I had regarded Uber Moto and Grab bike a safer alternative to the existing services and a step in the right direction. The US Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security OSAC 2016 report for Thailand certainly cautions against the use of the present system of motorcycle taxis, TukTuks and mopeds.
(Exerp)
Thailand 2016 Crime & Safety Report: Bangkok
Travel Health and Safety; Transportation Security;
2/19/2016
The use of motorcycle taxis is not recommended. The U.S. Embassy has sent a notice to Embassy staff and family members strongly recommending that they refrain from using motorcycles (especially motorcycle taxis), mopeds, and tuk-tuks in Bangkok.
Registered taxicab drivers have a yellow placard with their name in English and their photograph on the dashboard. If this photograph does not match the driver, passengers should be wary of entering the vehicle. Taxis have meters, and their drivers usually use them, but taxis in some tourist areas do not have meters. Taxi drivers often refuse fares, especially during rush hour or to places they do not know well. Drivers may attempt to charge excessive fares at airports and near major tourist attractions.
Minor and major incidents of crime involving taxis or tuk-tuks can occur, especially in some tourist areas. Before entering a for-hire vehicle, individuals should either request that the driver use the meter or reach an agreement on the fare for the trip. Do not hesitate to ask to be let out of a taxi if the driver is acting suspiciously or driving erratically. Raising one’s voice and using aggressive body language could be seen as a threat to the driver. Police will seldom intervene in incidents involving taxi drivers.
In Phuket, drivers routinely charge fares that are much higher than those in Bangkok for comparable distances. Threats of violence may accompany excessive charges. In 2012, a German citizen was hospitalized after a severe beating by a group of tuk-tuk drivers following an argument about the fare. Local government officials attempted with limited success to introduce standard fares. Drivers have organized against attempts to provide alternative services. For instance, they have blockaded van and bus services during some U.S. Navy ship visits.
https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentRepor ... ?cid=19119'Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way they ask for directions'. -Winston Churchill-
