Thai DLT to revoke licenses of bus drivers exhibiting bad behavior

[webfact]

DLT to revoke licenses of bus drivers exhibiting bad behavior

BANGKOK, 29 June 2015 (NNT)-The Department of Land Transport (DLT) is planning to revoke the driving licenses of public bus drivers who behave unprofessionally, after receiving numerous complaints from passengers.

DLT Director General Theerapong Rodprasert says his department has received a large number of complaints through social media and his office.

According to the complaints, many bus drivers had behaved very unprofessionally, including running red lights, ordering passengers to get off before they reached their destinations and using vulgar language.

The DLT will from now penalize drivers blatantly breaking the law, especially those whose conduct could put the lives of passengers as well as others on the road in great danger.

Such drivers would have their driving licenses revoked immediately if found guilty. The DLT Director General added that they would not be given a second chance even if it was their first offense.

Some drivers will also be required to attend a seminar on public transport safety and have their driving history recorded. The DLT will continue to keep an eye on these drivers, to make sure they do not repeat the same mistakes.


-- NNT 2015-06-29

[Manbing]

Does vehicular manslaughter constitute bad behavior?

[Lupatria]

Does vehicular manslaughter constitute bad behavior?

Not if you claim to be an influential figure or celebrity, and especially not if their action is based on the well working experience and expertise gained with the successful punishment of misbehaving TukTuk and Taxi drivers.

[SABloke]

So no more bus drivers then...oh well.

[Doc46]

Isn't that a good Idea,,,,Hopefully that will get rid of all the Van and Tuk tuk rogues aswell,,,,NOT.

[Larry001]

I applaud this if the words are followed up and policed properly

[ballpoint]

Does vehicular manslaughter constitute bad behavior?

Only if done in a rude manner.

[Valentine]

Surely they should be given a chance to reform if first offence.

[Ulic]

Yes but will they stop driving.

[Johnnie99]

What are we going to do without all the buses, then?

[quandow]

And who determines what GOOD behavior is here? It's never been demonstrated in Thailand, no one would recognize it.

[little mary sunshine]

Bad Behvior ? What is this a 6 y/o child?

How about RECKLESS Driving

[northernphil]

The mini bus drivers are worse so what about them next ?

[MESmith]

This country has screwed up so badly with motor vehicles, it's time to go back to buffalo carts, elephants, steam trains & bicycles. What's the rush?

Thais aren't ready for the internal combustion engine

[richard_smith237]

A complete upheaval of the system and attitudes is required for this to have any real effect.

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A couple of years ago a bus ran a red light narrowly missing my Wife who following the car in front had just pulled away on a green light.

It was somewhat of a blind junction, she was turning right onto a main road (3 way traffic lights) all my Wife saw was the headlights of the the bus bearing down on her, fortunately she continued moving forwards and the bus narrowly missed the rear of her car. If the bus was a second earlier or she was a second slower her car would have been 'T-boned'.

My Wife called up the DLT complaints line... She gave the route, the junction and time... she pointed out that had be pulled away slightly more slowly or hesitated the bus would have hit her side on and she could've been killed... the response from the DLT Complains line "So what, you're still alive aren't you?"

My Father in Law then got involved, spoke with some higher ups who tried to get camera footage of the incident... The result was that the CCTV was not working. Shortly afterwards it became public knowledge (press reports) that many of the CCTV Cameras were not even installed, a result of corruption and someone not installing the CCTV in every box (CCTV housing).

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Improvements would be great - but when the whole system of accountability and responsibility is broken it will take much more than platitude and a few press releases to make any improvement at all.

[thhMan]

Surely they should be given a chance to reform if first offence.

So even though the rules and law are common knowledge and must be known to pass a driving exam... they should get a second chance?

A second chance for what... to kill someone?

[inzman]

Maybe they will transfer the drivers to another position, say van driver, haha. Because this culture abhors criticism nobody is ever made to answer for there crimes. Thailand cannot move forward, period.

[djlest]

so how do we prove they were driving badly?

[MESmith]

so how do we prove they were driving badly?

smart phone video?

stick it on FB?

[Jimlove]

I applaud this if the words are followed up and policed properly

Dream on - all show and no balls, just as they like it ...

[arrowsdawdle]

Does vehicular manslaughter constitute bad behavior?

Are you asking a trick question? It all depends on who does it.

[arrowsdawdle]

so how do we prove they were driving badly?

By exposing yourself to a defamation lawsuit.

[arrowsdawdle]

Since when did not having a license ever stop any Thai from driving?

[Dublin]

What makes them think these guys even have a licence,,,,

[xen]

At least it is a step forward if the Thai public is now beginning to complain about the drivers behaviour instead of the exhibiting the mai pen rai / Laissez Faire attitude. Next step is boycotting the companies as well until they begin adopting higher standards. We all know officialdom will only pretend to be serious about public transport and giving out penalties to idiot drivers. If it hits their bottom line they may then decide it is worthwhile.