New stricter laws to boost public transport van safety
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capacity as National Council for Peace and Order chief, has invoked his special power under the Article 44 to issue a new order to improve the safety of vans used for public transportation.
The order, published in the Royal Gazette on Wednesday, authorised Land Transport Department officials to revoke or suspend the use of transport vans or the public transport licence for up to six months in the following cases:
1. A serious road accident stemming from the transport business operator’s failure to have its van driver stay within the legal speed limit, or allowing the van driver to work beyond the legal limit of driving hours, or letting the van driver drive recklessly.
2. The transport business operator failed to prevent its van driver from using the vehicle for illegal activities such as illicit drug smuggling or illegal goods (tax-evading) transporting.
3. The transport business operator failed to prevent its van driver/fare collector from overcharging customers, allowing the number of passenger to exceed 13 seats or abandoning the passengers before reaching the destination.
The order also required the Land Transport Department to ensure that if a natural gas tank is installed in the vehicle, it would not cause the overall load to affect the vehicle’s performance. The vans were also required to have an emergency exit in case of accident or other emergency, as per the department’s regulation.
