From November 6, taxi passengers, even in the back seat, must wear their seatbelts, with a legal onus on taxi drivers to make sure they do. The Bangkok Post reports that the Royal Thai Police has confirmed the requirement, with the announcement published in the Royal Gazette yesterday, August 8.
The announcement cites Section 213/3 of Thailand’s Land Transport Act and has been signed by Damrongsak Kittiprapas, national police chief.
Taxi drivers can inform passengers of the need to wear a seatbelt verbally, through signage in the vehicle, via an audio recording played inside the vehicle, or through other means.
Taxi drivers are also obliged to remain within the legal permitted number of passengers and to inform their customers of the need to sit only in designated seats. It will be against the law for drivers to offer passengers any additional seating that has been installed without official permission.
By law, passengers must not stand inside a vehicle while it’s moving, unless there is an area dedicated for standing. Passengers must also not stick any part of their body outside of a public transport vehicle while it is moving
The law comes into effect on November 6, 90 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
