Driven legal: Army backs Phuket campaign for commercial drivers to have correct licences

[rooster59]

Driven legal: Army backs Phuket campaign for commercial drivers to have correct licences

Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

 

PHUKET: The Phuket Land of Transport Office (PLTO) with support from Royal Thai Army soldiers on the island have launched a campaign to ensure that drivers of all commercial passenger vehicles in Phuket, including ride-sharing cars, at least have the correct driving licences.

 

The campaign, confirmed PLTO Chief Banyat Kantha on Wednesday (Mar 15), comes only weeks after Mr Banyat arrived in Phuket to take up the post as Phuket’s leading Land Transport official.

 

Soldiers, police and PLTO staff are already checking drivers passing through checkpoints set up across Phuket, including at Phuket International Airport, the Phuket Checkpoint leading onto the island, as well as in Kamala and elsewhere, in a co-ordinated campaign, Mr Banyat said.

 

“This crackdown is in conjunction with the one in Bangkok on ride-sharing drivers, and is made possible with extra support from the Maj Gen Pornsak Poonsawat, Deputy Commander of Royal Thai Army Region 4,” Mr Banyat explained.

 

However, while Bangkok officials are wrapped up in the GrabCar and Uber driver crackdown, Chief Banyat said, “I don’t think GrabTaxi and Uber will be problem in Phuket. Drivers not having public vehicle licenses is more important and what I am focussing on right now.

 

‘The situation about commercial passenger drivers not having the correct licences is worrying,” he added.

 

“Gen Pornsak asked which issues needed attention to improve tourism in Phuket, and the PLTO advised that we must do as much as we can with the Royal Thai Army to ensure drivers of public transport vehicles are properly licensed. Hence there is no time limit for this campaign. It will continue as long as necessary,” Mr Banyat explained.

 

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/driven-legal-army-backs-phuket-campaign-for-commercial-drivers-to-have-correct-licences-61443.php#MiWu1HmUBOoLE1yJ.97

 

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2017-03-19

 

[taichiplanet]

6 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

I don’t think GrabTaxi and Uber will be problem in Phuket. Drivers not having public vehicle licenses is more important and what I am focussing on right now.

sensible approach. The traffic laws are good, just lacking the enforcement to help 'educate' people to do the right thing.

[canopus1969]

Just shows how pathetic the Police are if the Army is need to check driving licenses  - mind you it does not say much for the soldiers 

[the guest]

The whole system in Thailand is broken. It needs a total reform of standards, which are absolutely abysmal.

[Allstars]

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

to ensure that drivers of all commercial passenger vehicles in Phuket, including ride-sharing cars, at least have the correct driving licences.

 

Who would have ever thought about that to be a good idea.

[NamKangMan]

1 hour ago, canopus1969 said:

Just shows how pathetic the Police are if the Army is need to check driving licenses  - mind you it does not say much for the soldiers 

 

"mind you it does not say much for the soldiers" - well, the patch on his uniform does say, "Small Unit." 

[madmitch]

Obviously the last crackdown didn't work if there are still many passenger vehicle drivers without the correct licences.

 

Roadblocks at the same points every day aren't going to work: many bus drivers don't go to the airport anyway.

 

They should hit the bus companies with a meaningful fine (not 5,000 baht) every time a licenceless driver is caught driving one of their vehicles; they are at fault as much as the drivers.

 

Of course, being Thailand, they probably consider the correct uniform more important than the correct licence!

[klauskunkel]

It brings me happiness to see that the army wholeheartedly supports the concept of "correct driving license" for commercial passenger vehicles. However, the crucial concept of "brake failure" doesn't seem to get the official uniformed support it deserves, even if only emotional. How about just one acknowledging nod in the general direction? 

[PETERTHEEATER]

4 hours ago, NamKangMan said:

 

"mind you it does not say much for the soldiers" - well, the patch on his uniform does say, "Small Unit." 

Oh, I need new specs. I thought it read 'Small Innit?'