If you love driving up to Thailand then you should take note of this, peeps! It looks like the Thai government is planning to impose an entry fee for foreign vehicles starting next year. Wait, what?
According to Bangkok Post, the deputy chief of Thailand’s Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning said that the toll was needed as they recorded more and more foreign vehicles entering Thai’s borders since the Asean Economic Community (AEC) was established.
Source: Pattaya Today
Due to this influx of vehicles, she said that this has increased the cost of road maintenance and road accidents as well. They need the money to keep the roads nice!
Based on a report by The Malaysian Insight, she said, “Every year, the government spends on average 15 billion Baht (about RM1.9 billion) on repair and maintenance of roads. It also spends 2.4 billion Baht (about RM302 million) a year as a result of road accidents.”
Source: Rider Chris
Currently, Wilairat said the department’s study on collecting toll fees from foreign vehicles will be completed next month but approval for the plan can be passed in less than a year. Malaysian vehicles were discovered to be the second highest amount of foreign vehicles entering Thailand through 28 checkpoints.
In 2016, 2.1 million foreign vehicles entered Thailand with the most coming from Laos at 755,000, Malaysia at 596,000, Myanmar at 495,000 and Cambodia at 322,000. They plan to start implementing the charges for four-wheel vehicles coming from Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos. Maybe time to start riding a motorbike?
Source: Thailand PRD
So, just how much are we expected to pay? At the moment, Wilairat said that the proposed fee would be 100 Baht (RM12.65) for an electronic tag, which would be valid for five years and a toll of 42 Baht (RM5.30) per trip. Doesn’t sound too expensive!
However, this toll is expected to only begin around late next year but Wilairat explained that this would only be the first phase. She said that Radio Frequency Identification System, with Global Positioning System (GPS) will be used to track the vehicles in later phases.
Source: NST
Once this is good to go, she said that, “The technology (GPS) will be good for a plan to start collecting toll based on the distance that foreign motorists travel. We are considering charging them 1.5 Baht (RM0.19) a kilometre, starting from the fourth year.”
Meanwhile, Malaysia has collected a RM20 (160 Baht) toll from Thai vehicles, which include private cars, vans and buses since June.
Guess we should take advantage of the free entry while we still can!
Also read: Two Malaysians Denied Entry at Thailand Checkpoint For Not Bringing Enough Cash
