Two of the drivers tested positive, with both admitting that they had taken methamphetamine – half a pill apiece.
The two are to be sent to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a detoxification course but apart from that will face no sanctions.
Drivers from MKR Transport Co and Je-Siam Holiday Phuket Co gathered at the Je-Siam offices in Sam Kong, Phuket Town, and provided samples and, watched by Governor Maitree Inthusut, these were tested.
The samples provided by Natthapong Chinlee and Udorn Sainate of MKR tested positive for methamphetamine, or ya ba (“crazy drug”).
MKR’s owner, Gengkao Jangjedriw, admitted to being embarrassed about the result. “I have lost face a little. But, two out of 15, I can live with that.
“They are both new here. I will give them one more chance – they can keep their jobs – but I will watch their behaviour.”
He added, “Today I brought all the drivers here without telling them where we were going or what was going to happen. I told them only that we were going to have a meeting.”
Nopparut Pitthayanitchakul, owner of Je Siam – whose drivers all tested clean – told The Phuket News he was confident this would be the result because he constantly stressed to his employees that they must not use drugs.
“This check is open and above-board. I believe no owner wants to hire a driver who is addicted to drugs because if any damage results, it could cost the company millions of baht.”
He added, “It was good of the government officials to come here to help because it costs quite a lot to have them all tested; I understand it costs B800 per person. If you have a lot of employees, that’s a lot of money. So, when we had a meeting with the Governor recently, about driving buses over Patong Hill, we asked if he would help.”
Gov Maitree told the Phuket News, “There are four main factors that we must to focus on [to make bus travel safer]. These are the driver, the vehicle, the traffic engineering, and the traffic regulations.
“We have to make sure that drivers are in a good physical condition, are not drunk, and are not addicted to drugs. Vehicles must be in a good condition, and ready for use, and the condition of the road and the signage should be up to standard.”
Gov Maitree also warned that all bus owners should be careful from now because, if officials get drug-positive results from driver’s urine, the company will be fined B40,000.