Driving slowly in high-speed lane to soon become a punishable offence

[snoop1130 10,616]

Driving slowly in high-speed lane to soon become a punishable offence
By KHANITTHA THEPPHAJORN  

THE NATION

 

 

MOTORISTS driving at low speed in right-hand lanes will soon be subjected to fines, thanks to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), giving a nod in principle to a draft law amending the Land Traffic Act yesterday. 

 

The proposed law will also allow the use of an electronic driver’s licence.

 

Police representative Pol Maj-General Ekkalak Limsankart also called for new regulations to be issued that are clear and can prevent violators from evading justice. 

 

He cited a section in the draft law that will ban drunk people from riding bicycles on public roads or face a Bt500 fine, which he said was a response to drunk cyclists who, despite being arrested, managed to evade conviction because the current drunk-driving law excludes cyclists.

 

NLA members in principle approved the draft amendment of the Land Traffic Act in its first reading with 157:0 votes, two abstentions and one failure to cast a vote. 

 

A special committee was subsequently set up to consider the draft law.

 

Before voting, NLA members offered several suggestions including measures to detect corruption in issuing tickets, a review of using CCTV images to issue tickets as some motorists claim they were not driving at the time of the offence and measures allowing officers’ discretion in case of such error. 

 

Many NLA members also called for motorists hogging the right-hand lane at low speed to be punished and for heavily loaded trucks to be kept off the right-hand lane. 

 

Traffic regulation 

 

Driving slowly in the right-hand lane poses a great risk of road accidents, especially when being overtaken from the left, the assembly heard. 

 

Ekkalak told the NLA meeting that a ministerial regulation was being written and is nearly ready that will make driving slowly on the right-hand lane a traffic offence.

 

He also said that many motorists ignored traffic tickets until their driving score drops so low that their driver’s licence needs to be suspended. 

 

Hence, he said, every motorist should be required to attend training on traffic regulations and must pass the exam to restore their scores. 

 

Also, forcing them to pay for the training will discourage motorists from repeating the offence, he added. As for a digital version of driving licences, Ekkalak said the draft law’s wording should be changed to allow the digital version to be legal or a regulation on such matter should be formulated and later sent for the Cabinet’s nod. The Department of Land Transport launched the digital licence app on January 15, but police have refused to accept it under the current law and continue imposing fines if motorists fail to present a physical licence. 

 

Ekkalak also suggested that, since a driving licence is mostly intended to identify the driver, it can be eliminated if the information is included in the smart national ID cards.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30362475

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-01-18

 

 

 

[Bruce Aussie Chiang Mai 1,147]

What will be classed as slow. 10, 20,30, 40, or 50 over speed limit?

[kannot 16,903]

Like any Thai  gives a flying fig  about any rules................do  what you like rulebook  guys no one cares

[richard_smith237 24,875]

Again... another response which misses the point... 

 

When on the highway / express way the left most lane is the driving lane... and other lane is an over taking lane.... enforce that and there will be fewer express way accidents with people under and over taking middle lane traffic.

 

There is a base logic in enforcing a minimum speed which should be set to maintain traffic flow and reduce 'passing speeds'.

 

But again... Its just a rule and as kannot wrote... who cares in the slightest about rules and regulations here..  the penalties are so minimal no one bats an eyelid.

 

 

 

On a recent expressway journey I exceeded the speed limit, I knew I was exceeding the speed limit (the expressway was very quiet)... I didn't care that I was exceeded the speed limit because the fines are so small, I also knew there was a likelihood I'd get caught by the camera's (I did !). My Road Taxi is due up soon, I'll see if I am forced to pay the 500 baht fine or not !!!... 

 

Until the fines are significant, the laws won't matter. 

[Thaiwrath 34,396]

More

[utalkin2me 1,549]

I have been in one accident in my entire life. One accident in 40 years of driving.

 

The reason... some <deleted> was coming up behind me at about 110mph, I got over out of the fast lane. It was raining and the guy in the slow lane was a putt putt vehicle that was crawling. I am fully bearing responsibility for my own accident, but here i am just proclaiming the problem is people going to fast in the fast lane and expecting every damn driver in the world to roll out the red carpet and get out of their way (after flickering their brights).

 

Nothing makes me mash my teeth more. If you are heavily speeding in the fast lane and want people to get out of your way, <deleted> you. You are not in the right! 

[kannot 16,903]

37 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Again... another response which misses the point... 

 

When on the highway / express way the left most lane is the driving lane... and other lane is an over taking lane.... enforce that and there will be fewer express way accidents with people under and over taking middle lane traffic.

 

There is a base logic in enforcing a minimum speed which should be set to maintain traffic flow and reduce 'passing speeds'.

 

But again... Its just a rule and as kannot wrote... who cares in the slightest about rules and regulations here..  the penalties are so minimal no one bats an eyelid.

 

 

 

On a recent expressway journey I exceeded the speed limit, I knew I was exceeding the speed limit (the expressway was very quiet)... I didn't care that I was exceeded the speed limit because the fines are so small, I also knew there was a likelihood I'd get caught by the camera's (I did !). My Road Taxi is due up soon, I'll see if I am forced to pay the 500 baht fine or not !!!... 

 

Until the fines are significant, the laws won't matter. 

the  worst  point  is  your  speeding  was  in  no  way  dangerous,  but  rules  are   rules

[survivalblue 186]

Driving slowly in any lane is hazardous and likely to cause an accident.  All drivers should proceed more quickly to their destination to eliminate patience.

[richard_smith237 24,875]

31 minutes ago, kannot said:

the  worst  point  is  your  speeding  was  in  no  way  dangerous,  but  rules  are   rules

Agreed... and if the fine was 5000 baht instead of 500 baht I would not have exceeded the speed limit... 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237 24,875]

22 minutes ago, survivalblue said:

Driving slowly in any lane is hazardous and likely to cause an accident.  All drivers should proceed more quickly to their destination to eliminate patience.

Indeed...  a few years ago I was in a Taxi on the Expressway... I wasn't sure if the old guy could see clearly, but he was traveling at about 50-60kmh in the centre lane of the expressway (It was too late to just stop him and get out and get another Taxi)... I had to persuade him to get over to the left hand side and try and speed up a bit as other drivers sped past.... it was about 2am so I was in fear of a drunk rear-ending the taxi... 

 

 

[naboo 2,483]

1 hour ago, Bruce Aussie Chiang Mai said:

What will be classed as slow. 10, 20,30, 40, or 50 over speed limit?

 

Exactly. Clueless at the top, clueless at the bottom.

[wvavin 1,542]

Who cares a shit? Nobody is afraid of the law!

[Titan1962 800]

I was writing my two bobs worth about this article,and honestly I could go on and on and on about the Thai driving culture and how bad and dangerous it is.

But I decided to just accept its Thailand,no matter what I have to say won’t make any difference,thousands of people will needlessly die this yr on Thai roads,hopefully with the experience and common sense I have gained  from driving in a country that has strict driving laws I will survive.

[cornishcarlos 23,475]

48 minutes ago, Titan1962 said:

hopefully with the experience and common sense I have gained  from driving in a country that has strict driving laws I will survive.

 

I don't think your experience and common sense will prevent Somchai on yaba, running a red light in his 10 wheeler and, cleaning you up in the process...

You can do the best you can but at the end of the day, your fate might be in the hands of some untrained, uncaring local !!

[YetAnother 19,517]

8 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

He cited a section in the draft law that will ban drunk people from riding bicycles on public roads

typical thai, addressing the wrong things