An Austrian man has been charged with assaulting a Phuket taxi driver who reportedly told him not to smoke in the vehicle.

The incident happened in Thalang district on Wednesday morning, police said.

According to the taxi driver, he had picked up the Austrian from Phuket airport and was heading for tambon Chalong.

When they reached Ban Mueang Mai in Thalang, the man started smoking a cigarette inside the car. In response, the driver told him of the no-smoking policy.

When the vehicle was moving along Thep Krasattri Road, the 59-year-old Austrian climbed from the back seat to the front passenger seat and placed the driver in a headlock, causing him to lose control of the car. The taxi then hit an MG car which was waiting at a traffic light.

The MG car's driver said he saw the passenger holding the taxi driver by the neck. He and other passersby intervened to help.