The local resident shared a 51-second video clip documenting the incident. The video, posted on the popular Facebook page ‘Driving Like This Should Be Ashamed in Phuket’, highlights an aggressive altercation between the resident and the tuk-tuk driver near Bangla Rd.
The resident, who has lived in Phuket for eight years, explained he was driving with his wife to Bangla Rd when a tuk-tuk, which had been in the right lane, suddenly cut in front of him and parked in the left lane, blocking his path. Despite the local resident’s attempts to ignore the provocation, the tuk-tuk driver continued to challenge him aggressively.
"Today I saw it myself," the resident said in his post. "I don’t know where this tuk-tuk came from. It cut in front of me and parked in the left lane. I went to drive past him but this tuk-tuk driver came to challenge me, but I didn’t [react]."
The video shows the tuk-tuk driver confronting the resident, raising his voice and behaving threateningly. The resident, who recorded the entire incident, expressed his frustration and concern over the behaviour, questioning if the Bangla Rd area was dominated by such aggressive drivers.
“I only see it in the news. I didn’t think I’d experience it myself. I sent this clip to the Patong Police Station via the [official Facebook] page," he added. "I truly believe that there are still many people who are like me."
The video has garnered significant attention and criticism from netizens. Many expressed their dismay over the aggressive behavior of tuk-tuk drivers in the area. Comments ranged from residents sharing their own negative experiences to others calling for stricter regulations and enforcement to curb such behaviour.
One commenter stated, “I’m a Phuket person myself. I don’t plan to travel to Patong at all. It has everything, including all the problems. Experiences like this are normal, most tuk-tuks drive like this.”
The incident raised questions about road safety and the conduct of public transport drivers in Phuket. Local authorities have yet to respond to the video, but the resident’s actions in sharing the clip have sparked a broader conversation about the need for accountability and better regulation of tuk-tuk drivers in the area.
Patong Police posted on their official Facebook page on Saturday night (July 20) that the tuk-tuk driver had been called in for questioning.
The incident happened at about 8pm last Thursday night (July 18), police reported.
Police named the driver only as ‘Mr Jirayuth’.
Amid smiles, Jirayuth was fined B1,000 ‒ not for his threatening behaviour, but instead for his reckless driving in changing lanes and obstructing traffic.
Although Patong Police posted a photo apparently proving that Jirayuth had been fined, the section where the offender’s name was to be entered was left blank.
Patong Police made no mention of whether the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO), which regulates all public transport vehicles and drivers on the island, had been informed of Jirayuth’s moving violation.
Patong Police also made no mention of whether any demerit points had been enacted on Jirayuth’s driver’s licence.