The Thai government has ordered stricter nationwide safety measures for school transport vehicles at the start of the new school term, with a focus on vehicle inspections, braking systems and GPS tracking to reduce road accidents involving students.
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Deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Phermsriwatthana said on 18 May 2026 that the government was working with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Transport and related agencies to improve standards for school transport services across the country. The measures are intended to reassure parents and improve road safety during the school reopening period in May.
The Ministry of Transport has instructed the Department of Land Transport to accelerate inspections of school transport vehicles nationwide. Provincial transport offices have been ordered to coordinate closely with schools to ensure vehicles undergo safety checks, particularly on braking systems.
Officials said any vehicle failing to meet safety standards must be repaired before being allowed back into service. The government said the tighter inspections were aimed at improving safety for students and other road users.
The Department of Land Transport has also worked with the Ministry of Education to create a national database of school transport vehicles through the website schoolbussafety.dlt.go.th. Authorities said the database would support supervision and help improve safety standards for school transport services.
The government is also promoting the use of GPS technology to track vehicle locations and monitor driving behaviour. Officials said the system would help improve safety oversight and support safer journeys for students travelling to and from school.
Additional measures include expanded training for drivers and bus attendants on child safety procedures. Authorities are also studying the introduction of dedicated licence plates for school transport vehicles to improve regulation and make them easier for other motorists to identify on the roads.
The government said the proposal could help encourage drivers to take extra caution when travelling near school transport vehicles. Officials also confirmed that the “New Generation Students with Driving Licences” project would continue as part of efforts to promote road discipline and safety awareness among young people.
Amarin reported that the initiative also includes additional safety training for public transport and truck drivers as part of wider road safety improvements. Lalida said the government would continue raising safety standards for school transport through cooperation between all sectors.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Amarin 19 May 2026