Report Thailand Tightens Rules for Foreign Drivers: Tests Now Mandatory

[motdaeng]

18 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Kind of unbelievable.   Why don't they put their resources into education of Thai drivers.  The total abuse of common sense driving here is sickening. 

 

 

sorry, but i don't agree with you.

 

strict law enforcement and tough penalties are the only way to reduce the situtation and the roughly 60 traffic deaths that happen every day. education alone won't help, because everyone who drives a car should already know that speeding, reckless driving, drunk driving, or using an unfit vehicle can lead to accidents, injuries, or even death ...

 

sadly, common sense isn't a strong trait for many people in thailand. this kind of awareness needs to be taught from early childhood — but clearly, that doesn't happen here either ....

[Upnotover]

11 minutes ago, bdenner said:

That was multy choice, they are talking about "written". A whole different ball game - If the OP is correct that is.

Most news stories are not correct and I am pretty sure they are referring to the regular "written" test which is multi-choice.

[Upnotover]

19 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

Question 1. What color is this jello ?

 

Amber?  Orange?  Yellow?

[Bday Prang]

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

These proposed rules could significantly affect tourists, expats, and foreign workers who have relied on IDPs for quick access to Thai roads

         Nowhere does it say that a tourist cannot drive using their own licence with and IDP  so quick access to Thai roads is not affected.

        Although the article is very badly written and for some reason seems to be trying to imply that a Thai licence is required for anybody wishing to drive.  just scaremongering

[ikke1959]

I am wondering if they are aware which drivers are driving without a driverslicense at all and who makes the worst and most accidents?... It are not the foreigners but the netizens..... but that is no problem for them to get a driverslicense although a lot can't even read and write properly and never have done a decent driving education and test.. Look what happened with the Swedish man ... school van accidents lately or bus accidents.... And wondering why Thailand is not popular anymore for expats and tourists an retirees

[Bday Prang]

8 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

And wondering why Thailand is not popular anymore for expats and tourists an retirees

Thailand is still a popular destination for both tourists and expats, despite the rubbish written daily on this forum

[shocky2012]

This is like me telling N.W.A. how to rap.
 

Isn't Thailand aware that it ranks in the top 10 countries with the highest road fatality rates?
 

I still remember a few years ago in Nakhon Pathom—I went to a nightclub (forgot the name), and around closing time (2–3 a.m.), there was a swarm of police outside checking if people had helmets before heading home. Then they just let them go—mind you, over 80% of them were clearly hammered.
 

The next day, I found out that one of the girls from that night actually died on her way back.
 

How the hell are they out there checking for helmets but not making sure people aren’t drinking and driving? WTF?

I couldn’t believe it then, and honestly, I wouldn’t blame anyone for not believing me either.

[richard_smith237]

48 minutes ago, Cornish Pasty said:

49 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

It can't hurt for foreigners to take a written exam so they better understand the rules of the Thai roads

…What rules??

 

Mark.

Those Thai road rules that we argue about all the time on these forums…

 

… is that shoulder actually a shoulder or a motorcycle lane ?

 

Really though - as farcical as it seems, there’s no harm in doing an online test.

 

The outstanding issue is the amount of untrained drivers out there - no idea of defense driving etc….   But more than that.  Basic rules such as keeping junctions clear (box junctions)….

 

But… the truth is much of the issues are enabled through selfishness behind the wheel & absent enforcement. 

[blaze master]

52 minutes ago, motdaeng said:

 

sorry, but i don't agree with you.

 

strict law enforcement and tough penalties are the only way to reduce the situtation and the roughly 60 traffic deaths that happen every day. education alone won't help, because everyone who drives a car should already know that speeding, reckless driving, drunk driving, or using an unfit vehicle can lead to accidents, injuries, or even death ...

 

sadly, common sense isn't a strong trait for many people in thailand. this kind of awareness needs to be taught from early childhood — but clearly, that doesn't happen here either ....

 

I cant agree with this either. The issue is so much more than enforcement and penalties. 

 

How do you enforce a mindset built on a culture that's thousands of years old. The whole system is corrupt and showing no signs of really changing.

 

Factor in the semi caste system and there is no chance at all.

 

 

[hotsun]

3 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

I cant agree with this either. The issue is so much more than enforcement and penalties. 

 

How do you enforce a mindset built on a culture that's thousands of years old. The whole system is corrupt and showing no signs of really changing.

 

Factor in the semi caste system and there is no chance at all.

 

 

Any opportunity they have they will blame farang before themselves

[smedly]

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

Kind of unbelievable.   Why don't they put their resources into education of Thai drivers.  The total abuse of common sense driving here is sickening. 

 

and deadly

[Artisi]

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

No affect on renewals then?

 

I've have multiple licenses over the years, I think it's been 1 year, then 2 x almost 6 years as I went within the week after my birthday each time to get the extra year.

So I'm good until late 2026 right now but then I will need to renew.

Think if you read carefully, it's for new licence not existing already licenced foreign drivers. 

[jvs]

In how many languages will the test be available?

If only in pigeon English than i foresee many problems.

Can a French or a German elderly person read and write English?

Not only the test but also the learning online will have to be in many different languages.

Or will it  just  be another opportunity to pass an envelope?

[Andre0720]

Oh yes, tests are needed for these farangs...

 

When you get get to a traffic light that just turned red, do you:

1.- Look on the right

2.- Look on the left

3.- Look on both sides

 

Before proceeding to go through the red light....?

 

[prakhonchai nick]

I am one of the lucky ones who has a lifetime licence. Always amuses me whenever I am asked to produce my licence at a roadside police check. I can almost read the Police minds. How does this farang b***tard, have a lifetime licence and mine is only for 5 years😁

[josephbloggs]

2 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

Test the people who have a driving licence from a country with much stricter road safety and more stringent learning and testing...  Makes perfect sense.

 

More efforts to make foreigners look bad in order to divert attention.  That will help tourism for sure.

Do tourists normally check the rules for getting a foreign driving license before they book their two week holiday?

[BangkokReady]

43 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Do tourists normally check the rules for getting a foreign driving license before they book their two week holiday?

 

If they want to drive, probably.  If they don't, and then come a cropper, they'll certainly remember it, and tell all their friends.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, Cornish Pasty said:

Just yesterday I saw a man driving a bike with his helmet on, and a child on the front and back without them….. couldn’t have been older than 5.

 

Are they really that thick?

 

Mark.

No thicker than foreigners, as riders or pillion, who don't use helmets.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

3 hours ago, ukrules said:

No affect on renewals then?

 

I think it does not apply for renewals. But, like everything else each office may set its own requirements. 

Doesn't apply for any licences at the moment...it's only a proposal.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

More efforts to make foreigners look bad in order to divert attention.  That will help tourism for sure.

Huh?  "Divert attention" from what?

 

How many tourists' decisions as to whether to visit Thailand would ever depend on their ability to get a Thai driving licence when their domestic licences are legal here? 

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, Cornish Pasty said:

3 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

More efforts to make foreigners look bad in order to divert attention.  That will help tourism for sure.

Thailand is done and dusted.

B0llocks.

[Cornish Pasty]

Just now, Liverpool Lou said:

B0llocks.

Knockers.

 

Mark.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, jvs said:

Meanwhile on facebook everyday i see advertisements for acquiring a DL without out the need to even go there!

Sure i don't believe it but a lot of people do and they all lose their money.

I think 2500 baht for car.

Scams, everyone of them, if a visit to the LTD is claimed to be unnecessary.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, hotsun said:

Digging their own graves at this point

Who is, and how?

[gamb00ler]

3 hours ago, Mavideol said:

would like to see the % of accidents created/generated/involving/at fault by Thai drivers VS foreign drivers that should have been their basis to come up with such decisions, what about the young kids driving recklessly , what about the old or very old cars/trucks driving around mostly not registered and no insurance and so forth, why it has to be foreigners fault when they come up with these stupid rules

we're soft targets.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, Quentin Zen said:

Farangs, this is not your country!!! Abide by the rules (which change hourly) or pay the price.

Bizarrely, your comment suggests that you think that other countries, including yours, do not expect foreigners to abide by their rules.

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

wondering why Thailand is not popular anymore for expats and tourists an retirees

What makes you think that is factual?

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, hotsun said:

Any opportunity they have they will blame farang before themselves

They haven't blamed any foreigners for anything in this context.

[hotsun]

10 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Who is, and how?

Thais because they cant own up, and blame everyone else until they have nothing left

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, Artisi said:

Think if you read carefully, it's for new licence not existing already licenced foreign drivers. 

It's also just a proposal.