Taxi driver under the influence plows into Government House barrier
Thailand's Shocking Drunk Driving Incident
It's a tale of an intoxicated ride that ended disastrously - a 59-year-old taxi driver crashed his vehicle into the Government House fence in Bangkok, with a blood alcohol level over three times the legal limit!
At the break of dawn on Tuesday (May 27), the Dusit Police Station received a distressing report of a taxi crash on Phitsanulok Road, Dusit District. Upon arriving at the scene, they discovered a green-yellow taxi, sporting a Bangkok license plate, had careened into the Government House fence, causing devastation.
The driver, known as Siwasit (last name withheld), was identified and questioned. Authorities detected an intense odor of alcohol and signs of intoxication. The driver reluctantly admitted to drinking.
A breathalyzer test confirmed their suspicions, revealing a blood alcohol level of an astounding 195 milligrams per 100 milliliters! This figure far surpasses the legal limit of 0.05% in Thailand. As a result, the driver was apprehended at the Dusit Police Station and is now facing the consequences of their actions.
Driving under the influence (DUI) in Thailand can lead to severe penalties. These may include hefty fines, a stint in prison, and the temporary or permanent suspension of one's driver's license. The specifics are as follows:
- Fines: Ranging from 6,000 to 12,000 THB.
- Imprisonment: Terms of up to one year.
- License Revocation: Durations vary based on the severity of the offense.
These penalties are part of Thailand's sustained efforts to minimize accidents caused by drunk driving.
It's worth noting that recent adjustments to alcohol sales regulations on Buddhist holidays do not impact the blood alcohol limit or DUI penalties. These alterations primarily serve to increase tourism by easing alcohol sales restrictions during certain religious days while still prioritizing public safety.
In the aftermath of the shocking drunk driving incident, the question of whether personal choices affect a person's profession has arisen. Siwasit's arrest for DUI could potentially impact his job as a taxi driver, while also implicating the taxi business in the general discussion about public health, as well as politics, considering the ensuing consequences. Moreover, this incident has prompted the media to cover crime-and-justice stories more closely, highlighting the ongoing efforts to minimize accidents caused by drunk driving and the severe penalties associated with it.
