Thai DLT to crack down on speeding vans and driver misbehavior

[webfact]

DLT to crack down on speeding vans and driver misbehavior



BANGKOK, 12 Dec 2014, (NNT) - The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has stepped up measures against speeding vans and van operators who exhibit vulgar behavior especially during the New Year long holiday.

The Director-General of the DLT, Therapong Rodprasert announced that his department would deploy RFID Technology to clamp down on the number of speeding vans, while warning van operators who intentionally vandalize their license plates to prevent the system from working correctly, that are liable to punishment under the law.

Mr. Therapong said van operators who have been caught by the RFID will be fined up to 10,000 baht while being charged an additional 5,000 baht for the first to the fifth offenses. He adding however that the third to the fifth offenses would also land a 15-day, a 30-day, and then a complete revocation of their driving license respectively.

Regarding the recent video clip on social media, showing a van operator driving at high speed while exhibiting vulgar behavior, the Director-General stated that the DLT has identified the driver in question, Weera Jaruekklang, who works at the Transport Company Limited operating on the Bangkok-Chonburi Route.

He said Mr. Weera has received appropriate disciplinary action, while urging commuters to call 1584 around the clock to report such cases.


-- NNT 2014-12-12

[KhunMoo]

About time - let's hope, that they keep the system up to par.

But it will take a lot of reader stations, the RFID chips are only readable within a couple of meters, with LF and up to MAX 100m with active LR devices. To be honest i think a GPS/GLONASS based solution is cheaper?

*Edit* Btw - its quite easy to clone the RFID chips, so if they put the chip in the number-plates, I think I have a "Thainess" based business idea

Edited December 11, 2014 by KhunMoo

[NongKhaiKid]

This is no more of a crackdown than any other just the usual hot air.

Apart from fines drivers need to to have their offences hammered home with proper periods of disqualification not a week then a month and any one driving while disqualified should be jailed for contempt of court.

Note I use the words ' need ' and ' should ' being well aware such stringent action will never take place.

[mca]

BANGKOK, 12 Dec 2014, (NNT) - The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has stepped up blah blah blah blah blah

The Director-General of the DLT, Therapong Rodprasert announced that his department would blah blah blah blah

Mr. Therapong said van operators who blah blah blah

[PatOngo]

Another typical knee jerk reaction after a viral social media exposure that will last about as long as their attention span.

[TommyUK1960]

More people should put video clips of these Kamikaze van drivers on Youtube as its the only way to get things done here as its all about saving face by the authorities. I still see these mini bus drivers Not getting stopped at check points. They are the most offensive drivers on the roads in Thailand. They have no respect for fair paying passengers safety.

[meatboy]

a complete revocation of their driving licence what licence

[LuckyLew]

Every time there is a run on a story in social media they spew the same old crap "crackdown"

Will never change, will never learn

[canuckamuck]

They might try enforcing moving violations... nah that would require some effort.

[lildragon]

Another typical knee jerk reaction after a viral social media exposure that will last about as long as their attention span.

Amazing isn't it? Problems only 'dealt' with when they spread like wildfire and become an embarrassment on social media.

The blaa blaa poster was right. Nothing will actually change.

[casualbiker]

About time - let's hope, that they keep the system up to par.

But it will take a lot of reader stations, the RFID chips are only readable within a couple of meters, with LF and up to MAX 100m with active LR devices. To be honest i think a GPS/GLONASS based solution is cheaper?

*Edit* Btw - its quite easy to clone the RFID chips, so if they put the chip in the number-plates, I think I have a "Thainess" based business idea

I'm not sure but I think the RFID system will only work on the tollways. The readers are at the tollbooth.

[Rockhound]

Minibus drivers. They're the same in Trinidad -- to think of but one example. They're probably the same all over the world. You don't need a brain to drive a minibus.

[Kalbo]

This country doesn't need another crackdown, all it needs is regular enforcement of the set of admittedly quite good traffic rules.

But I can't see that happening in the near or distant future.

[lostmebike]

Just like the last crackdown on minivans ha???

Whatever happened to the supposed fine for speeding over 90 they `introduced` a few years back?

[PaulHamon]

does not need to CRACKDOWN...

IT NEEDS TO BE ROUTINE.

[seajae]

if the police actually did what they were paid for and enforced the road laws this wouldnt be necessary. Police are never on the roads, the reason the western world has better road enforcement is due entirely to the police patrolling the roads and issuing fines etc on drivers that break the law. Here we never see them out of their offices, they could make an absolute motza for the govt if they started issuing fines to all those breaking the laws but that would entail having to do some work which seems to be something thai police have an aversion to.

[garrya]

Let's see how long the crackdown lasts. Otherwise, it's a significant step in regulating mini vans.

[WitawatWatawit]

Official Thai vow and promise No. 4,325,781.

Official rate of implementation - 1,345

Official success rate of vows, promises etc: 0.00000000000001%*

*Statistics have a margin of error of 0.0000000001%

[WitawatWatawit]

if the police actually did what they were paid for and enforced the road laws this wouldnt be necessary. Police are never on the roads, the reason the western world has better road enforcement is due entirely to the police patrolling the roads and issuing fines etc on drivers that break the law. Here we never see them out of their offices, they could make an absolute motza for the govt if they started issuing fines to all those breaking the laws but that would entail having to do some work which seems to be something thai police have an aversion to.

"Here we never see them out of their offices ..."

You are so wrong. Why, the other day they stopped me on my motorcycle. Can you just imagine that? disgraceful behaviour.

[moe666]

if the police actually did what they were paid for and enforced the road laws this wouldnt be necessary. Police are never on the roads, the reason the western world has better road enforcement is due entirely to the police patrolling the roads and issuing fines etc on drivers that break the law. Here we never see them out of their offices, they could make an absolute motza for the govt if they started issuing fines to all those breaking the laws but that would entail having to do some work which seems to be something thai police have an aversion to.

What are they suppose to use in chaseing down a speeding minivan or a Merc doing 160 their trusty Honda Dream. To continue to harp on this situation is a exercise in what blowing hot air. They have very few vehicles that can chase down a speeding slug and those are usually involved in escorting some mid-level politician around. The problem as usual starts at the upper levels where the money is allocated for proper equipment.

Edited December 12, 2014 by moe666

[wilcopops]

Vulgar behaviour? Well I hope that is just a crap translation.

Yet again another bumbling attempt by those who apparently haven't a clue about road safety.

Ineffectively targeting one issue at a time especially as a knee jerk reaction to social media will never be an effective approach to raod safety.

It is of course a matter for concern that those in charge appear to be so out of touch that they consider this at all.

What is needed is a holistic approach that addresses ALL aspects of road safety.

This requires both finance and intelligence....... I see little of either so far.

Edited December 12, 2014 by wilcopops

[wilcopops]

Minibus drivers. They're the same in Trinidad -- to think of but one example. They're probably the same all over the world. You don't need a brain to drive a minibus.

Oh yes you do...it's just that employers and the public think you don't...so they employ people without brains..

[kartman]

This is no more of a crackdown than any other just the usual hot air.

Apart from fines drivers need to to have their offences hammered home with proper periods of disqualification not a week then a month and any one driving while disqualified should be jailed for contempt of court.

Note I use the words ' need ' and ' should ' being well aware such stringent action will never take place.

But vehicles produce more power with cooler air so this may help

[jlwilliamsjr18]

Driving in access of 120K, smoking, talking and texting on their phone, playing loud music... yup that sums up my last 3 months of rides. Once again...rule of law is not at work. The companies make their payments, to be an exception to the law. Crack down has to start by cracking upward.

[Manbing]

I think it's clear that a raft of crackdowns under the current regime is like a new particularly strict headmaster enforcing rules in a school.

As soon as he leaves the room, usual behaviours will return.

What is needed is a mechanism to drive perpetual change.

The UK did it in the 70's with 'clunk click' and 'keep Britain tidy' seat belt wearing and rubbish awareness.

Australia did it in the 90's with drink driving public awareness campaigns.

[Fullstop]

Outside of the odd crackdown days...what do the highway patrol do all day?

[meatboy]

if the police actually did what they were paid for and enforced the road laws this wouldnt be necessary. Police are never on the roads, the reason the western world has better road enforcement is due entirely to the police patrolling the roads and issuing fines etc on drivers that break the law. Here we never see them out of their offices, they could make an absolute motza for the govt if they started issuing fines to all those breaking the laws but that would entail having to do some work which seems to be something thai police have an aversion to.

"Here we never see them out of their offices ..."

You are so wrong. Why, the other day they stopped me on my motorcycle. Can you just imagine that? disgraceful behaviour.

did anyone see channel 3news 7am today.?

a traffic police officer stops a car for a drink driving check,the driver refuses and is abusive to the officer telling i am so and so and i know who your boss is.the officer is clearly crapping himself and lets him get back into his car and off he goes.

little did the driver know it was captured on film with sound.next episode please.

[Badrabbit]

Another complete waste of time, speeding and tail gating vans, pic-ups, coaches are a menace in this country, no law here so these idiots can do and get away with anything, Amazing Thailand for all the wrong reasons!

[seagulls4u]

They really need to come to Koh Samui and also add the concrete lories

[GAZZPA]

Vulgar behaviour? Well I hope that is just a crap translation.

Yet again another bumbling attempt by those who apparently haven't a clue about road safety.

Ineffectively targeting one issue at a time especially as a knee jerk reaction to social media will never be an effective approach to raod safety.

It is of course a matter for concern that those in charge appear to be so out of touch that they consider this at all.

What is needed is a holistic approach that addresses ALL aspects of road safety.

This requires both finance and intelligence....... I see little of either so far.

Completely agree with you, a holistic approach is what is needed.

To be honest I think the Thai's should probably not try to reinvent the wheel. They should do some research and see how road safety is tackled by other countries with good safety records then simply bring back the parts that are enforceable.

They could start with the basics, driving tests, personal insurance, graphic road safety campaign for teenagers etc,,, in the UK if you are caught driving without insurance they now impound your vehicle by the roadside. You then have to go to the police pound and prove you have valid insurance and pay the fine before you can drive it away. I would do the same here, no license, no insurance, take the vehicle..