BANGKOK, THAILAND – A driver for a prominent ride-sharing app physically assaulted a Japanese tourist in the Asok district, highlighting concerns over driver qualifications and passenger safety.
Angriff, Entschädigung und Anklage
A driver registered with a well-known ride-sharing application is alleged to have physically attacked a Japanese tourist in the Asok area. The 23-year-old driver reportedly lacked the necessary public passenger transport license.
Following mediation at the Thong Lo police station, the platform provided the victim with 35,000 Baht. However, a criminal case for assault is proceeding, having been scheduled for court on June 4.
Authorities stated that the criminal proceedings remain independent of the compensation payment. This is because the case involves a potential offense against bodily integrity, ensuring that victim and criminal law matters are addressed separately.
Verbraucherschutz stellt Sicherheit der Passagiere in den Vordergrund
Supamas Issaraphakdee from the Office of the Prime Minister stated at the Government House that the Office of Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) views the incident as a violation of consumer rights. The OCPB emphasizes that passengers must be safely transported to their destinations after accepting a ride.
She underscored that platforms bear responsibility, and passenger safety must be the priority. The OCPB is calling for a comprehensive review of driver selection processes and age requirements.
“It may be time to rethink driver vetting from the ground up, as well as the appropriateness of age for driving public transport to be able to bear responsibility for passengers’ lives. The age of 20 might be sufficient for a private car license, but for a public transport license, suitability for taking responsibility for passengers’ lives must be examined.”
said Supamas Issaraphakdee, a representative from the Office of the Prime Minister.
Konkrete Gespräche mit Plattformen angesetzt
The OCPB has scheduled a meeting with the ride-sharing platform involved on June 5 to discuss the incident and potential measures. A larger consultation involving 13 platforms from across Thailand is planned for June 12 to discuss regulations and oversight.
During the June 12 meeting, the OCPB intends to review fare fairness and collaborate with other agencies if platforms are found to be abandoning passengers or repeatedly violating rules.
Strengere Regeln für Führerscheine und Sanktionen geplant
In response to this case, the government is considering stricter requirements for public passenger transport licenses and the implementation of clear sanctions for misconduct. A list of penalties corresponding to the severity of offenses is being developed.
Platforms will be held accountable for repeated negligence. Supamas highlighted that alongside government actions, platform operators must examine their contractual terms and control mechanisms to ensure that drivers with a sense of responsibility towards passengers are employed.
Volvo‑Fall: OCPB bereitet Sammelklage für über 500 Fälle vor
Following ongoing consultations, the OCPB announced plans to file a lawsuit concerning over 500 Volvo cases on behalf of consumers. This approach aims to avoid further mediation on these matters.
Some affected individuals are reportedly seeking a refund of the purchase price for their vehicles, rather than just a battery replacement. The class action lawsuit is intended to strengthen consumer rights and achieve clear legal resolution.