A tuk-tuk driver in Bangkok was caught on camera being aggressive toward his passengers and demanding more money than what had been agreed upon at the
A tuk-tuk driver in Bangkok was caught on camera being aggressive toward his passengers and demanding more money than what had been agreed upon at the start of the journey.
“We took the tuk-tuk from CentralWorld around 2:45 p.m. on Sept 2. I told him to go to our condo near BTS Surasak, and we agreed on a fare of 160 baht (S$6),” the passenger shared in an email to The Independent Singapore.
As they neared BTS Chong Nonsi, the driver claimed that the condo was too far and demanded 300 baht instead. The passenger refused, reminding the driver that the agreed fare was 160 baht, and suggested stopping at BTS Surasak as originally planned.
The driver, however, stopped at their current location and refused to drive further. After the passengers got out, the driver asked for 200 baht instead. “He claimed we told him to go to BTS Chong Nonsi and began yelling vulgarities, including ‘F**k you.’ He became aggressive, so I started recording. I insisted we had agreed to go to BTS Surasak.”
Feeling the driver might think they wouldn’t pay, the passenger handed over 100 baht, which the driver accepted. “Even after that, he pushed me violently and attempted to hit me, but I moved away. I told him that since he took us to BTS Chong Nonsi instead of Surasak, 100 baht was fair.”
To avoid further escalation, the passenger walked away and filed a police report. “There have been cases of taxi drivers behaving violently in Bangkok recently, especially towards tourists. I hope sharing this incident encourages the authorities to take action and reminds tourists to stay cautious,” the passenger said.
In an update on Sept 6, the Thai Tourist Police confirmed they had identified the tuk-tuk driver. He was fined 1,000 baht (S$38) and ordered to undergo three hours of good behavior training, according to the Bangkok Post. The driver was penalized for operating with the wrong license and using vulgar language toward the passengers.
Netizens weighed in on the incident, advising travelers to avoid tuk-tuks in Bangkok. “Don’t take tuk-tuks in the city. Use the MRT or skytrain instead,” commented TikTok user Robin Tan. Another user, simonquek, added, “In Bangkok, tuk-tuks are very expensive. Locals rarely use them. Tourists should stick to taxis or the MRT.”
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