Deadline for GPS installations on passenger vans set at end of March

BANGKOK, Jan 18 (TNA) -- The Department of Land Transportation has set the deadline for the installation of a GPS tracking system on all passenger vans by the end of March 2017. The department, together with the 2nd Cavalry Division, King's Guard, the Royal Thai Police, and Transport Co Ltd jointly held a meeting to set the operation directions with an aim to create more confidence among the public on the country's public transportation system. The department Deputy Director General Cherdchai Sanunsrisakorn said that the meeting has agreed upon the speeding up of the GPS system installation on all passenger vans by the end of March, in order to keep track on the van drivers' behaviour on real time surveillance. Mr Cherdchai said the meeting also set up the safety inspection standard for passenger vans which would be strictly implemented at all terminals nationwide, where concerned agencies would be coordinated to help examine the readiness of the drivers, check the operation hours of the vehicle, as well as ensure that the van itself is up to the safety standard. All public vans from now, he said, would have to pass all inspections, and if any van owners refused to bring in their vehicle for an inspection, they would face tough punishment. Mr Cherdchai noted that such measures would have to be implemented continuously, starting at the beginning of the year until the end of the Songkran Festival in April. Moreover, the department has ordered every province to survey the number of passenger vans in their respective area, stressing that all van must strictly comply to the regulations and use the bus terminal as the passenger drop off and pick up point just like the capital. Mr Cherdchai said all provinces must report back the number of passenger vans to the department by March 31. (TNA)