PM Anutin Orders Pattaya Moto-Taxis Back to Orange Vests

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered Pattaya motorcycle taxi drivers to return to orange vests after hearing that the new dark blue ones are unsafe, Chonburi MP Yodchai Phuengphon said. Yodchai, of the People's Party, said he raised the issue with Anutin after a parliamentary session on October 21, citing criticism over the vests' visibility, safety, and compliance with international standards. Anutin replied that he was unaware of the change and agreed the blue vests were unsafe, ordering an immediate return to the original orange.

Anutin was also surprised to learn drivers had to pay 550 baht each for the new vests, asking, "The drivers have to pay for them themselves?" and promising to find a resolution. About 5,000 vests are needed, and nearly half have already been purchased from a local shop, though the private owner remains unidentified. Drivers were directed to the shop but not forced to buy there. Some have already switched back to their old orange vests, but officials have not yet clarified when the colour-change order will be formally rescinded or how drivers who bought blue vests will be reimbursed.

The switch from orange to blue was part of a broader plan to regulate motorcycle taxi services in Bang Lamung district and give Pattaya a new identity as a seaside tourist city. The programme covers 564 stands and 5,281 registered drivers. Drivers argue tourists may not recognise the blue vests and that the dark colour is harder to see at night. An informal field comparison showed an orange vest stood out more than a dark blue one in a poorly lit area. Rat, a 65-year-old driver, said the change was announced at short notice and that safety should take priority over matching a seaside theme. "They say the colour will blend in with the sea, but we're not riding in the sea," he said. He suggested allowing bright colours like yellow or green with reflective strips, and that the government provide one vest free of charge. Yodchai said Anutin appeared confused when he learned of the issue.