Suspension of licenses of vehicle operators and gas tank installation engineers

Director-General of the Department of Land Transport has suspended the licenses of vehicle operators and gas tank installation engineers after finding that more than 5 were installed. Mr. Chirut Visanchitr, Director-General of the Department of Land Transport, explained to the Transport Committee about the investigation into a field trip bus of Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School that caught fire, resulting in the deaths of several students, that he had suspended the license to operate public transport and the license of the safety manager, and that every company must have a safety manager to oversee daily safety from the time the bus departs. Engineers and gas tank installers have also had their licenses suspended, while vehicle maintenance officers have been transferred to work at the Department of Land Transport. This is only an initial action against those involved. Mr. Chirut added that the important issue reported to the Transport Committee was the gas cylinders that had been registered for 6 units, bu t the facts that were checked found that there were 11 in total, 5 of which were over. An investigation will be conducted to find out the origin of this matter and who is responsible, which is currently under investigation by the staff. In terms of the investigation timeframe, it is expected to take two weeks, in which the Department of Land Transport will investigate every step of the process to see if it complies with regulations, from the operators to the Department of Land Transport officials who will investigate and set up a special committee to investigate the facts. 'What is certain is when the gas tank exceeded the limit, when did the operator add it, did the inspecting engineer know? And finally, the officer must look at the correctness of the operator, must go and check who is negligent in their duties,' said Mr. Chirut. Source: Thai News Agency