Pattaya Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Directed to Revert to Orange Vests
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has reportedly instructed Pattaya motorcycle taxi operators to return to their traditional orange vests following safety concerns.
According to a report by Khaosod English, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has issued an order for motorcycle taxi drivers in Pattaya to stop using dark blue vests and return to the standard orange ones. This development was shared by Yodchai Phuengphon, a Chonburi Member of Parliament from the People’s Party, who stated he discussed the matter with the Prime Minister following a parliamentary session on October 21, 2026.
The directive stems from reports that the recently introduced dark blue vests have raised safety concerns among the public and local stakeholders. For residents and tourists in Pattaya, this change is significant as the orange vest is the universally recognized identifier for legal motorcycle taxi services in Thailand, helping passengers distinguish authorized drivers from private operators.
While the MP claims the Prime Minister has ordered this reversal, the official implementation timeline and the specific regulatory mechanism for enforcing this change remain to be confirmed. Travelers should continue to look for the standard orange vests when seeking motorcycle taxi services in the city. It is currently unclear how quickly the transition back to the original color scheme will be completed across all Pattaya districts or if there will be a grace period for drivers to comply with the reported instruction.
