Phuket taxis, tuk-tuks roped in 'bad driver' crackdown

[webfact]

Phuket taxis, tuk-tuks roped in 'bad driver' crackdown
Tanyaluk Sakoot


Public transport passenger van divers are also affected by the harsher penalties.

PHUKET: A series of bus crashes and safety incidents in Bangkok that have made national headlines has resulted in heftier punishments for public transport drivers – including taxi, tuk-tuk, public bus and van drivers in Phuket.

Jaturong Kaewkasi, Chief Specialist of the Phuket office of the Department of Land Transport, confirmed the raft of new punishments, which include fines for the companies that wayward drivers work for, yesterday (June 30).

The new penalties were announced by Department of Land Transport (DLT) director-general Teerapong Rodprasert on June 24.

His announcement followed social media uproar over a bus in Bangkok running a red light and nearly mowing the driver and child on a motorcycle.

The driver, Chaluia Kankhokkruat, was fined B5,000 and suspended from driving for 30 days. The bus company he worked for, Kittisunthorn Co, was also fined B2,000 for the vehicle not carrying a safety manual. (See story here.)

“I have received many comments about public service [transport staff], about their impolite language and behaviour, breaking traffic laws, hurting and intimidating passengers, and sometimes even dumping them by the side of the road,” Mr Teerapong said.

“The DLT has a strict policy to punish public transport drivers in every case, and especially in cases affecting the lives and safety of passengers.”

Mr Teerapong gave the specific recent example of a public bus in Bangkok that was driven at high speed. “The driver changed lanes on a bridge, and crashed,” he noted.

Any public drivers found guilty of such dangerous driving or other inappropriate behaviour would now face fines of up to B5,000 and could be suspended from driving for 30 days. They will also be forced to undergo a safe driving course.

Companies can now be fined from B10,000 to B40,000 for transgressions or for the antics committed by their staff, Mr Teerapong said.

For serious offences, the company may have its operating license revoked and the driver may have his or her license cancelled immediately.

“This is a good policy and sets standards throughout all the provinces,” Mr Jaturong told The Phuket News.

“The maximum fine for [transport staff] being impolite or for inappropriate behaviour used to be B1,000, now it is up to B5,000,” he said.

“This is good for Phuket. Phuket is a tourism province and public transport should uphold good manners and behaviour.”

Complaints about public transport drivers can be reported by calling the 24-hour hotline 1584 or by visiting the Thai-language Complaints Hotline website, click here.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-taxis-tuk-tuks-roped-in-bad-driver-crackdown-53006.php

-- Phuket News 2015-07-01

[Reigntax]

They will need 100 enforcement officers for Phuket alone!

[Just1Voice]

More laws, same lack of enforcement. Nothing new.

[dotpoom]

They can now be fined up to 5,000 Bt for being impolite....same if they nearly kill somebody by dangerous driving?

[IamNoone88]

The driver, Chaluia Kankhokkruat, was fined B5,000 and suspended from driving for 30 days.

For nearly killing a parent and child ....... in what way is this a deterrent?

[Deli]

Smoke in the mirror. I the Army couldn't get hands on the Taxi Mafia so far, how shall this now work ?

[robertthebruce]

Lets face it folks it's the whole of Thailand , not just Bangkok and Phuket.....

It's dangerous out there in whatever form of transport you are in.....

Safety in any form is a non starter.....

[Jim walker]

They can have all the clamp downs they like on driving but as they dont have a police force to police any road laws / rules in Thailand nothing will ever change until they start to employ real police who are intelligent enough to police and uphold and respect the laws of the country only then will things change.as far as Thai drivers are concerned they are the best drivers in the world so no problems there

[jackanapes]

these penalties should apply throughout Thailand I can honestly say all the years I have lived in Thailand I have never had any problems travelling but I have had many near misses from motorbike riders thai and foreigners with bad attitudes who seemingly think they own the road and can do what they like .

[Pinot]

Just a ridiculously low amount for fines and no deterrent to the crazy driving. I thought there was actually going to be something done when I read the headline, but nothing can be done with the Thai mindset.

Today I'm driving on a curvy beach road and a taxi almost takes me out on one of the curves. He successfully managed to move 15 feet up in the line of traffic but nearly killed me and the person in the oncoming car he just missed. I just don't get it.

The bad driver crackdown increases the fine slightly.

[Benmart]

When enforcement of existing laws has proven to be toothless, embark on a campaign that touts the actions of those whose forceps removed the teeth in the first place.

[Ulic]

If you suspend a bus drivers license, do you really think he will stop driving?

Edited July 1, 2015 by Ulic

[NamKangMan]

More propaganda in the media about cleaning up transport on Phuket, which they know is now way beyond their control.

It's all useless for luring back tourists, unless they get a flat fare hop-on / hop-off bus service along the coast, between the beaches, and REAL taxis using proper meters.

Simple, cheap to implement, essential service infastructure.

Until then, it's one of the main reasons the European market will continue to rapidly decline on Phuket.

Edited July 1, 2015 by NamKangMan

[Beng]

Good news. Keep it up.

[godden]

When i read roped i thought oh good they've hung a few.

[Traveling Sailor]

If you suspend a bus drivers license, do you really think he will stop driving?

Probably not. And, the listed fines should be mandatory minimum, not maximum, enforced nation wide.

[fstarbkk]

They will need 100 enforcement officers for Phuket alone!

Not really. What they need is the existing officers actually doing their jobs!

[mikiea]

army and police are afraid to arrest anyone , it is not their job to control the mafia ..... it is the mafia's job to control army and police . and they do a fine job with the police , turned them into whores .... thainess at its best

[Jonmarleesco]

'Mr Teerapong gave the specific recent example of a public bus in Bangkok that was driven at high speed. “The driver changed lanes on a bridge, and crashed,” he noted ... Any public drivers found guilty of such dangerous driving or other inappropriate behaviour would now face fines of up to B5,000 and could be suspended from driving for 30 days.' Well, that's telling them, I'm sure.

'They will also be forced to undergo a safe driving course.' Oh, yes. In Thailand?

[mercman24]

i give it one week before we hear of another mini bus - tour bus crash with casualities, its just not news any more

[Johnny S]

No news in this as nothing will happen ...

[cracker1]

If the Thai Army and RTP can not get the Samui taxi's to use their meters then there is no way they will change the attitude of the Phuket Tuk Tuk and van drivers.

[NamKangMan]

If the Thai Army and RTP can not get the Samui taxi's to use their meters then there is no way they will change the attitude of the Phuket Tuk Tuk and van drivers.

Correct.

So what will change is the tourist demographic who have had enough of the lack of this essential service which has become a scam, and we are really seeing this now on Phuket. Chinese package holiday tourists, on their coach buses, are the majority of tourists coming to Phuket now.

It's a completely broken system, with no fix in sight.

Edited July 8, 2015 by NamKangMan