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New Thailand Rules Target Illegal Van Operators, Safety Lapses

Monday, July 21, 2014
PHUKET: Starting today, passenger vans are required to hold particular stickers showing they have registered for the service, following the National Council for Peace and Order policy to regulate van services for road safety.

The Department of Land Transport (DLT) had been extremely busy yesterday as passenger van operators rushed for the last-day vehicle inspection to obtain a sticker certifying that they are properly licensed.

Under the tightened regulations, all passenger vans that are in service must not be older than 10 years and must pass all safety inspection tests.

DLT Director-General Adsathai Rattanadilok Na Phuket revealed that out of the 1000 vans that underwent vehicle inspection, 600 of them still have not passed the inspection standards due to poor vehicle conditions.

In many vans, safety belts were not installed in all passenger seats.

From now on, van operators who do not take their vans to be properly registered would be held accountable. Violators could receive a jail-term of up to five years and pay a fine of up to 20,000 to 100,000 baht.

Punishments would also be enforced against registered van operators who drive recklessly, go over the speed limit, or drive off their service routes. They would have their license revoked and have charges filed against them.

Anyone encountering illegal passenger vans or feeling dissatisfied with services should call the hotline 1584 around the clock.

NNT

Comments

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As I have said before, ALL transport like this including Taxis etc, should have Cameras in the front of them which records their driving habits as well as the speed they are travelling.
This offers protection to the Driver as well as the customers and other road users.

Posted by Tbs on July 21, 2014 13:30

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Fantastic! Yes the back of Taxis should have seat belts too. But this is great news! Imagine .. just the basics and 600 vans did not pass! Thank you DLT and NCPO for making efforts, real efforts, not just verbal promises, to protect tourist and hold people accountable to provide the basic safety!

Posted by Vfaye on July 21, 2014 17:03

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And the highly tinted windows should be done away with, especially the front windscreen.

Posted by The Night Mare on July 21, 2014 17:55

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As I previously posted, it has become practice under law in UK to impound & crush cars for serious road offences. Maybe if that approach was adopted here for substandard vehicles, the drivers would quickly get the message.

Posted by Logic on July 21, 2014 19:15

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@The Night Mare: Do away with the windscreen tint? Do you really want to see the wide staring eyes and white knuckles of the van driver in your rear view mirror as he screams up behind you?

Posted by Smithy on July 21, 2014 19:39

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@Logic, I dearly hope that Thailand never gets anything like the UK is like now. Great history, bloody awful place now.

Posted by Mai Kee Nok on July 21, 2014 21:34


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