Standing on the back of baht buses - banned

[Gaybutton]

Who comes up with this nonsense? Over the years we've seen more laws and ordinances passed than Carter's has liver pills and are never enforced. What's the point of this one? I am not aware of anyone ever injured as a result of standing at the back of a baht bus or anyone ever falling off, so what prompted this law?

Does anyone truly believe that the police are going to bother with this? Ok, someone stands at the back of a baht bus in violation of the law and a police officer spots it. Is he really going to make the driver stop? Who gets fined - the person standing? The driver? both? And how much is the fine? What about actually arresting anybody? I can see it now - being led away in handcuffs and jailed on a standing at the back of a bus rap . . .

If they're going to pass laws, how about passing a few that are actually necessary - and then actually enforcing them for more than a couple weeks?
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Standing on the Back of Baht Buses in Thailand Now Banned, But Will It Be Enforced?

By Adam Judd

24 February, 2023

A law published in the Royal Gazette on Friday (February 17th) states passengers are not allowed to stand on the back of baht buses.

The law also states that the baht bus speed limit must not reach over 60 kilometer per hour. If baht bus drivers break the law they will face legal action.

However, baht bus operators are not happy as it will affect them because of high oil prices. In rush hours they are unable to stop passengers from standing on the back of the baht bus as they are in hurry and agree to stand.

In addition, baht bus drivers cannot refuse to pick up more passengers. There were passenger complaints to the Land Transport Office before after drivers did not stop to pick them up as the baht bus had no place to sit.

The 60 kilometres per hour speed limit might not affect baht buses in towns but may affect the rounds of baht buses outside of towns.

TPN notes this has been attempted to be enforced under local ordinances previously but was not enforced.

https://thepattayanews.com/2023/02/24/s ... -enforced/

[Jun]

I try to avoid standing on the back of baht buses, as if anyone drives into the back of it, you're never going to walk again.

The platforms have hardly any structural strength. I once saw one buckle up when a small motorcycle run into it.

http://www.pattayamail.com/1115/news10.shtml

[BKKDreamer]

Today, late morning, I took the bahtbus into Pattaya city from Jomtien, and people were still standing on the back of the bus.
Nobody said not to do it and on the return trip back to Jomtien, there were police all around and they were not interested in this new regulation.
So, will this be another rule/regulation that is not enforced ?

[Jun]

So, will this be another rule/regulation that is not enforced ?

Random road blocks, to collect tea money ?
Bribes set just low enough to raise revenue, but not stop offending. Just like motorcycle helmets. Even the police are sometimes seen without them.

[Gaybutton]

I try to avoid standing on the back of baht buses

That is precisely the point. You avoid standing because that is your choice, not because somebody decided to make it a matter of law - a law which any idiot knows is unlikely to ever be enforced.

Not long ago a law was passed that people cannot ride in the cargo bed of a pickup truck. Anyone seen or heard of that one being enforced? Has anyone seen any evidence that people are obeying that law and have stopped riding there? Even more recently a law was passed requiring rear seat passengers in cars and trucks to wear seat belts. Anyone seen that law being enforced? Has anyone seen rear seat passengers wearing seat belts? If anyone reading this has recently been a rear seat passenger, did you wear a seat belt?

To me, the only thing that makes the remotest sense about these laws would be if insurance companies are behind them. That way, in case of an accident, if anyone was injured or killed and was not in compliance with these laws, now the insurance companies won't have to pay.

Other than that, if anyone can make sense of passing laws they know won't be enforced, I'd like to know why passing useless laws is better than periodically issuing strong advice (which people also will not obey) about pickup trucks, seat belts, and standing at the rear of a baht bus.

[RichLB]

Enforced or not, standing in the back of a baht bus can be inviting injury - not so much from falling off (which has happened on more than one occasion, but from the possibility of the baht bus being rear ended while passengers are standing on that outside platform. Not all laws designed to promote safety are nonsensical.

[Gaybutton]

Not all laws designed to promote safety are nonsensical.

Of course not, but this one is. I think it is ridiculous to try to make a law about it, especially a law they know damned well people will ignore and won't be enforced. I just have a feeling, as I said in an earlier post, that insurance companies are behind these kinds of laws - giving them more of an excuse not to pay.

Maybe you have heard about people falling off, but in all the years I've lived here and all the years I only was here for holidays, I've never heard about anyone falling off. Not even once. And sure, if a car crashes into the rear of a baht bus, people standing are going to be injured, maybe even killed. The same could also happen to people seated.

In my opinion standing at the back of a baht bus is no less safe than being a passenger on a motorbike.

[Up2u]

Remove the standing platform. Problem solved.

[Jun]

And sure, if a car crashes into the rear of a baht bus, people standing are going to be injured, maybe even killed. The same could also happen to people seated.

If a car runs into the back of a baht bus at 4mph, those standing on the platform will never walk again. At least not with their own feet.
Those sitting on board are likely to be 100% OK. They might have the trauma from seeing all the mangled up legs.

So if someone gets on a baht bus, don't expect to see me give up my seat.

Banning standing is sensible.
Replacing baht buses with a proper bus service would make even more sense.
Or to put it another way. If I suggested replacing the urban bus network in any city from Bankgok to London with baht buses, the idea would be correctly deemed ludicrous.

[Gaybutton]

If a car runs into the back of a baht bus at 4mph, those standing on the platform will never walk again.

Whether that's true or not is not the point, at least to me. The point is what good does it do to pass a law that you know perfectly well is going to be ignored by passengers, drivers, and the police? If this law actually gets enforced for more than a couple weeks, if it even gets enforced at all, I will be amazed. I doubt there are enough people using baht buses yet that standing in the back would even be an issue. By the time baht buses are carrying enough passengers that some would stand in the back, I doubt anyone, including the police, will even remember the existence of this law.

Suppose I'm wrong and the police really will seriously enforce this. Enforce it how? If someone is standing at the back, what will the police do, stop the baht bus in the middle of traffic? Fine or even arrest the offending passenger? Fine or even arrest the driver who allowed it? If enforcement means fines, who gets fined and for how much?

Sorry, but I just don't see this law going anywhere.

Passing ridiculous laws won't change anything and I don't think you're naive enough to believe it will. I think Up2U got it right and that is the only way standing at the back of baht buses would ever be stopped:

Remove the standing platform. Problem solved.