The Land Transport Department is looking to enforce regulations this month to ensure the safe operation of double-decker buses and strict screening of drivers. The department has come up with proposals to increase safety, including tougher criteria for approving driving licenses for drivers of double-deckers and th
The Land Transport Department is looking to enforce regulations this month to ensure the safe operation of double-decker buses and strict screening of drivers.
The department has come up with proposals to increase safety, including tougher criteria for approving driving licenses for drivers of double-deckers and the installation of more safety equipment on the buses.
Department chief Asdsathai Rattanadilok na Phuket said the department wants to enforce the measures this month. However, the department will give them a grace period of 3 to 6 months to prepare for the changes, he said.
Once the measures are announced, double-decker bus drivers will undergo retraining and they will have to apply for a new license to drive the buses.
The new license will involve tougher tests and drivers will also need to be examined to check if they are fit to drive.
As for the bus' safety equipment, the department has set out safety features, including the anti-lock braking system, which allows drivers to stop the vehicles more effectively on slippery roads.
The department is also preparing to launch a new regulation limiting the height of double-decker buses to 4 meters. Double-decker buses currently in service are 4.30 meters high.