Buckle up. In the backseat. That’s now the law with a 2,000 baht fine awaiting drivers and passengers from September 5 around Thailand, including the island of Phuket.
The amendment of the Road Traffic Act comes comes into effect next month and will provide police with the option of fining back-seat passengers (and presumably the driver) 2,000 baht if they’re not wearing a seat belt.
The amendment to the Traffic Act repeals Section 123 and replaces it with Section 123/1. All passenger vehicles in Thailand are required to be fitted with rear seat seat belts.
The amendment sets the following conditions:
1) The driver must fasten a seat belt across his body at all times while driving.
2) Passengers seated in front or the rear have to belt up at all times when travelling.
3) Children under six years of age must be placed on a special seat or a way found to prevent danger in case of accident.
4) Passengers shorter than 135 centimetres too have to belt up or an arrangement made to prevent danger no matter where they are seated.
Like just about all traffic rules in Thailand, the enforcement is likely to be ‘patchy’ but it’s probably a good practice to get into when driving anywhere anyway.
Buckle up, and tell the people in the back seat to do the same.
