Elderly drivers with driving licenses for life to undergo fit to drive tests

 

 

Thailand’s Land Transport Department is considering a recall programme requiring holders of driving licenses for life, aged over 70, to visit the department, or its branch offices, for a test of their physical fitness to drive.

 

Mr. Chirut Visarnjit said today that the programme was initiated after it was discovered that several road accidents involved elderly drivers, who hold lifelong driving licenses, citing a recent road accident in Chon Buri province in which one of the drivers involved was 96 years old.

 

Although many drivers have lifetime driving licenses, he said that their hearing and eyesight might not be as good as they were when they obtained the license.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/elderly-drivers-with-driving-licenses-for-life-to-undergo-fit-to-drive-tests/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2020-08-08

 

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Not just the elderly drivers need to under go fitness to drive tests, every driver here should have to do the same, as a very large percentage of drivers are not fit to be on the road.

Just now, colinneil said:

Not just the elderly drivers need to under go fitness to drive tests, every driver here should have to do the same, as a very large percentage of drivers are not fit to be on the road.

Is that not done on the 5 yearly renewal ?

No problem, they'll just drive without a licence.

And if you've got no license, no need to pay for tax and insurance either.

 

@JoePai 5 year renewals were introduced about 15 years back, but only for new applicants.

If you're a Thai older than 40, you probably have a lifetime license.

Edited August 8, 20205 yr by BritManToo

Should they not test the young yaba'd up and testosteroned up young unlicensed drivers first?

If i see an older car on the road i am not so worried about the driving ability of the person behind the

wheel.

A new car with red plates?Watch out new driver?

I hope the test involves billionaire Ferrari drivers regardless of age!

The most dangerous drivers on Thai roads are definitely males aged approximately 18-30 who think they can do whatever they want because they are self-entitled and invincible. A lot of them don't even have a drivers license because they are too cool to play by the rules. Or for that matter anyone who belongs to a well-connected hi-so family because they are above the law. 

Just drive a pay the fine later.  The chances are you won't get caught.

43 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Although many drivers have lifetime driving licenses, he said that their hearing and eyesight might not be as good as they were when they obtained the license.

Their hearing and eyesight might not be as good as they were when they obtained the license. Yeah normaly get much better when you get older!!!!! Real rocket scientist!

Edited August 8, 20205 yr by 2 is 1

Driving education and testing is a joke. Enforcing the rules even more. 

I always was amazed that, in California, one needed a special attachment to ride a motorcycle. Yet, any 80 year old blue hair could hop behind the wheel of a class A motorhome!

Avoiding the discussion about whether many people are unfit to drive, there are a lot of ‘older people’ on the roads who really shouldn’t be.

 

My Father in the UK at 82 years old still drives too quickly IMO - we’ve had discussions and some disagreements about his driving. I won’t let my son in the car with him while he’s driving (when we are in the UK I always drive, or if we are going out for dinner, I won’t drink, so I am the one who drives etc).

 

The same here in Thailand, my father in law at 76 yrs old really shouldn’t be driving, his eyesight seems a little dodgy and his reactions clearly too slow (notably so). 

 

Both my father and my father in law have so many bumps, minor dings and scratches on their cars. 

 

 

I also see older guys doddering down the road on their motorcycles who seem oblivious to the dangers around them.

 

The of course there’s the 70’ something farang on his pocket rocket sports bike reliving some of his youth totally oblivious to how much he’s slowed down, full of self believe that they are safe unaware of themselves. 

 

 

 

But ultimately, in Thailand, does it matter at all - its the speeding lorries (brake failure), speeding busses, speeding work-pickups which cause the most carnage: Thailand, stop avoiding the major issues by trying to deal with the pathetic minor issues. 

 

 

i wonder how much it will cost to pass the test. 

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

Not just the elderly drivers need to under go fitness to drive tests, every driver here should have to do the same, as a very large percentage of drivers are not fit to be on the road.

If they did that, the roads would be very quiet indeed and Thai internal transport and trade system would come to a grinding halt. 

16 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Avoiding the discussion about whether many people are unfit to drive, there are a lot of ‘older people’ on the roads who really shouldn’t be.

 

My Father in the UK at 82 years old still drives too quickly IMO - we’ve had discussions and some disagreements about his driving. I won’t let my son in the car with him while he’s driving (when we are in the UK I always drive, or if we are going out for dinner, I won’t drink, so I am the one who drives etc).

 

The same here in Thailand, my father in law at 76 yrs old really shouldn’t be driving, his eyesight seems a little dodgy and his reactions clearly too slow (notably so). 

 

Both my father and my father in law have so many bumps, minor dings and scratches on their cars. 

 

 

I also see older guys doddering down the road on their motorcycles who seem oblivious to the dangers around them.

 

The of course there’s the 70’ something farang on his pocket rocket sports bike reliving some of his youth totally oblivious to how much he’s slowed down, full of self believe that they are safe unaware of themselves. 

 

 

 

But ultimately, in Thailand, does it matter at all - its the speeding lorries (brake failure), speeding busses, speeding work-pickups which cause the most carnage: Thailand, stop avoiding the major issues by trying to deal with the pathetic minor issues. 

 

 

True , but its stupidity and lack of basic driving or riding skills ( which they never possessed when they were young) that causes most accidents. Age, in isolation, should be no barrier to driving at an advanced age, or riding a bike, but basic stuff, like eyesight and reactions, should be regularly checked for renewal of a licence.  

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

Is that not done on the 5 yearly renewal ?

Do you think passing a colour and reaction test is enough to ensure you are a good driver?

Oh dear. If the only criteria for "fitness to drive" were hearing and eyesight, we'd most likely have 98% LESS road carnage.

 

And if we applied the more crucially important criteria for "fitness to drive", which are knowledge of and adherence to traffic laws, defensive driving behavior, driving with foresight and awareness, and proper vehicle maintenance to ensure road worthiness, then half the motorists in this country would have to immediately turn in their licenses (if they have one in the first place).

 

Now... don't understand me wrong. I think good hearing and eyesight are of course important. But hearing and eyesight alone don't make a good driver.  

40 minutes ago, Shuya said:

Driving education and testing is a joke. Enforcing the rules even more. 

i disagree on theory, i think its adequate

14 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Do you think passing a colour and reaction test is enough to ensure you are a good driver?

since they already qualified for driving license, i say yes.

the two main relevant things that will deteriorate with time, as in retirement age,

is reaction and eyes, these two tests will filter out nearly all unfit to drive on public roads

Edited August 8, 20205 yr by scammed

Just now, scammed said:

since they already qualified for driving license, i say yes.

the two main relevant things that will deteriorate with time, as in retirement age,

is reaction and eyes, these tests will filter out nearly all unfit to drive on public roads

Has very little with how you drive on the road, Thailand is proof of that.

4 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Has very little with how you drive on the road, Thailand is proof of that.

there is no understanding of the concept of right of way,

but i think there is no hope for that part, on the contrary

i see a conversion from understanding to clueless among tvf members

on this very forum, it seem to be as infectious as corona

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

Is that not done on the 5 yearly renewal ?

Yes. But the article refers to lifetime licenses.

They stopped issuing these (don't know when).

But of course the existing remain valid.

So this is kind of a recall for older drivers only.

A stepson has one.

 

Edited August 8, 20205 yr by KhunBENQ

7 minutes ago, scammed said:

there is no understanding of the concept of right of way,

but i think there is no hope for that part, on the contrary

i see a conversion from understanding to clueless among tvf members

on this very forum, it seem to be as infectious as corona

You do understand that Thailand has one of the highest, if not the highest, death tolls on the road, so the colour blindness test (very few countries have this) and reaction tests are meaningless in terms of making better drivers.

4 minutes ago, giddyup said:

You do understand that Thailand has one of the highest, if not the highest, death tolls on the road, so the colour blindness test (very few countries have this) and reaction tests are meaningless in terms of making better drivers.

i believe every single nation has color test, or else the roads would constantly

have incidents because none can see the brakes light on the car in front,

leading to rear ramming, people would be violating traffic lights at crossings,

luckily we see none of that.

a bigger issue is people, including tvf members, think signaling and proceeding with caution

gives right of way to cut and cross lanes, i believe there is no cure for this level of illogical

line of thought, because at its heart its a lack of analytical skill and rationality

13 minutes ago, scammed said:

i believe every single nation has color test, or else the roads would constantly

have incidents because none can see the brakes light on the car in front,

leading to rear ramming, people would be violating traffic lights at crossings,

luckily we see none of that.

a bigger issue is people, including tvf members, think signaling and proceeding with caution

gives right of way to cut and cross lanes, i believe there is no cure for this level of illogical

line of thought, because at its heart its a lack of analytical skill and rationality

Sorry, you are grossly misinformed about the colour blindness test and the benefits of it. I am colour blind and have been driving for more than 60 years with only one major accident which was the fault of a young, drunk driver. Being colour blind does not prevent you from seeing either brake lights of traffic signals, so please be better informed before you make such stupid statements. You are also totally wrong about every nation using a colour test, very few do.

Edited August 8, 20205 yr by giddyup

Everyday IK see and have to do defensive driving from people of all ages in cars and on bikes that plainly should not be behind the wheel or a throttle. Age is not the biggest worry about the roads.

1 hour ago, Pilotman said:

 

The of course there’s the 70’ something farang on his pocket rocket sports bike reliving some of his youth totally oblivious to how much he’s slowed down,

Are you in your 70's? How do you know he has slowed down? The problem arises only if said 70 year old has never ridden a sport bike before. But I do know some 40-50 year old ex racers who won't ride a sport bike on the road. Too dangerous. (one was 40 when he told me but now probably closer to 50?)

 

As with any skill it is "time in the seat" or experience which makes the difference which is why most collisions are cause by 18-24 year old with very little "time in the seat".

 

Fortunately the ergonomics of sport bikes are such that older riders will steer away from them. 

My wife will be chuffed to hear she is considered elderly now ????

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

citing a recent road accident in Chon Buri province in which one of the drivers involved was 96 years old.

Pah' a junior  .. Prince Phil' was knocking 98 before he managed to put his Land Rover on its side last year .. 

Edited August 8, 20205 yr by Justgrazing
Sp

3 hours ago, Captain_Bob said:

The most dangerous drivers on Thai roads are definitely males aged approximately 18-30 who think they can do whatever they want because they are self-entitled and invincible. A lot of them don't even have a drivers license because they are too cool to play by the rules. Or for that matter anyone who belongs to a well-connected hi-so family because they are above the law. 

Probably the same as the most dangerous drivers on British roads then!????