Public transport vehicles failing safety checks

PHOTO: National News Bureau of Thailand

In the first week of new safety checks introduced by the Department of Land Transport (DLT), 1 in 7 public transport vehicles have failed.

Drivers fared slightly better, with only 3 out of 10,236 failing their exam.

DLT Director General Peerapol Thavornsubhajaroen says that as part of the test brought in to improve public safety, over 7,000 vehicles were checked in the period September 2 – 11, with over 1,000 failing to pass inspection.

“The check-up campaign is expected to take three months to complete. During the first week we already performed checks on 7,088 vehicles and found that 1,020 of them failed the evaluation. We ordered the owners to fix their failed vehicles and bring them back for another check-up within 15 days.”

It’s understood the vehicles tested were a mixture of min-vans and buses and the reasons for failure included low-quality brake systems, excessive black smoke emissions or unauthorised modification to engines and gear systems.

Peerapol says drivers who fail their test are given advice on how to better prepare before re-taking it the exam.

Physical checks on drivers include physical fitness, color blindness, reactions, eyes (depth and width perception), as well as a test on their general suitability as a public transport service provider.

Vehicle tests include checks on the engine, vehicle body integrity, brake system, wheel alignment, lights, smoke emissions, acoustics, as well as ensuring there are no gas leaks.

SOURCE: The Nation