OPINION

Vans not the problem

With regard to the debate over the safety of passenger vans versus minibuses, I find some of the claims to be quite incorrect and incredible.

The claims that the vans are only used in Thailand, and that they were converted from cargo vans are just not true. I have travelled quite safely in these vans all over the world, and some are very well fitted.

Theoretically, there is also nothing wrong with a van that is 10 years old, provided that it has compulsory, regular mechanical checks, examining things such as tyre-tread depth, brakes, steering links and body soundness.

The drivers must also have regular health checks and maintain a logbook to show that they are not driving excessive hours.

Minibuses will crash just as easily if they are not maintained or if the driver falls asleep or is high on drugs. The only difference is that more people could be killed in a minibus.

My experience travelling through Thailand in a van where the driver was watching YouTube on his phone for the whole 90-kilometre trip, only emphasises that driver education and policing are important for any vehicle. The driver was reported for this, but he is still driving.

More good judgement

Re: "Old van replacements no longer required", (BP, Aug 13).

Three cheers for common sense!

It is a positive step that the Transport Ministry has decided it is unnecessary and impractical to implement the ludicrous directive to replace passenger vans with minibuses.

Now, if we can only have the same good judgement applied by eliminating the archaic and pointless regulations related to mid-day purchases of alcoholic beverages, the TM30 form and 90-day reporting for foreign residents, the country would definitely be on the right track.

A trillion isn't much

Re: "Torturous extremist", (PostBag, Aug 14).

Eric Bahrt seems to think that 30 trillion litres is a lot of water (the word trillion will do that to you and that is why it was used).

But it's not really.

It is only about 1% of the USA's annual renewable water resources, or 1/1000th of 1% of the Greenland ice sheet.

He was also recently concerned that water waste during Songkran would cause mass starvation.

Again, not really!

A back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests total water use during Songkran in Thailand represents, at most, 1/1000th of 1% of the annual flow of the Chao Phraya River.

Eric can continue to enjoy Songkran with good conscience.

Back to Section 44

If I remember correctly, the NCPO did not cease to exist after the election, nor after the Election Commission's announcement of the election results, or the appointment of the prime minister, but after the swearing in of the new cabinet.

We now know that the oath-taking was incomplete and it is possible that the courts will find that it was unconstitutional and legally void.

So, er, back to Section 44 and all that?