Photos courtesy of Bangkok
Authorities recently handed out the first batch of new queue vests to registered motorcycle taxi drivers as part of a new scheme aimed at created fairer and safer motorcycle taxi services.
This week’s Exercises takes a look at this new government project.
Authorities on December 1 handed out the first batch of new queue vests to registered motorcycle taxi drivers. Another 100,000 vests are expected to be handed out next year.
OFFICIAL LAUNCH
First Army Region commander Kampanart Ruddith, together with Land Transport Department (LTD) director-general Teerapong Rodprasert presided over the ceremony on December 1 for distributing the vests to representatives from the Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Association of Thailand.
“It was the first distribution of vests to drivers, free of charge,” Kampanart said.
He did not specify how many vests were in the first batch. The vests were to be given to motorcycle taxi drivers who had registered with the Land Transport Department.
REGISTERED RIDERS
From January 1 next year, all registered motorcycle taxi drivers will be required to wear the queue vests while providing services to customers. The orange vests with a luminous green strip also come with the driver’s ID issued by the LTD, as well as the driver’s queue number.
The drivers are not allowed to resell the vests. Previously, licensed motorcycle taxi drivers’ vests could be sold for hundreds or thousands of baht. That illegal practice was blamed for causing drivers to charge passengers excessive rates.
ONGOING PROCESS
By last month, 80,135 out of 104,134 motorcycle taxis in Bangkok had been registered. The remainder are still undergoing the process. Registration is free and open to all who are interested in becoming a driver.
The registrations are part of the National Council for Peace and Order’s efforts to regulate motorcycle taxi drivers and clamp down on mafia-style extortion gangs which had illegally traded motorcycle taxi vest licences.
Exercises
Read the story. Then, decide whether the following statements are true or false.
1. From December 1 next year, all registered motorcycle taxi drivers will be required to wear the queue vests while providing services to customers.
……………….
2. The drivers are allowed to resell their vests to others.
……………….
3. Teerapong Rodprasert is director-general of the Land and Transport Department.
……………….
4. The vests will be given to motorcycle taxi drivers who registered with the Land Transport Department.
……………….
Vocabulary
- vest (n): a special piece of clothing that covers the upper part of the body
luminous (adj): shining in the dark; giving out light
excessive (adj): greater than what seems reasonable or appropriate
regulate (v): to control something by means of rules
extortion (n): the crime of making somebody give you something by threatening them
