Two bus drivers on Bangkok's notorious No.8 route who got into a brawl on a city road over who should get waiting passengers have been fined 5,000 baht each and suspended from work for seven days.
Their noisy tussle was videoed by one of the waiting passengers and posted on social media, drawing a prompt response from the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority.
The two No.8 drivers, and their two woman ticket conductors, became involved in an altercation as they competed for passengers at a bus stop near Lat Phrao intersection in Bangkok around noon on Monday.
Shocked passengers on and waiting to board the buses watched on in alarm as the two drivers pushed and shoved each other. Facebook user Thiti Tohmad was among them and videoed the incident and posted it on his account page. It was rapidly shared, and quickly picked up by mainstream news outlets.
The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority launched an investigation into the incident and called all four in for questioning.
The No.8 route is a joint public-private concession operated by Sap 888 Co. The bus operator's representative, Bang-on Mangkhong, took driver Sayant and conductor Suthasinee of the No.8 bus with the side number 32-117 and rival driver Jirasin and conductor Methanee of the No.8 bus with the side number 35-104 to report to the BMTA on Tuesday.
Mr Sayant and Mr Jirasin admitted to having been involved in the brawl. They were each fined 5,000 baht and suspend from driving for seven days, until May 20. The two ticket conductors were each given a warning.
The BMTA also fined the operator 5,000 baht and ordered it to provide training on bus driving and traffic laws for its drivers and conductors, Thai media reported.
The No.8 line has long been Bangkok’s most notorious bus route. Non-aircon buses operate on the route, and accidents and reckless driving are reported frequently. Route 8 has been the subject of the highest number of complaints on the BMTA's 1348 hotline for the last three years and has been in the top 10 list for more than a decade.
The No.8 hot-buses run from Happy Land in the eastern outskirts to the Memorial Bridge, a distance of 30km, which is a little shorter than the dearer air-conditioned route. The route passes a lot of important and crowded spots in Bangkok, such as Chatuchak market, Sampheng market, Victory Monument and Yaowarat.
Crews receive a percentage of the fares, or rent the buses, and competition is fierce.
video clip from Thiti Tohmad Facebook page.
