A ban on using a mobile phone without a headset while driving has been introduced for motorists throughout Thailand. As the Bangkok Post newspaper reported on Friday, the relevant decree has entered into force.
It is expected that the use of a headset or a speakerphone by drivers while driving a vehicle will reduce the number of road accidents, as well as the number of injured and dead as a result of accidents. The decree prohibiting motorists from using the phone without auxiliary equipment that allows them to talk without holding the device in their hands came into force on October 7.
If there is a need to pick up a mobile phone, the driver must park the car before doing so. Violators of the innovation face a fine of 400 to 1,000 baht ($ 10 to $ 26). Meanwhile, the resolution may be revised in five years.
According to a 2018 World Health Organization report, Thailand ranked second in the world in terms of road deaths. Among the most common causes of accidents are speeding, drunk driving and disregard for traffic rules. According to the Thai Traffic Accident Data Center, since the beginning of 2022, 11.3 thousand people have died in accidents and 716.9 thousand have been injured.
Drivers in Thailand banned from using a mobile phone