Photo courtesy of The Phuket News

 

Phuket's roads are in the spotlight as authorities crack down on unlicensed foreign drivers, revealing over 17,000 fines issued this year alone. These figures were shared at a recent provincial meeting chaired by Governor Sophon Suwannarat, highlighting a problem persisting despite prior efforts.

 

Between August 1 and 22, the police recorded a startling 1,423 cases of unlicensed driving and 172 instances of helmetless riding, totalling 1,769 offences in just three weeks. Major General Sinlert Sukhum, Phuket Provincial Police Commander, confirmed these details, emphasising the ongoing need for enforcement.

 

“So far this year, 2,261 Thai nationals and 17,705 foreigners have been caught driving without a licence," Sinlert stated. "We're not only fining offenders but also targeting those who rent vehicles to unlicensed drivers."

 

Last year, over 20,000 foreigners faced similar fines, with Russians forming the majority this year. Penalties range from fines to vehicle seizures, aimed at preventing future violations. Despite the crackdown, Sinlert observed improvements in safety habits among tourists, especially regarding helmet use.

 

"As part of our efforts, we're reviewing accident-prone areas," Sinlert added. A significant project includes installing a new traffic light system at Baan Noen intersection near Phuket International Airport, expected to be operational next month.

 

Phuket, a favoured destination for travellers from Russia, China, and Europe, continues to grapple with reckless tourist driving. The authorities insist that enforcement is crucial to enhancing safety for everyone on the island, where the common sight of tourists on rented scooters often raises safety concerns.

 

With the ongoing efforts and improvements in infrastructure, officials hope to see more significant behavioural changes among visitors, ensuring safer roads for both locals and tourists alike.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-08-26

 

Phuket BIB had a field day

At last a good news : only 2261 Thai nationals were driving without a licence in Phuket. And all of them were wearing helmets. Well done BIB !

 

 

 

You have to wonder how long it took to get that photo......three motorbikes, five people........ and all wearing helmets.

In advanced countries, tourists without a license would be turned away when they even tried to rent one.

 

TBH, I have some sympathy for tourists who figure it must be legal since the rental agencies will gladly rent them one.  Most of them probably figure it also comes with at least liability and medical insurance cover in case of a wreck.

 

They could nip it in the bud by simply confiscating the scooters and make the rental agency pay out the wazoo to get them back.  Or just crush them.  But why would they want to?  This is low hanging fruit for them to supplement their meager salaries.

 

Fines should be handed out  to all the motor cycle rental companies.

Who have enabled this to happen in the first place.

But we all know. T.I.T. 

 

18 minutes ago, impulse said:

This is low hanging fruit for them to supplement their meager salaries.

..and just before the end of the month - as usual.

17,000?

 

I don't buy that for a nanosecond. That means 80 tickets per day, every day. The BiB don't have that much energy. Are they writing tickets? Obviously, but they really should report a more believable number.

4 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

"We're not only fining offenders but also targeting those who rent vehicles to unlicensed drivers."

🙂 🙂 🙂   Somehow, for some reason, I kind of doubt much targeting is being done at all.  

5 hours ago, Chalong circle said:

At last a good news : only 2261 Thai nationals were driving without a licence in Phuket. And all of them were wearing helmets. Well done BIB !

I'd wager that not 1 of those Thai Nationals were stopped at the Chalong Circle Checkpoint..

 

Put fines on those breaking the law, not arguing. 

 

But I always feel a bit disgusted on seeing a cop road block in Thailand, like in Hua Hin very often, where the cops only stop falangs and let all the thai riders with no helmets pass. This is a flagrant discrimination and corruption. 

12 hours ago, quake said:

Fines should be handed out  to all the motor cycle rental companies.

Who have enabled this to happen in the first place.

But we all know. T.I.T. 

 

They do, in the past a friend of mine got fined it was for no IDP, International driving permit, 

12 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

17,000?

 

I don't buy that for a nanosecond. That means 80 tickets per day, every day. The BiB don't have that much energy. Are they writing tickets? Obviously, but they really should report a more believable number.

I would have to agree with you on this. Also, you need to take into consideration those times they do not issue citations and just collect some cash. I also do not believe the total count for Thais is accurate as well. Since the majority of Thais are riding bikes and so many do not have the license or the helmet the ratio should be more. 

9 hours ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

Put fines on those breaking the law, not arguing. 

 

But I always feel a bit disgusted on seeing a cop road block in Thailand, like in Hua Hin very often, where the cops only stop falangs and let all the thai riders with no helmets pass. This is a flagrant discrimination and corruption. 

I can tell you down in Phuket Thai's do get stopped, Burmese get stopped also, I know of a couple who got stopped and the police took their last 200 baht off them, they were on their way to the immigration both her and her husband, he had a helmet on but she didn't as the passenger, They had no money for food that day, when they came back my wife gave them some money to buy food, 

Anyone else get the feeling this is a tourist money grab? Just how many Thais have a driving  or motorcycle license....

The Rice Bowl needed filling

They are coming after "your" houses next 😄 

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Phuket's roads are in the spotlight as authorities crack down on unlicensed foreign drivers, revealing over 17,000 fines issued this year alone. These figures were shared at a recent provincial meeting chaired by Governor Sophon Suwannarat, highlighting a problem persisting despite prior efforts.

And how many rentals were prosecuted for renting to unlicensed riders/drivers ?

Just another racket.

"So far this year, 2,261 Thai nationals and 17,705 foreigners have been caught driving without a licence,"

 

Now as there are far more Thais than foreigners, wouldn't it make sense that there should be more Thais caught??

Maybe they target foreign tourists?

59 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

Anyone else get the feeling this is a tourist money grab? Just how many Thais have a driving  or motorcycle license....

Exactly, the numbers of foreigners caught far exceed the locals!  Its a money grab, as usual!

Yesterday Pattaya Tai 2nd rd intersection, the usual fat traffic police guy stopping only foreigners. Thais with no helmet 3 up etc and he never stopped a single Thai.

15 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

17,000?

 

I don't buy that for a nanosecond. That means 80 tickets per day, every day. The BiB don't have that much energy. Are they writing tickets? Obviously, but they really should report a more believable number.

I believe the Number normally its 2 shifts a day. without revealing my source it is believable

I believe the Number normally its 2 shifts a day. without revealing my source it is believable

So how many Thais were fined for no license or helmet , especially children and you can bet not one rental company was fined for renting them out to people without a licence. 🙄

"So far this year, 2,261 Thai nationals and 17,705 foreigners have been caught driving without a licence," seems, to me, targetting foreigners, we know many thais do not have a licence, just look at the kids driving motorcycles, but, yes also adults. Thailand proving to the world, it, again, targets foreigners, for doing the same as Thais.

Also, I see no mention of any fines issued to those who rent to foreigners, without checking licences.

2 minutes ago, ronster said:

So how many Thais were fined for no license or helmet , especially children and you can bet not one rental company was fined for renting them out to people without a licence. 🙄

Damn, you beat me by 1 minute...555

10 hours ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

Put fines on those breaking the law, not arguing. 

 

But I always feel a bit disgusted on seeing a cop road block in Thailand, like in Hua Hin very often, where the cops only stop falangs and let all the thai riders with no helmets pass. This is a flagrant discrimination and corruption. 

Has been that way for years, just outside market village under the bridge. Then later on the BIB stop the traffic to allow all the school children out onto the road, no helmets, no licence, no insurance, four on a bike. A friend of mine was truly pi**ed off when he was stopped, helmet, licence, insurance, tax, all ok,  but was fined 300 baht for riding with the pillion footrests down.

Easy to stop at source -  have the rental people fined for allowing renting without license

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

continues to grapple with reckless tourist driving.

What about reckless Thai driving?

it seems that with the recent increase in fines to THB 2,000, the BIB have found a rich stream of income. Even if only half were fined, thats THB 17,000,000.

 

I wonder if they are paid a bonus.

This shows very clear how corrupt the traffic police is. And 173 drivers without helmet in only 3 weeks🤣I can find 173 drivers without helmet in Hua Hin in 30 minutes,and most of them are thai,not farang.