News Forum - Thailand bans standing up on songthaews, drivers aren’t happy

[Thaiger]

Thailand introduced a law on Friday which requires passengers to sit down when travelling on a songthaew, a popular form of public transport. However, songthaew drivers say the law is detrimental to their livelihoods and are worried it could lead to extortion. A songthaew is a passenger vehicle converted from a pickup truck with two …

The story Thailand bans standing up on songthaews, drivers aren’t happy as seen on Thaiger News.

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[Ramanathan.P]

I have noticed many students do the same in the outskirts of big cities. Especially in smaller towns during the end of School hours. 

[Chatogaster]

1 hour ago, Thaiger said:

Thailand introduced a law on Friday which requires passengers to sit down when travelling on a songthaew, a popular form of public transport. However, songthaew drivers say the law is detrimental to their livelihoods and are worried it could lead to extortion. A songthaew is a passenger vehicle converted from a pickup truck with two …

The story Thailand bans standing up on songthaews, drivers aren’t happy as seen on Thaiger News.

Read the full story

 

Theoretically, it's easy to imagine somebody dropping off prematurely when driving over a bump or pit. Practically, that's never seen and moreover unheard of. Surely, the increase in safety is nanoscopic.

If the new law is not adhered to perfectly, police could have a field day (and some would). A very rare instance of a related accident could even be abused to set an example to promote adherence.

If adhered to perfectly, the new law at first reduces profit margins by up to 15% for all Songthaew drivers, which next will trigger an increase of prices for all customers by at least 20% for receiving a reduced availability of up to 15%. Many millions of people will be affected.

How can laws like this (and by extension: their makers) be taken seriously when the only (publicized) argument for their existence is the unquantified statement that "it's safer that way"?

 

[ExpatPattaya]

Drivers will likely just spend 500 baht and have a welder put jump seats in the back. 

Lets go through other "banned activities"  Parking motorcycles on sidewalks are banned, smoking on the beach is banned, riding motorcycles on the beach promenade is banned....yet day after day  the number of times I see a policeman on Beach road, Second road, or Buakhao doing anything other than driving a motorcycle past  = 100% of the time.  

[palooka]

2 hours ago, Chatogaster said:

How can laws like this (and by extension: their makers) be taken seriously when the only (publicized) argument for their existence is the unquantified statement that "it's safer that way"?

Probably because the creator of this poorly thought-out law is one of the Hiso whose family paid for his position, and he is now trying to justify his existence in said position.

[Guest1]

But this law is JUST for business driving busses? Not for trucks, transporting workers standing upright. Right?

[Wackamole]

6 minutes ago, Guest1 said:

But this law is JUST for business driving busses? Not for trucks, transporting workers standing upright. Right?

I have it on good authority that 25 children women men buffalos in the back of the Hilux remains ok.

[Ferretkeeper]

5 hours ago, Ramanathan.P said:

I have noticed many students do the same in the outskirts of big cities. Especially in smaller towns during the end of School hours. 

Sometimes they ride on the roof

[Soidog]

5 hours ago, ExpatPattaya said:

Drivers will likely just spend 500 baht and have a welder put jump seats in the back. 

Lets go through other "banned activities"  Parking motorcycles on sidewalks are banned, smoking on the beach is banned, riding motorcycles on the beach promenade is banned....yet day after day  the number of times I see a policeman on Beach road, Second road, or Buakhao doing anything other than driving a motorcycle past  = 100% of the time.  

Yes, you can have all the laws you want. Doesn’t mean a thing if there are no adults to enforce them. 
 

Next up will be banning running a tour bus engine with the engine cowl (cover) open exposing the passing public to open machinery. Again, won’t make a blind bit of difference. 
 

 

[Augratin]

If they can carry only half as many passenger, I guess we'll see fares doubled.