Phuket tour bus drivers caught in Patong Hill checkpoint drug blitz

[webfact]

Phuket tour bus drivers caught in Patong Hill checkpoint drug blitz
Phuket Gazette


Police stopped and checked 75 Phuket tour bus drivers on Monday, with 16 testing positive for drugs. Photo: PR Dept

PHUKET: -- The new police and transport office safety checkpoint for buses about to cross over Patong Hill netted 16 drivers who tested positive for drugs in its first day of operation this week.

Officers tested 75 drivers at the new checkpoint, set up near the Thung Thong police checkpoint on Pra Barami Road (map here), on Monday.

“The drivers who failed the test had their licenses confiscated immediately and they were ordered to complete a four-month drug treatment program at Vachira Phuket Hsopital,” Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO) Chief Terayout Prasertphol said.

“Their licenses will be returned – and they will be able to return to work – only after they have successfully completed the drug rehab.”

Mr Terayout said the drug testing was a long time coming.

“We warned tour bus operators at the beginning of the year that we would start drug testing bus drivers in Phuket (story here). Each operator was fined the maximum 40,000 baht for each driver who tested positive for drugs,” he told the Phuket Gazette.

The new checkpoint, which operates only on Mondays and Thursdays, was ordered by Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut following the horrific bus crash on Patong Hill that claimed two lives and injured 26 people on December 29 (story here).

The first suggestion following the tragic accident was to ban heavy buses and trucks outright from travelling west across Patong Hill. The idea was later scaled back to preventing them from crossing the steep inclines during rush hours, a restriction that was already on the books but not enforced.

Then and now, officials are focused on brake failure problems and ensuring a smooth flow of traffic over the hill to help prevent them (story here).

Kathu District Chief Sayan Chanachaiwong hailed the new checkpoint a success.

“We improved traffic flow and got drug-using drivers off the road,” he said.

The traffic jam that the center’s inspections caused actually helped improve traffic flow by restricting the number of vehicles going over the hill, Chief Sayan said.

“The delay caused by the checkpoint can help prevent brake failure. Because there are fewer vehicles going up the hill at the same time, trucks and buses don’t have to use their brakes as often,” he explained.

Governor Maitri explained that other safety measures were in the works.

“We also have some ideas for improving traffic flow on the Patong side, such as not allowing cars from Phisit Gorani Road to turn right and ascend the hill. If we make those cars turn left and u-turn before climbing the hill, it will clear up some congestion on that side,” he said.

“And we’re going to improve the road itself. The Highways Department will repaint road lines, repair damaged areas and expand the road with the 15-million-baht budget they got this year.”

Officials are concerned about road safety on all roads, but want to focus on Patong Hill first because of the high number of accidents there, he added.

Last November, a tour bus carrying 49 students crashed, seriously injuring one student (story here); in September a tour bus without passengers crashed into a house (story here); in June five Russian tourists were injured when their tour bus crashed descending into Patong (story here) and in February, a tour bus hit a motorcyclist and crashed into a utility pole, causing a three-hour traffic jam (story here).

In the first accident, the bus was unable to ascend the steep incline; the three other cases involved brake failure.

As recently as yesterday, a safety-consciousness bus driver avoided danger by pulling his bus, carry Chinese tourists, off the road before the steep decline after he realized his brakes were failing (story here).

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2014/Phuket-tour-bus-drivers-caught-in-Patong-Hill-checkpoint-drug-blitz-27855.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2014-03-15

[Tony M]

Am I allowed to laugh ?

"“We warned tour bus operators at the beginning of the year that we would start drug testing bus drivers in Phuket (story here). Each operator was fined the maximum 40,000 baht for each driver who tested positive for drugs,” he told the Phuket Gazette.

The new checkpoint, which operates only on Mondays and Thursdays, was ordered by Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut following the horrific bus crash on Patong Hill that claimed two lives and injured 26 people on December 29 (story here)."

What are the odds that they won't actually catch any more drug-taking drivers on Mondays and Thursdays ?

[retell]

Am I allowed to laugh ?

"We warned tour bus operators at the beginning of the year that we would start drug testing bus drivers in Phuket (story here). Each operator was fined the maximum 40,000 baht for each driver who tested positive for drugs, he told the Phuket Gazette.

The new checkpoint, which operates only on Mondays and Thursdays, was ordered by Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut following the horrific bus crash on Patong Hill that claimed two lives and injured 26 people on December 29 (story here)."

What are the odds that they won't actually catch any more drug-taking drivers on Mondays and Thursdays ?

Well , they have to stay off the dope a while before the tests show negative

[andreandre]

The traffic jam that the center’s inspections caused actually helped improve traffic flow by restricting the number of vehicles going over the hill, Chief Sayan said.

“The delay caused by the checkpoint can help prevent brake failure. Because there are fewer vehicles going up the hill at the same time, trucks and buses don’t have to use their brakes as often,” he explained.

Words fail me..scary thing is they really believe the BS that they say

[LivinginKata]

well, that's a very POSITIVE sign.

[stevenl]

Wasn't that road to be closed to buses?

[huahinjoe]

Maybe next time they can do some drugtests on the speedy Tuk-Tuk & Minivan drivers too

[JoeThePoster]

The Highways Department

Gotta change that name when they take high out of highways.

[crazygreg44]

“The delay caused by the checkpoint can help prevent brake failure. Because there are fewer vehicles going up the hill at the same time, trucks and buses don’t have to use their brakes as often,” he explained.

wouldn't it be about time to TEACH these bus driving idiots, on how to use low gear for braking when going downhill ?? It seems nobody ever has heard about this method that will allow them to get their feet from the brake pedal !!!

[Calimotty]

Meth Odd in the madness? the unseen tourist $$$ are insurmountable but you can't teach an old soi dog can you?

[oops]

This is just another dog and pony show. Road side shows to make us think they are doing something and most of you are falling for it.

Until they go after the owners of the company's and make them police their own employee's none of this will go away and they will keep hiring people who aren't suited for the work or that are illegal and why not, they are not being blamed for anything.

It's absurd that they are going only after the bus drivers without first raiding and charging the owners of the company's who force them to work long hours or loose their jobs.

They are putting pressure on the wrong people, it's like talking to the dogs ass.

[robertthebruce]

Its a start.... ,

[stevenl]

This is just another dog and pony show. Road side shows to make us think they are doing something and most of you are falling for it.

Until they go after the owners of the company's and make them police their own employee's none of this will go away and they will keep hiring people who aren't suited for the work or that are illegal and why not, they are not being blamed for anything.

It's absurd that they are going only after the bus drivers without first raiding and charging the owners of the company's who force them to work long hours or loose their jobs.

They are putting pressure on the wrong people, it's like talking to the dogs ass.

And don't forget it are also the owners who set schedules for their drivers that are near impossible to meet, forcing them to speeding etc.

[EBlair48]

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( sorry for no credit on posts the multi quote function is not working )

Wasn't that road to be closed to buses?

Yes , but after they realized the buses would instead likely be going over the cliffs on the road down into Kamala - they decided to rescind it.

Snippet

Until they go after the owners of the company's and make them police their own employee's none of this will go away and they will keep hiring people who aren't suited for the work or that are illegal and why not, they are not being blamed for anything. alt=giggle.gif>

According to the article, the owners of the positively tested drivers willl be fined 40,000 baht, which is the maximum fine.

[stevenl]

According to the article, the owners of the positively tested drivers willl be fined 40,000 baht, which is the maximum fine.

I missed that, excellent.

[Mugg]

Last time they had that much drugs on buses Janis Joplin and the Grate full dead were opening acts at Woodstock 1969

[NamKangMan]

"Each operator was fined the maximum 40,000 baht for each driver who tested positive for drugs,” he told the Phuket Gazette." - why not also deregister the buses for a month, or more, as well?

40,000 baht out of company funds is not a lot, but removing the company's ability to earn from the vehicle, that would be a good deterrent and go a long way to cleaning up the industry.

[Lupatria]

Am I allowed to laugh ?

"“We warned tour bus operators at the beginning of the year that we would start drug testing bus drivers in Phuket (story here). Each operator was fined the maximum 40,000 baht for each driver who tested positive for drugs,” he told the Phuket Gazette.

The new checkpoint, which operates only on Mondays and Thursdays, was ordered by Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut following the horrific bus crash on Patong Hill that claimed two lives and injured 26 people on December 29 (story here)."

What are the odds that they won't actually catch any more drug-taking drivers on Mondays and Thursdays ?

Here is what to expect next:

Dear junkie bus drivers,

due to overwhelming popular demand we are sorry to inform you, that our drug tests will only be performed on Mondays and Thursdays from 6pm to 10pm at Pra Barami Road. Alternative drug checks by appointment only. Please apply at your nearest police station. We are sorry for any inconvenience.

Have a nice flight

Your traffic police

[inzman]

16 out f 75, so about 20 % got caught and the other 80 % paid on the spot? This is positively unacceptable that 20 % of the tour bus drivers are high on drugs. So easy to stop it with mandatory drug tests to get hired and then randomly every few months. Why is this not mandatory? Maybe, there would not be enough available drivers if they required drug tests? That is such statement on the problems of Thailand today.

[Benmart]

Glad to see it.

There are some, who can only appreciate their own work, and not the efforts of others. It's ugly name is "Self".

[Somtamnication]

Already then. Somchai now knows what days to avoid Da Hill. Freegin' amazing!

[robblok]

Am I allowed to laugh ?

"“We warned tour bus operators at the beginning of the year that we would start drug testing bus drivers in Phuket (story here). Each operator was fined the maximum 40,000 baht for each driver who tested positive for drugs,” he told the Phuket Gazette.

The new checkpoint, which operates only on Mondays and Thursdays, was ordered by Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut following the horrific bus crash on Patong Hill that claimed two lives and injured 26 people on December 29 (story here)."

What are the odds that they won't actually catch any more drug-taking drivers on Mondays and Thursdays ?

I believe you can test for yabaa 3 days after use.. so by using these days they can almost net a weeks of drug use.

[expatoz]

with the drivers not taking drugs to stay awake while driving the road toll will increase that's a fact given the conditions they have to work too the authorities need to target the company owners ............from an expat Australian interstate operator

[Pinot]

Every time they do random testing of ALL drivers at a checkpoint in Phuket they get a hit rate of 25%. That's how widespread drug use is. I don't know if that's a stat specific to Phuket or it's that widespread in Thailand.

[jimbeam1]

Last time they had that much drugs on buses Janis Joplin and the Grate full dead were opening acts at Woodstock 1969

Richie Havens opened Woodstock. RIP

jb1

[cocopops]

Every time they do random testing of ALL drivers at a checkpoint in Phuket they get a hit rate of 25%. That's how widespread drug use is. I don't know if that's a stat specific to Phuket or it's that widespread in Thailand.

Does anybody know if they are testing for cannabis and others as well as the yaba?

20-25% of drivers being even casual meth users seems higher than one would like it to be...

Edited March 15, 2014 by cocopops

[monkey4u]

“The delay caused by the checkpoint can help prevent brake failure. Because there are fewer vehicles going up the hill at the same time, trucks and buses don’t have to use their brakes as often,” he explained.

wouldn't it be about time to TEACH these bus driving idiots, on how to use low gear for braking when going downhill ?? It seems nobody ever has heard about this method that will allow them to get their feet from the brake pedal !!!

If we do this we travel too slow

Loose face as we all cowboys

Anyway we had the best driving instructors ourselves

We graduate from Buffalo

[SanukJoeII]

Excellent development!

In spite of the always present negative-posters this is a welcome initiative that should be the start of a nationwide regulalr check on drugs, be it bus drivers, truck- or minivan drivers. All people that drive many more hours than they should to stay fit, should be checked, of course also checks at night, when drivers are tired as they did not sleep the night before. It will save lives, I'm sure of that.

Why do accident drivers always flee the scene and turn up after 3 days? As drugs can be traced up until 3 days after use....

That also explains the not so stupid frequency of Phuket police to check twice a week. Any drug user will be detected sooner or later, and with the 40K fine for the operator it will make not a lot of profit anymore to hire drug users as drivers.

Thinking again of the school bus accidents in the first 3 months of this year, I wonder what it would cost to have a small police team checking the drivers before they leave at 4 am and return at 10 pm. No guarantee that they don't take drugs during the day (and alcohol), but at least the start of the school trip will see drivers that not have been drinking in the previous hours and did not take drugs in the 3 days before driving the school bus. Good idea!

For the idiot who claimed more accidents as the drivers get tired: you must read something about drugs like meth, indeed they are used to have more energy, but it is known that there are many side effects, one of them "blurred vision" and "dizziness", great for a bus driver! On the psychological side unwanted effects are overly self confidence, feeling of glory and "nothing can happen". That explains in case of drug using drivers the speeding and the too high speed in curves, resulting in crashes.

So: no way to use drugs to get more energy! An absolute zero tolerance is the only way, but it needs quite some personnel to check it. Maybe the guys who check papers and stickers on a daily routine could be put into these highly necessary drug- and alcohol test check points.

More energy? Sleep befotre you drive, don't drink 8 hours before, no drugs of course, good health (vision, heart, blood pressure).

Again: a welcome initiative of Phuket police, I hope it will soon be national, also here in Isan!

[allan michaud]

16 out of 75 tested. <deleted> So 20% of tour bus drivers are off their heads. Great stuff

[expatoz]

so why do airforce pilots take drugs to stay alert before going on a mission mr SanukJoeII your problem is you read to much and dont know anything yourself forget your self centered opinion and get facts