Get taxis up to speed with Thailand 4.0
PM Prayut should bring the taxi business in line with Thailand 4.0 by taking six steps:
1. Fully legalising ride hailing, in keeping with Bhumjaithai’s election pledge. Ride-hailers offer what our conventional taxis don’t. Grab taxi drivers take all passengers, don’t tamper with meters, are polite, and have clean, attractive cars with working safety belts. I note that except for Thailand, ride hailing is legal in all Asean countries where such services are offered.
2. Requiring that legalised ride-hailing services carry passenger insurance meeting Singaporean standards.
3. Adjusting fares so that regular taxis can charge more during rush hours or for extra space – as Grab does.
4. Welcoming ride-hailing services from overseas, such as Lyft, so competition will keep service standards high.
5. Investigating Transport Department Director-General Peerapol Tavornsuppacharoen for dereliction of duty in regulating taxis, resulting in great damage to tourism, which is a key driver of our economy.
6. Subsidising training for drivers of regular taxis to upgrade to ride-hailing or switch to other occupations.
Burin Kantabutra
