Phuket police, officials ramp up anti-drink driving offensive
Tanyaluk Sakoot


Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Armornwat today supported all calls to curtail drink driving by public transport operators. Photo: Tanayluk Sakoot

PHUKET: -- Police and the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) today (Nov 12) vowed to end the deadly antics of public transport drivers on the island after a week of horror car crashes left a Chinese tourist comatose and a traffic police officer mowed down dead by a minivan with a drunk driver behind the wheel.

The news came at a meeting headed by Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Armornwat and attended by police chiefs and other senior officers as well as court officials and other relevant officers, including Jaturong Kaewkasi, the senior policy specialist at the PLTO.

“We explained to them that the PLTO is serious about taking action about reckless and drunk drivers,” Mr Jaturong told The Phuket News.

“We have a database that keeps records of every incident against all public transport drivers, including vans, taxis and limousines,” he explained.

“At the meeting, we discussed what limits of what kinds of offences are to be set and what penalties are to be imposed on drivers.”

Among the penalties being considered are suspensions of one to to six months, depending on the severity of the accidents or incidents the driver is involved in.

“If the accident or incident is grievous enough, we may even institute a lifetime ban on the driver working in Phuket’s public transport industry,” Mr Jaturong said.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-police-officials-ramp-up-anti-drink-driving-offensive-54942.php


-- Phuket News 2015-11-13

How about mandatory drug testing and requiring drivers to be checked for alcohol before starting their shift. Logistics would be a nightmare, but the results would be worth it. Not sure how many dirvers would be left after the great cull though.

How about mandatory drug testing and requiring drivers to be checked for alcohol before starting their shift. Logistics would be a nightmare, but the results would be worth it. Not sure how many dirvers would be left after the great cull though.

Wouldnt be difficult to do. We had to do it every morning when I worked in Australasia. Took a couple of minutes that is all

How about mandatory drug testing and requiring drivers to be checked for alcohol before starting their shift. Logistics would be a nightmare, but the results would be worth it. Not sure how many dirvers would be left after the great cull though.

Wouldnt be difficult to do. We had to do it every morning when I worked in Australasia. Took a couple of minutes that is all

It would be difficult here as many of these cowboys take their vans home, then go straight to the pickup point the next day. They don't have to go to an office to check in before work.

How about mandatory drug testing and requiring drivers to be checked for alcohol before starting their shift. Logistics would be a nightmare, but the results would be worth it. Not sure how many dirvers would be left after the great cull though.

Wouldnt be difficult to do. We had to do it every morning when I worked in Australasia. Took a couple of minutes that is all

. Good idea,that would keep the Police at Home.

Get caught the vehicle is impounded regardless of whom the owner is. Driver loses license for 1 year. One month jail or 50k Baht for first offense.

Get caught the vehicle is impounded regardless of whom the owner is. Driver loses license for 1 year. One month jail or 50k Baht for first offense.

All great ideas, just no one here interested in enforce these or any laws.

What about all the government workers drinking at lunch times everyday and then back in their cars to go back to work