A driver of a Bangkok minibus No.71 has been fined 3,000 baht and his licence suspended for 30 days after he was caught on video driving dangerously near Rama 9 intersection during morning rush hours on Monday.
The 1.03-minute-long video clip was originally posted by Facebook user Sarayuth Yuth Aremeen and later shared on a popular You Like Clip Ded page.
The video showed the Patthavikorn-Wat That Thong orange bus swerved from the far right lane to the middle recklessly several times on a busy road at about 8am as it tried to overtake other vehicles by cutting in front of other vehicles every chance it got.
The post urged the public to avoid using the No.71 mini-bus if they still “love to live and want to spend New Year bonus”. It alleged Mr Tianchai was driving dangerously with one hand on the wheel and the other holding a mobile phone.
Sukree Jarupoom, inspection office chief of Transport Department, said he had instructed the department inspector and Bangkok Mass Transit Authority to investigate the incident quickly and was able to identify the driver as Tianchai Sooknok.
Mr Tianchai was summoned for an inquiry and he admitted to driving dangerously with passengers on board. However, Mr Tianchai claimed he was speeding to alert the fellow driver of another No. 71 bus who had hit his side view mirror without knowing.
In addition to the fine and licence suspension, Mr Sukree said, Mr Tianchai would have to attend a three-hour workshop on public bus drivers’ manners and good service.