New ride-sharing rules may encounter obstacles

Thailand plans to enforce new regulations for ride-sharing platforms in October, aiming to enhance safety, transparency and reliability for passengers, drivers and platform operators.

- SUCHIT LEESA-NGUANSUK

The new announcement made by the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (Etda) assigns additional responsibilities to ride-sharing platforms involving public cars and motorcycles that have specific characteristics defined by the Digital Platform Service law.

The new rules shift ride-sharing platform operators from being mere intermediaries between drivers and passenger into active service regulators.

Revenue in the Thai ride-sharing market is projected to reach 45 billion baht this year, while users are expected to reach 15.1 million by 2027, according to research firm Statista.

NEW DUTIES

Thenew responsibilities include verification of drivers and passengers.

When drivers apply online, the platforms must use reliable digital ID systems such as ThalD to verify their identity.

The platforms are required to have measures to ensure drivers follow the conditions for operating public vehicles, penalise violations and submit relevant reports to Etda and related state agencies.

Drivers must possess a valid public driving licence and use a car registered for public service. Drivers must undergo identity verification every time they log in to a platform and are prohibited from using another person’s account to provide services.