Thailand has partially banned services by ride-sharing application Uber, authorities Wednesday, as the U.S.-based car hire business continues to grapple with regulators across the world.
The head of the kingdom’s Department of Land Transport said it has banned Uber’s use of unlicensed “black plate” vehicles, which link customers with private drivers under their “UberX” brand, citing safety concerns and a lack of regulation.
Under the laws, cars used for public transportation must register under yellow or green plates which means “UberBLACK,” a more expensive option which connects passengers to the green-plate limo service, can still operate legally in the kingdom.
“We are not banning the use of the Uber application, but we are banning the use of black plate vehicles, because they are illegal,” Teerapong Rodpraert, Director-General of Land Transport Department told AFP.
“We have held talks with Uber twice including Tuesday. We must consider passenger safety because the taxi driver must have a public driving licence and a criminal records check with our department,” he said.
“Uber respects the Department of Land Transportation (DLT) and its important role as the key regulator on vehicle-for-hire transport in Thailand,” an Uber spokesperson said in a press release. “We look forward to continued conversations with the DLT to bring our innovative transportation solutions within the appropriate regulatory framework in Thailand.”
Story: AFP
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