Thailand bans chatting on phone while driving

Source: Xinhua | 05-08-2008 13:06

BANGKOK, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Those using mobile phone without using hands-free devices while driving a vehicle in Thailand will break the law, face a fine, and endanger losing their driving licenses starting from Thursday.

Violators will get a grace period of two weeks, during which they will get a warning about the danger. From May 20 onwards, offenders will face a fine, according to Bangkok's Deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Panu Kerdlarbpol, quoted by Bangkok Post newspaper on Thursday.

After the grace period ends, offenders will be fined 400 to 1,000 baht (about 12.5 to 31.3 U.S. dollars). They will also receive 10 penalty points.

Normally 60 points will result in the suspension of the driver's license. But drivers who break the phone ban a second time will also have their license suspended.

They will be required to attend a three-hour driving safety course, and sit an exam to get their license back.

Police have been told to take pictures of drivers who break the ban, to serve as evidence.

Some argue that the penalty is still too light for the offenders and would not produce great effect. However, Panu believes if the ban is enforced strictly, the number of road accidents will decrease.

As drivers, who use hands-free devices such as Small Talk or Bluetooth to talk on the phone will be exempt, the ban has driven up the sales of these devices, not popular in the past for Thais, recently.

Editor:Xiong