BuffHello Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Bus, taxi drivers face fines for phone use Published on October 12, 2005 Drivers of buses, taxis and other public vehicles will soon be barred from using mobile phones while driving or face a maximum fine of Bt5,000. The regulation, which was approved in principle by the Cabinet yesterday, will take ef-fect once it is scrutinised and endorsed, Deputy Government Spokesperson Sansanee Nakpong said yesterday. Under the ban, the drivers will also be prevented from using even hand-free devices connected to their phone handsets. The regulation will also forbid them from doing anything that could affect their ability to control their vehicles, including lewd or sexual acts. Vehicles covered by the ban include taxis, city and inter-provincial buses, passenger vans and ?two-row? pick-up trucks.More than 800,000 such vehicles that were registered last December fall in this category. The regulation also requires owners of public transport services to comply with several safety measures, including displaying the name and other information about drivers to passengers. The ban drew heavy criticism from drivers who said it would make their work more difficult. Bunyiam Nujnoi, who drives a bus on the Bangkok-Chumphon route, said he needed to be in constant contact with his company to ensure a smooth service. He said the use of hand-free devices connected to mobile handsets should be allowed in case of emergencies. He said it would be fairer if the ban extended to all motorists, including the drivers of passenger cars. Taxi driver Uthaiwan Sawang-arun said she agreed with the ban, but said hand-free device should be allowed to make work easier. She said general motorists using mobile phones while driving were the cause of a greater percentage of road accidents. Phongsak Somjai, a Transport Ministry lawyer, said no date had been set for Cabinet approval of the ban. Anan Paengnoy The Nation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Hi, "He said it would be fairer if the ban extended to all motorists, including the drivers of passenger cars." Agree. Doesn't make much sense to not allow these professional drivers to use mobiles, but allow regular drivers. The latter are just as likely to cause an accident as the former when talking into a mobile. Sounds like another half-assed law. Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 << including lewd or sexual acts. >> Strange ... I can honestly say I have never seen a bus or taxi driver wanking or shagging the female conductor whilst driving. Maybe I need to get out more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 It has been shown that eating while driving is more dangerous than using a phone and hence much more of a problem. Yet countries seem obsessed with phone control and not how they can improve safety in the best way. The other facet of not applying this law to all drivers is not unlike Bangkok's no smoking law. It exempts all nightlife areas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 i welcome the ban, but it should be for all motorists. Bus drivers have a lot of passengers so the ban for those first is more important. as for private drivers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted October 12, 2005 Report Share Posted October 12, 2005 Won't really matter anyway. None of the other traffic laws are enforced -- except near the end of the month when the traffic cops need money. Why should this one be different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limbo Posted October 13, 2005 Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 With you on that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 13, 2005 Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 Flashermac said:Won't really matter anyway. None of the other traffic laws are enforced -- except near the end of the month when the traffic cops need money. Why should this one be different. indeed, another source of revenue. wonder if they check for hands free phones, or maybe pull over nutcases talking to themselves ( you'r just jelous because the voices don't talk to you) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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