News Forum - Federal baht bus standing ban puts drivers in a pickle

[Thaiger]

A new law has been published in the Royal Gazette, stating that passengers are no longer allowed to stand on the back of baht buses, also known as songtaews. But drivers are also obligated to pick up all passengers, leaving drivers with the dilemma of either illegally not picking up passengers when full or illegally …

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[Ramanathan.P]

To make thigs easier, the songtaews can add a safety bar at the back of the standing platform so that people are protected from falling off....well it is still not safe. But something is better than nothing. Also engage an assistant to control the crowd. That way it would me more manageable

[JackMeOff]

"Selective Enforcement ($$$)" will prevail both for riders and drivers.

[Fanta]

Pickpockets will love this new law. 

[AdvocatusDiaboli]

4 hours ago, Thaiger said:

baht buses, also known as songtaews. But drivers are also obligated to pick up all passengers, leaving drivers with the dilemma …..

….. and Don’t all metered Taxi Drivers face the same dilemma, of picking up ALL passengers? Maybe there is a law that is published in the Gazette obligating Taxi Drivers to do this?

[palooka]

6 hours ago, Ramanathan.P said:

Also engage an assistant to control the crowd

Most have assistants, but that assistant is lazy and will not get off their backside.

They sit next to the driver in A/c and collect.

[Soidog]

I’ll believe it when I see it. I bet every town up and down the country around 3:30-4:30 will be full of busses with kids hanging off the back

[Ev7]

Wait.  By law they have to try to pickup passengers?   Someone needs to explain that law to the songthaews of Lopburi.  They've passed me as I'm standing in the road waving my arms to get them to stop.  First part of November they changed their end time from 7pm to 5pm.  Put me in a pickle.  

[Kimmy]

Rock and a hard place. Or double edged sword. I don't know why they don't use tokens instead of cash ... Off topic I know. How can they pick everyone up and not have them hanging on. Impossible 

[Skip]

Another useless law written on tons of paper that will only enrich the RTP at their whim...

[BainaiThai]

Simple solution....fine the riders standing on the back of the sontaew. They are the ones taking the dangerous action....