View Full Version : Driving with phone BANNED!
Cabinet backs ban on drivers using mobile phones
The Cabinet Tuesday approved draft legislation prohibiting motorists from using mobile phones or any other communication apparatus while driving.
However, it said handsfree devices were acceptable.
The law now heads to the National Legislative Assembly for approval.
Prime Minister's Office assistant spokesman Chotechai Suwannaporn said the Cabinet exempted police, Army and rescue vehicles and ambulances from the ban, in line with an April 3 resolution.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30040236
Ban on karaoke singing and watching tv in car proposed
Justice Ministry moved further Wednesday to ensure safety while driving by proposing ban on karaoke singing and playing motion picture in moving cars, alongside cellphone use.
Justice Ministry permanent secretary Jaran Pakdeethanakul said these activities were even more dangerous to drivers than the use of cell phones.
On Tuesday, the Cabinet approved draft legislation prohibiting motorists from using mobile phones or any other communication apparatus while driving.
The draft is now being forwarded to the Council of State for review.
"The review process should not take a long time given that this is an urgent government policy," Jaran said.
He said that this draft would be written in a way that covered activities that would affect motorists' driving abilities. "It will thus cover karaoke singing and playing motion pictures in the vehicles too," he said.
Police spokesman Lt Gen Ronnarong Yangyuen said the draft impose a fine of between Bt400 and Bt1,000 for offending motorists.
He hoped the ban on cellphone use on the wheels would reduce the number of road accidents.
"Many accidents took place because drivers were speaking on the phone," he said.
If the Council of State gives the green light, the draft will go to the National Legislative Assembly for deliberation.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/07/11/national/national_30040401.php
What else can we ban in cars? ;)
My initial suggestion is kids sitting on the drivers lap and steering the car. I've seen it umpteen times and have almost always spotted it because the car was being driven erratically.
11 July 2007
A penalty fine of 400-1,000 baht to be imposed on drivers at wheel
The fine for the use of cell phone while driving is expected to range from 400 to 1,000 baht. Meanwhile, the Spokesperson to the Royal Thai Police, Pol. Lt. Gen. Ranarong Yangyeun (รณรงค์ ยั่งยืน), has affirmed that there will be no gap for policemen to take bribe. :D
Referring to the Act of banning the use of cell phone while driving, Pol. Lt. Gen. Ranarong says exceptions for the use of cell phone while driving will be announced in the Act again. The exceptions include the use of hand free and the use of cell phone while parking.
The Act is considered as an international act as other foreign countries also declares the enforcement.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255007110039
And earlier:
11 July 2007
Act of to ban use of cell phone while driving, approved
The Spokesperson to the Royal Thai Police, Pol. Lt. Gen. Ranarong Yangyeun (รณรงค์ ยั่งยืน), agrees with the Act of banning the use of cell phone while driving. However, its conditions should be evaluated again.
The Cabinet has approved the Act of banning the use of cell phone while driving, adding that the matter is presented to the Office of the Council of State for consideration. Pol Lt Gen Ranarong says the Royal Thai Police (RTP) will consider other conditions of the Act and study the possibility to enforce it again. The Act is remarked to help reduce road accidents.
At the same time, the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) has studied the effect of using cell phone while driving, saying that talking and driving at the same time will be at high risks of road accidents.
Reporter : RTI-Reporter04
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255007110027
The Enforcer!
12-07-07, 01:01 PM
Mobile phones, TV, Karaoke ... guys they have missed the point. BANNING FEMALE DRIVERS is the only way to ensure safe roads in Bangkok.
In 12 years my car (I do not drive personally) has had 17 minor and one major accident and in each case the offender was a Female!
MAKE BANGKOK SAFER ... BAN FEMALE DRIVERS
The Enforcer!
More... (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30040236)
Posted Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:18:24
Cabinet backs ban on drivers using mobile phones
The Cabinet Tuesday approved draft legislation prohibiting motorists from using mobile phones or any other communication apparatus while driving.
However, it said handsfree devices were acceptable.
The law now heads to the National Legislative Assembly for approval.
Prime Minister's Office assistant spokesman Chotechai Suwannaporn said the Cabinet exempted police, Army and rescue vehicles and ambulances from the ban, in line with an April 3 resolution.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30040236
I have a question. Does anyone know if this impending legislation covers motorcyclists? It would extremely depressing to find motorcyclists still yakking away oblivious in addition to those many drivers who will undoubtedly ignore the law anyway:
Editorial:Ban on cellphone use in cars a good start
Once the new law is passed, the responsibility will lie with police to help eradicate this dangerous habit
Published on July 15, 2007
The Cabinet's decision last week to approve a new law to restrict the use of mobile phones while driving is a welcome step to improve road safety in Thailand. Although the action seems to be long overdue - given that other countries have passed similar legislation long ago - it is better than doing nothing at all.
Those who drive on the streets of Bangkok and other big cities in Thailand must on occasion have noticed some vehicles veering about in an erratic fashion despite smooth traffic conditions, and wondered what was wrong with the drivers. More often than not, a glimpse into one of these problem vehicles would reveal a driver using one hand to talk on his or her mobile phone and the other to steer the vehicle. This kind of careless driving poses a serious danger to other motorists and the drivers themselves.
Many road accidents related to the use of mobile phones have surely happened over the past decade during which the phones have come to be seen as a modern necessity. No official statistics on such accidents, however, have been compiled and publicised by responsible agencies. Even without a confirmed number of casualties, authorities and mobile-phone users can use their common sense to judge for themselves how distracting the use of mobile phones while driving is, and the potential dangers this bad habit poses.
Studies in other countries have shown that drivers who are engaged in a mobile-phone conversation are four times likelier to crash than other drivers are. A study conducted in 2002 by a researcher at the Harvard Centre for Risk Analysis showed that about one in 20 traffic accidents in the United States involve a driver talking on a mobile phone.
The research also estimated that about 2,600 people are killed and 330,000 others injured each year in road accidents related to the use of mobile phones.
In Thailand, research released in April this year by a lecturer at Kasetsart University's Faculty of Engineering showed that drivers talking on mobile phones, both on hand-held and hands-free types, are three-times more likely to have an accident.
The strictness of the restrictions different countries place on the use of mobile phones while driving varies. So far, there are four countries in the world that enforce a complete ban: Israel, Japan, Portugal and Singapore.
Even the use of a hands-free device is not allowed in these countries and motorists wanting to talk on their mobile phones must stop their cars. In another 21 countries, including Australia, Denmark and Hong Kong, drivers on the move can use hands-free mobile phones.
The Thai version of the law, which has yet to be scrutinised and passed by the National Legislative Assembly after winning Cabinet approval, bans the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving but allows drivers to use hands-free devices. Exemptions, however, would be granted for vehicles used by government agencies and emergency-rescue organisations.
Many motorists will find this to be a good compromise. At least if they have a hands-free device, they would not have to stop their vehicles to use their mobile phones in the case of an emergency. Having to stop one's car to make or take a phone call on a dark, secluded road at night or at the side of a busy highway full of speeding trucks could pose even more of a danger than talking on a hands-free device while driving.
As with many other Thai laws, the contents of which are great but which have never served their purpose due to poor enforcement, the mobile-phone law will only be effective in ensuring better road safety if the police seriously implement it. Thai motorists are notorious for their disrespect of traffic laws and it will not be surprising if many of them continue to drive with a mobile phone stuck close to their faces when the new law first takes effect. Strict police enforcement would show them that offenders will face the consequences and this will only help to deter wayward violators from taking the law lightly.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/07/15/opinion/opinion_30040885.php
mdechgan
15-07-07, 03:09 PM
Mobile phones, TV, Karaoke ... guys they have missed the point. BANNING FEMALE DRIVERS is the only way to ensure safe roads in Bangkok.
In 12 years my car (I do not drive personally) has had 17 minor and one major accident and in each case the offender was a Female!
MAKE BANGKOK SAFER ... BAN FEMALE DRIVERS
The Enforcer!
Ain't that the truth. Women can't drive anyways so why give them driver's licenses?
I've been argueing this point for so long. It is just something about women and driving. They just aren't mentally or technically capable enough. Either too slow or too fast. I'm not blaming 100% of the women. Some do drive ok, but 9 out of 10 women drivers are just incapable especially on Bangkok roads.
NLA to deliberate bill to ban mobile phone usages by motorists
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will Wednesday deliberate a proposed ban on motorists' use of cell phones while on the roads.
The Cabinet has proposed the ban with aim to reduce road accidents, which killed a number of people each year. According to the proposal, motorists will face a fine of between Bt400 and Bt1,000 if found using cellphones without handsfree equipment.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30050904
NLA passes bill banning phone use while driving
(BangkokPost.com) - National Legislative Assembly on Wednesday approved a bill that bans motorists from using cell phones while driving.
The NLA voted 57:0 to support the bill. It will be effective 90 days after it is announced in the Royal Gazette.
Motorists will face a fine of between 400 to 1,000 baht if found using a cell phone without hands-free
Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=123571
14 Febuary 2008
Ban on Cell phone driving to take effect on May 8th
The Traffic Police Office has declared that the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has passed the 8th draft of the land transport act which contains a regulation concerning the use of mobile communication devices while driving. The law will ban the use of mobile phones while driving unless assisted by a hands free device and will take effect 90 days after its publishing in the Royal Gazette.
The law is set to go into full swing on May 8th and will entail a 400-1000 baht fine for transgressors. Citizens who use their cell phones while driving will be subject to road blocks similar to those used in speed checks.
The law details that all mobile communication devices must not be held or touched during driving and must have hands free devices attached.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255102140004
The Enforcer!
15-02-08, 09:57 AM
law will ban the use of mobile phones while driving unless assisted by a hands free device
Now all we need to do is ban female drivers and Thai roads will be 100% safer.
The Enforcer!
mdechgan
15-02-08, 12:55 PM
I think it is the right idea to ban cell phones and televisions in cars. But how are they to enforce it? Its not like in other countries where cops drive after you in a traffic car. Cops here usually just set up a road block. If a driver sees some traffic they just have to hang up. These cops usually are after better money such as trucks and pickup trucks.
Now let's say there was traffic where your car doesn't move for like 30 minutes. Can't you use the phone or watch some news during that time? Or just sit there for 30 minutes and do nothing but complain about Thai traffic.
Trafffic is a bitch, have any of you ever tried driving from let's say the Phutthamonton/Kanchanapisek area towards the Pranakorn side such as Pathumwan or Silom let's say around 6:00-7:00am? I remember once I had to take a flight at Don Muang so I left my home in Phuttamonthon around 5:30am, I barely made my flight which left at 10:00am. I barely checked in at around 9:00am. Another time I took a friend to the airport where his flight left at 5:30pm so we left around lunchtime at 12:00pm. Guess what he missed his flight. I couldn't believe it took 5 hours just to get to the airport. We spend 2 hours on Charansanitwong towards Rama VII bridge and another 2hours near Wong Sawang Big C, It took another hour on Viphavadhi and that was that end of story.
The enforcement in Bangkok is riduculous. Driver's licenses are paid for with 500baht in special envelope. I can't believe how some people where able to get their driver's licenses. Usually women try to talk and plead their way into getting one.
Police chief warns drivers of cellphone ban
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police Chief Maj Gen Decha Budnampetch today warned motorists that they have until May 19 to break the habit of talking on a mobile phone without using a hands-free set while driving – or face being fined.
Although the new law comes into effect tomorrow, Gen Decha said that local police will not fine motorists for breaking the law until May 19.
“After that, they face a fine of 400 to 1,000 baht,” he said.
He added that police have a public awareness campaign underway to remind motorists of the new law.
“The new law is to prevent accidents, as people who usually talk on the phone while behind the wheel will be able to concentrate more on driving.
“The new law will apply to car and motorbike drivers,” Gen Decha said.
Phuket, Thailand
18:57 local time (GMT +7)
Non-specific link:
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=6461
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