvent the wheel, what a pity the Thai authorities can't / won't get their heads out of the sand and take a look at what works and what doesn't work in other countries and adapt to the Thai scenario.

Edited April 16, 2013 by scorecard

[kurnell]

Fined.... but NOT taken off the road !!

The carnage will continue.. in the L.O.D (land of death)

Land of death? Isn't that just a bit melodramatic?

Not as melodramatic as you might want to believe.

No. It's melodramatic.

[Fgis]

I am worried.

No bus accident today ?

[besth]

The department will call in the drivers in question for interrogation, and then fine them.

Called for interrogation... and then fine them.

Seems like there is no point for interrogation. Never mind what they might say during questioning, just fine them for tea money (and then let them go and continue to drive as usual)

[cup-O-coffee]

I think the title of this article pretty much describes Thailands take on criminal justice, and how it weighs against the sensible phrase, "To Protect and Serve"!

[DocN]

I am worried.

No bus accident today ?

No jokes, please!

My girlfriend is on her way back from Korat, right now!!!

[wprime]

Fined.... but NOT taken off the road !!

The carnage will continue.. in the L.O.D (land of death)

Doubt they will be fined. Very wealthy people are behind these transport companies.

Not the companies who are being fined, the drivers. This is great news.