Speeding vans to get stern penalty

BANGKOK, January 7 (TNA) - Beginning from April 1, 2012, public vans in Thailand found speeding will be fined up to 5,000 baht, while repeated offenders will lose their driving licenses. Land Transport Department Director General Somchai Siriwatchote announced on Saturday that the stern penalty, 10 times higher, comes in response to the rising number of deaths and injuries from road accidents nationwide caused by speeding vans. Somchai told reporters that the new measure, to be enforced by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority and Transport Company Limited, is also aimed at reducing road accidents during the upcoming traditional Thai New Year or Songkran Festival in mid-April, noting that a revised speed limit for public vans will also be discussed with police. Meanwhile, official figures showed that the death toll from road accidents during the recent New Year celebration period nationwide involving public transport vehicles dropped by 53.33 per cent year-on-year. (TNA)