Lite Beer Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Spot check finds two Phuket bus drivers on methPrapaporn Jitmaneeyaphan The two drivers who admitted to having taken ya bah – Udorn, left, and Natthapong PHUKET: Provincial officials today took urine samples from 33 tour bus drivers, at the request of two bus companies, to test for illegal drugs. Two of the drivers tested positive, with both admitting that they had taken methamphetamine – half a pill apiece.The two are to be sent to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a detoxification course but apart from that will face no sanctions.Drivers from MKR Transport Co and Je-Siam Holiday Phuket Co gathered at the Je-Siam offices in Sam Kong, Phuket Town, and provided samples and, watched by Governor Maitree Inthusut, these were tested.The samples provided by Natthapong Chinlee and Udorn Sainate of MKR tested positive for methamphetamine, or ya ba (“crazy drug”).MKR’s owner, Gengkao Jangjedriw, admitted to being embarrassed about the result. “I have lost face a little. But, two out of 15, I can live with that.“They are both new here. I will give them one more chance – they can keep their jobs – but I will watch their behaviour.”He added, “Today I brought all the drivers here without telling them where we were going or what was going to happen. I told them only that we were going to have a meeting.”Nopparut Pitthayanitchakul, owner of Je Siam – whose drivers all tested clean – told The Phuket News he was confident this would be the result because he constantly stressed to his employees that they must not use drugs.“This check is open and above-board. I believe no owner wants to hire a driver who is addicted to drugs because if any damage results, it could cost the company millions of baht.”He added, “It was good of the government officials to come here to help because it costs quite a lot to have them all tested; I understand it costs B800 per person. If you have a lot of employees, that’s a lot of money. So, when we had a meeting with the Governor recently, about driving buses over Patong Hill, we asked if he would help.”Gov Maitree told the Phuket News, “There are four main factors that we must to focus on [to make bus travel safer]. These are the driver, the vehicle, the traffic engineering, and the traffic regulations.“We have to make sure that drivers are in a good physical condition, are not drunk, and are not addicted to drugs. Vehicles must be in a good condition, and ready for use, and the condition of the road and the signage should be up to standard.”Gov Maitree also warned that all bus owners should be careful from now because, if officials get drug-positive results from driver’s urine, the company will be fined B40,000.Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/spot-check-finds-two-phuket-bus-drivers-on-meth-44055.php -- Phuket News 2014-01-16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiang mai Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 A decent result all round I reckon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clockman Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 And what about testing for alcohol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post cornishcarlos Posted January 16, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted January 16, 2014 “I have lost face a little. But, two out of 15, I can live with that." If one of his kids was killed by a drugged up driver, would he say "I have have lost a kid. But, one out of four, I can live with that" Take their licenses off them until they have done a full rehab. Then do random tests on them for the next 6 months. The mind boggles at Thainess of it all ??? 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inzman Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 2 out of 15, pretty good for Thailand, and of course acceptable by the bosses standards. Try it in a civilized country and these two stooges would be seeing the back side of some bars! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LivinginKata Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Is this really any surprise ? So much to say about this... "But, two out of 15, I can live with that." ... but what about the passengers on the bus. They could die in an accident. " I understand it costs B800 per person. If you have a lot of employees, thats a lot of money" ... what, are you out of your mind. 800 baht is nothing compared with the cost of an accident. Money trumps safety yet again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiang mai Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 You're not entirely incorrect but elements of your post make me think you still believe you're living in the UK! Trust me when I say the OP is all very positive and not far off the point of being the best it can be right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clockman Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 The mantra is greed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiang mai Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 The mantra is greed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The mantra is education or inadequacy of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NomadJoe Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 (edited) Amazing there was only 2. "They are both new here. I will give them one more chance – they can keep their jobs – but I will watch their behaviour.” That is simply shocking..even for Thailand. A clear message that bus drivers can now use drugs with no fear of any consequences. Edited January 16, 2014 by NomadJoe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USNret Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 I was looking for the opening line: "After spot checking two drivers, it was found that two had meth in their system." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post falangadang Posted January 17, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted January 17, 2014 And what about testing for alcohol! What about testing for driving skills? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alwyn Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 Crikey! The owner of the company is willing to let these two back behind the wheel of a hire & reward vehicle and give not only them a chance - but his passengers a chance that these two chumps won't drive while under the influence of illegal drugs? (not to mention alcohol) This seems a bit mental to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelepulse Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 Why don't these companies test before hiring ( the "they're new" excuse is just that, an excuse) and then have random checks on a monthly basis? One failed test and they're sacked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somchaismith Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 The guy's going to give them a second chance? Only in Thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tingtongteesood Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 It is at least a baby step in the right direction, some testing is better than none as we previously had. Let's hope it picks up some steam soon.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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