The Transport Ministry is considering making taxi operators install closed-circuit television cameras in all cabs to boost passenger safety.
Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt said the proposal to install CCTV in cabs was aimed at enabling authorities to monitor the conduct of taxi drivers and passengers.
The installation of CCTV would boost the safety of passengers and also help collect evidence to take action against taxi drivers in the event of misconduct or law violations, Mr Chadchart said. This would also help solve problems of taxi drivers refusing to take passengers.
"If a closed-circuit television camera is installed in a cab, it will function like an aeroplane's black box data storage device, as images and voices of people will be recorded. This will help authorities know what is happening in the taxis," the minister said.
He has assigned the Land Transport Department to find ways to take action against taxi firms, aside from punishing wayward drivers, as most drivers do not own the cabs.
Transport Department deputy chief Asdsathai Rattanadilok Na Phuket said a ministerial regulation was being drafted to hold taxi owners accountable for refusal of service by drivers who rented their vehicles. Taxi operators may be liable to the maximum penalty _ revocation of their operating licences _ if their drivers refuse to pick up passengers.
The regulation is expected to be enforced in three months, Mr Asdsathai said.
The department was preparing a database to link lists of drivers from private taxi garages to the department's information centre to help authorities locate drivers in the event of violations of the law, he said.
Transport department deputy director-general Chirute Visalachitr said the department also planned to have Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices installed in taxis.
If a driver or passengers encountered any untoward incidents, the devices could help police arrest culprits.
Initially, taxis operated by juristic persons may be installed with GPS devices under a pilot project, Mr Chirute said.
There are about 100,000 metered taxis registered with the department. Of them, 70,000 cabs are operated by companies and the remaining 30,000 by individuals.
About 20,000 taxi cabs operated by companies have already had GPS devices installed on a voluntary basis.
But no taxis owned by individuals have been installed with GPS devices.