Facebook group aims to keep Phuket visa runners safe

[Lite Beer]

Facebook group aims to keep Phuket visa runners safe
Phuket Gazette -

A Filipina singer was killed in this visa van crash in October. Photo: Supplied

PHUKET: A new Phuket Facebook group was born on Thursday night with the goal of protecting the lives of resident expats during visa runs.

The group “Phuket Visa Run Ride Share Network” (click here) was started by long-term expat Joe Blazy to unite residents who travel to the popular visa destinations of Ranong and Penang, Malyasia.

“Some friends and I had been discussing creating some kind of space on the net where resident expats could network in order to carpool during visa runs,’ Mr Blazy told the Phuket Gazette.

Members of the group, who are not allowed to charge fees, are encouraged to settle on a date of travel and then split the price of fuel and cost of renting a vehicle.

“For years we have been reading reports of visa run accidents resulting in injury or death. This is coupled with the unanimous reports from expats that drivers drive insanely fast and take huge risks on the roads, such as following too closely, overtaking on a blind curve and so on,” Mr Blazy said when explaining why such an online community was necessary.

The general reaction to the group has been positive so far, Mr Blazy said.

“Most people wonder why there hasn’t been something like this sooner. The legality of foreigners driving foreigners has been brought up, but I do not see that as a realistic concern. No one is making money on this,” he explained.

The creation of the group came 10 days after a visa van from Phuket crashed in Malaysia (story here).

However, it was the death of Filipina singer Renita Dequina Polido on October 21 that sent the biggest shock waves through the Phuket visa-running community (story here).

The Facebook group will exist only as long as necessary, Mr Blazy said.

“If I hear that visa run companies have all taken measures to improve safety and people stop complaining about dangerous drivers, I will take down the group,” Mr Blazy said.

“At the moment it appears there is no concern for safety, a problem not limited to visa run buses. Personally I think the drivers compete with each other to see who can do the route the quickest.”

Some visa-run companies have expressed a concern for safety. One explained to the Gazette earlier this year that it had several safety precautions in place to ensure the well-being of customers.

The owner escorts drivers on their first visa runs to make sure their driving practices meet company standards, two drivers are provided for the long drive to Penang, and GPS is used to track how fast vans are going. If a driver is going too fast, he receives a call telling him to slow down.

“GPS systems to monitor speed is a great start, but GPS doesn't tell the whole story. It doesn’t account for rain or any other dangerous driving habits other than speed,” Mr Blazy said.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Facebook-group-aims-to-keep-Phuket-visa-runners-safe-23083.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-12-22

[PoorSucker]

Here on Samui we have been doing it on the Samui forum for almost two years now.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/525706-private-visa-runs/

[keestha]

As far as going to Ranong is concerned, those worried about safety might as well just take the public bus, easily doable in 1 day, will take a bit more time than going on an organized visa run, but works out cheaper. Going to Penang, one could take the public bus to Hadyai, and from there, oh well, take a minivan.

[Blindside]

Got back from Penang a week ago. Had three drivers in the course of the run.

Two excellent and one straight from hell. He did not really go too fast, but on the phone (talk and sms) for the 2.5 hour stint he did.

My major objection was that the minivan on the Malaysian side and the one back did not have seat belts! A total no-no. I will fly, if there is a next time.

I think the pooling option is a very good one. One of the things that frustrates and angers people a lot is when they feel powerless, this puts back a bit of control in their hands.

Look into driving right to Penang. Just be warned that you have all the right permits. The visa company I was with and another one had all their buses (6 in total) escorted by the Malaysian police to the station to pay their fines and get their permits to drive in Malaysia.

[hansgruber]

Taking money out of visa run companies will certainly make Joe some enemies.

[KarenBravo]

Taking money out of visa run companies will certainly make Joe some enemies.

The only way to make visa-run companies change their bad habits and address the concerns of their customers is to hit them where it hurts.

Their pockets.

Good luck to Joe.

[FireMedic]

Excellent idea! I think it will drive them them nuts...literally. I can't wait to see how this turns out. We should start doing things like this more often and lessen our dependence on Thai services we are otherwise forced to use. Like bringing cute puppies to Bangla Rd for free pics with tourists to piss off the Loris touts. It's not illegal but, they sure as shit won't like it.

[simon43]

As far as going to Ranong is concerned, those worried about safety might as well just take the public bus, easily doable in 1 day

The public bus company for that route is Rungkit Tour. I have travelled several times on their buses and always found that they drive in a relatively safe manner. But it's a long day for the visa trip, about 5 hours in the bus to Ranong, motorbike taxi to immigration, longtail to Kawthaung, and then the same all the way back. But the overall cost is low.

Simon

[IrishIvan]

As far as going to Ranong is concerned, those worried about safety might as well just take the public bus, easily doable in 1 day

The public bus company for that route is Rungkit Tour. I have travelled several times on their buses and always found that they drive in a relatively safe manner. But it's a long day for the visa trip, about 5 hours in the bus to Ranong, motorbike taxi to immigration, longtail to Kawthaung, and then the same all the way back. But the overall cost is low.

Simon

5hrs??? Its like a 500km trip to Ranong. They must be hammering.

Best way to get to Penang is to fly. Firefly costs about 6000 baht return. Direct from Phuket. I dont know why people would bother with a minivan trying to save 2000 baht. Its just crazy.

[LivinginKata]

5hrs??? Its like a 500km trip to Ranong. They must be hammering.

Best way to get to Penang is to fly. Firefly costs about 6000 baht return. Direct from Phuket. I dont know why people would bother with a minivan trying to save 2000 baht. Its just crazy.

Don't know what route you use Ivan, but I estimate 300 km each way. Google Earth says 288 km. 3.5 hours each way. 5 hours in a bus sounds about correct, allowing for stops along the way.

[eezergood]

The minivan muppets will blockade his house!

Brave man & wish him luck

[Ulic]

Best of lick, vote for safety with your feet and hit the visa run companies were it hurts, there pocket books.

[stevenl]

The minivan muppets will blockade his house!

Brave man & wish him luck

If it were to get business like proportions, yes, and if that happens it may also be deemed a business.

But for the moment, they won't notice and won't care.

[hansgruber]

The minivan muppets will blockade his house!

Brave man & wish him luck

If it were to get business like proportions, yes, and if that happens it may also be deemed a business.

But for the moment, they won't notice and won't care.

Won't notice?

Joe's full name is attached to the main story and I'm sure the story has been forwarded on to visa run companies.

I know of a few farang ran ones who read this site.

[stevenl]

The minivan muppets will blockade his house!

Brave man & wish him luck

If it were to get business like proportions, yes, and if that happens it may also be deemed a business.

But for the moment, they won't notice and won't care.

Won't notice?

Joe's full name is attached to the main story and I'm sure the story has been forwarded on to visa run companies.

I know of a few farang ran ones who read this site.

With notice I meant 'no change in their numbers'. Unless you think the 4 persons every 3 months or so will make a significant dent in their numbers.

Would I want to be in the news like this? No. Do i think it is dangerous to Joe? No.

[IrishIvan]

Unless Joe is targeting Russians then it wont have an impact on visa run companies

[eezergood]

The minivan muppets will blockade his house!

Brave man & wish him luck

If it were to get business like proportions, yes, and if that happens it may also be deemed a business.

But for the moment, they won't notice and won't care.

Won't notice?

Joe's full name is attached to the main story and I'm sure the story has been forwarded on to visa run companies.

I know of a few farang ran ones who read this site.

With notice I meant 'no change in their numbers'. Unless you think the 4 persons every 3 months or so will make a significant dent in their numbers.

Would I want to be in the news like this? No. Do i think it is dangerous to Joe? No.

This is all based on sendible adult reasoning & logic, when dealing with the tuktuk/minvan/taxi morons all of this goes out of the window & they revert to type.

[JetsetBkk]

Nobody has mentioned work permits, yet.

OK, I just did.

[NamKangMan]

Taking money out of visa run companies will certainly make Joe some enemies.

I posted that I thought the drivers would come in for some unwanted attention, but after reading this article, I agree, Joe may be the first to receive some unwanted attention, but good luck to him, and this initiative.

I eagerly the "Phuket Beach Hoppers Car Pool" Facebook page. :)

Edited December 23, 2013 by NamKangMan

[NamKangMan]

The minivan muppets will blockade his house!

Brave man & wish him luck

If it were to get business like proportions, yes, and if that happens it may also be deemed a business.

But for the moment, they won't notice and won't care.

At what point would it be deemed "business like proprtion?"

[NamKangMan]

As far as going to Ranong is concerned, those worried about safety might as well just take the public bus, easily doable in 1 day

The public bus company for that route is Rungkit Tour. I have travelled several times on their buses and always found that they drive in a relatively safe manner. But it's a long day for the visa trip, about 5 hours in the bus to Ranong, motorbike taxi to immigration, longtail to Kawthaung, and then the same all the way back. But the overall cost is low.

Simon

5hrs??? Its like a 500km trip to Ranong. They must be hammering.

Best way to get to Penang is to fly. Firefly costs about 6000 baht return. Direct from Phuket. I dont know why people would bother with a minivan trying to save 2000 baht. Its just crazy.

I fly as well, but I will give this a try in thefuture. I may be lucky to meet up with a good crew. If so, I'll probably make it a regular visa run.

So, I suppose, that's one less customer to the airport every 90 days as well.

[thailandbeachisland]

For sure, anything can be safe when travelling in a sardine can or coughing on wheels...