The Department of Land Transport (DLT) has issued a warning to the operators of nearly 6,000 natural gas-powered (CNG) buses, urging them to have their vehicles undergo a safety inspection by November 30, or face being removed from service.
The warning was posted on the DLT’s official Facebook page.
Out of the 13,426 CNG buses registered in Thailand, 5,925 have yet to undergo the mandatory inspections, which were ordered following a tragic chartered tour bus fire on October 1 in Pathum Thani that claimed the lives of 20 students and three teachers.
So far, 59 buses have failed the inspection and have been temporarily taken off the road.
Travellers heading into the New Year are advised to only use CNG buses that display a “passed safety inspection” sticker on the front.
Operators who fail to have their buses inspected by the November 30 deadline will face a 50,000-baht fine and have their vehicles taken out of service.
If any of the 59 buses that have already failed the inspections are found carrying passengers, their owners will also be fined 50,000 baht.
Many bus operators are expected to miss the deadline. In such cases, the DLT will issue a notice requiring them to complete the inspection within 15 days.
Operators who do not comply will have their public transport licenses revoked and will be required to return their license plates to the DLT.
Anyone found operating a bus with a revoked license could face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a fine ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 baht.
