Infographic by the Royal Thai Police (Translated into English)

The Royal Thai Police introduced a new road safety policy on January 28 aimed at improving traffic discipline. Officers will issue verbal warnings instead of fines from January through March for most traffic violations, to educate the public and reduce road accidents in Thailand.

This directive involves the national police directive initiated by Police Lieutenant General Somprasong Yenthum. It requires traffic officers to use the Police Ticket Management (PTM) system when issuing tickets to ensure transparency and maintain digital records. According to Section 140 of the Land Traffic Act of 1979, officers now prioritize verbal warnings, reserving fines for repeat offenders.

Spanning January through March 2026, the policy will test this warning-first approach. Repeat offences will lead to formal fines using the PTM system. By increasing understanding and transparency, the plan aims to cultivate a culture of better road discipline. Frontline traffic officers across all police units will receive training to consistently apply this strategy.

The public relations division is also involved in promoting awareness about traffic law compliance, with information campaigns to increase public cooperation. Police Lieutenant General Nitithorn Jintakanon emphasized the importance of traffic discipline in reducing accidents and enhancing road safety.

Meanwhile, Police General Kittirat Panphet addressed unrelated issues concerning the Royal Thai Police, rebutting allegations of widespread corruption within the organization. He acknowledged the presence of some misconduct but highlighted the dedication and sacrifice of the majority of officers, reported The Thaiger.

Key Takeaways

• Officers will issue warnings before fines to improve traffic compliance.

• The policy uses the PTM system for transparent and digital record-keeping.

• Training and public awareness campaigns aim to reduce road accidents.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2026-01-29

 

 

Wow! Now, if a cop wants to collect some tea money, he risks that the person he stops hasn't committed the offense before. Hard to extort money when the only penalty is a warning.

Wonder if it applies to helmets and licenses?

Why give a 'warning' for someone jumping a red-light ??

... they don't need education - they already knew what they were doing wrong.

That applies for the vast majority of driving offense in Thailand - The Thai people are not stupid - the reason some take 'chances' that place others at risk is because the know they will get away with it - and here we have a public statement that actively enables further on-road-****wittery.

RTP’s decision to issue verbal warnings instead of fines for some traffic violations between January and March may seem at first to be rediculous, however it appears that it may actually have some merit!

Apparently, road-safety research does recognise warnings as an educational tool, particularly for minor or first-time offences. However, the evidence suggests that warnings alone are a weak deterrent.

According to Zhu et al (2023), a recent U.S. study found that drivers who had received warnings showed no real reduction in future crash risk compared with drivers who had no enforcement history. Fines were more strongly associated with behavioural change.

This study would to suggests that the RTP initiative will have limited success at best.

An Italian working paper examining warning systems says that while warnings may help drivers understand regulations, there is only limited evidence to support this (Buonanno & Galizzi, 2019).

It seems that strong road-safety records rely on "graduated enforcement" , where education is paired with credible, visible penalties for repeat or serious offences.

While it may seem like a good idea at the time, I think it's going to be well nigh impossible to verify its success once the test is over.

My Web search revealed no actual precedent that a time-limited suspension of fines improves traffic safety on its own. Without clear follow-up enforcement, the RTP test risks being well-intentioned but ineffective at meaningfully changing driver behaviour.

So, continue to keep your ฿1,000 get-out-of-jail-card tucked safely next to your drivers licence!

References:

Buonanno, P. and Galizzi, M.M. (2019) Testing the deterrence and learning hypotheses in traffic enforcement: evidence from a warning system. University of Southern Switzerland Working Paper No. 639. Available at: https://ideas.repec.org/p/usi/wpaper/639.html (Accessed: January 2026).

Zhu, M., Srinivasan, R. and Teoh, E.R. (2023) ‘Association between prior traffic violations, warnings and crash culpability’, Accident Analysis & Prevention, 181, 106919. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37253280/ (Accessed: January 2026).

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Frontline traffic officers across all police units will receive training to consistently apply this strategy.

Thats all well and good. What they do with that training in the real world will reflect a totally different reality.

Has anyone here ever received a traffic violation in thailand ? I bet its quite rare.

Skeptical at best that anything will change.

"Haha, no, officer, I have not. This is the first time I've been caught running over a cyclist."

"Okay, I've been warned, thanks. Buh-bye!"

1 hour ago, blaze master said:

Has anyone here ever received a traffic violation in thailand ? I bet its quite rare.

Maybe 9 or 10 fines over about 45 years. Only about 3 or 4 of them were actually ticketed versus the overwhelmingly popular "red paper" method of least resistance to onward travel.

Early ones that attracted various "handling charges" were for staying in the right-hand (overtaking) lane too long, to (alleged) speeding, entering the expressway at the (alleged) wrong ramp and driving on red plates at night. More recent ones, properly ticketed, include crossing an intersection in the wrong (turning) lane, not wearing a seat belt and not displaying the road tax sticker.

But don't the police actually have to be out and about on the roads to implement this ?

So a new rule not to do something. It iss ok to give a warning, but with a good administration. There will not be a second warning, but a heavy fine. January is almost over, so just in time to announce that it is from January to March. In fact 1 month...it take years to let people wear a helmets and still 80% don't do it. Same for driving in the opposite direction, overloaded trucks, black fuming cars, speeding, driving in the wrong lane etc etc...nice wordd but reality will be that nothing is been done.

30 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Maybe 9 or 10 fines over about 45 years. Only about 3 or 4 of them were actually ticketed versus the overwhelmingly popular "red paper" method of least resistance to onward travel.

Early ones that attracted various "handling charges" were for staying in the right-hand (overtaking) lane too long, to (alleged) speeding, entering the expressway at the (alleged) wrong ramp and driving on red plates at night. More recent ones, properly ticketed, include crossing an intersection in the wrong (turning) lane, not wearing a seat belt and not displaying the road tax sticker.

Yoi sound like a horrible driver with no regard for others safety.

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Meanwhile, Police General Kittirat Panphet addressed unrelated issues concerning the Royal Thai Police, rebutting allegations of widespread corruption within the organization. He acknowledged the presence of some misconduct but highlighted the dedication and sacrifice of the majority of officers

The General has no credibility if he actually believes that BS rebuttal.

Have they fixed the new rates for the bribes asked on foreigners, stopped on roadblocks ?🤣

The RTA should, if they reall want to gain any control on any traffic anywhere, is to triple their force power and to be

more visible on the road actually policing that what we have now seeing, if at all, a lone policeman here and another many miles away, show force, show present, do more check point and more patrols, and maybe, just mabe, you'll do a dint in the mayhem that goes on on That roads.

8 hours ago, blaze master said:

Yoi sound like a horrible driver with no regard for others safety.

I forgot to mention my two DUI's. Oops, my bad.

It could be much worse though, I could be a simple troll like you.

11 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

I forgot to mention my two DUI's. Oops, my bad.

It could be much worse though, I could be a simple troll like you.

Ya no you're a danger to those around you. Comparing that to online comments shows your values in life.

Gross.

Now come back with some stupid reply...the floor is yours.

19 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Ya no you're a danger to those around you. Comparing that to online comments shows your values in life.

Gross.

Now come back with some stupid reply...the floor is yours.

Let me think deeply about your gracious offer of having the last word.

OK, here we go.

Eat my shorts.

12 hours ago, Peabody said:

Wow! Now, if a cop wants to collect some tea money, he risks that the person he stops hasn't committed the offense before. Hard to extort money when the only penalty is a warning.

Wonder if it applies to helmets and licenses?

They don't really extort money at the roadside any more, the majority of the checkpoints stopped at Covid ( or was it when there were multiple clips online of the dibble taking money? ).

12 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

The Thai people are not stupid

I disagree with this.

12 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

According to Zhu et al (2023), a recent U.S. study

So no reference to Thailand.

9 hours ago, blaze master said:

Yoi sound like a horrible driver with no regard for others safety.

Are you another saint that's never broken any traffic regulations?

You won't survive here long if that's the case.....survival of the fitest - lol.

1 minute ago, PJ71 said:

Are you another saint that's never broken any traffic regulations?

You won't survive here long if that's the case.....survival of the fitest - lol.

Ive ridden and driven over 150 000km on thai roads. I also wear my seat belt and dont drink and drive.

Drinking and driving and blatantly ignoring road rules has nothing to do with being a saint.

Seems like you condone such actions though. Good to know.

2 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Ive ridden and driven over 150 000km on thai roads. I also wear my seat belt and dont drink and drive.

Drinking and driving and blatantly ignoring road rules has nothing to do with being a saint.

Seems like you condone such actions though. Good to know.

Hello, i've done over 1,000,000kms in thailand but that's irrelevant, i don't drink and i also where a seat belt all of the time, pretty good eh?

I speed when it's safe to do so and never pay any of the tickets i get, i used to but none of the nationals do, so why should i? there's no consequence anyway.

12 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Why give a 'warning' for someone jumping a red-light ??

... they don't need education - they already knew what they were doing wrong.

That applies for the vast majority of driving offense in Thailand - The Thai people are not stupid - the reason some take 'chances' that place others at risk is because the know they will get away with it - and here we have a public statement that actively enables further on-road-****wittery.

Yes, now they get the opposite result instead. Clear message. As long as you no get caught and lose your free offense, then you can just continue breaking the law.

1 minute ago, PJ71 said:

Hello, i've done over 1,000,000kms in thailand but that's irrelevant, i don't drink and i also where a seat belt all of the time, pretty good eh?

I speed when it's safe to do so and never pay any of the tickets i get, i used to but none of the nationals do, so why should i? there's no consequence anyway.

Yet another foreigner who abuses thailand for their own selfish choices. Your sense of entitlement is disgusting.

There's no consequences until that day you're speeding along and kill someone. I pray that doesnt happen to you. Be safe out there my friend.

1 minute ago, blaze master said:

Yet another foreigner who abuses thailand for their own selfish choices. Your sense of entitlement is disgusting.

Cool the jets buttercup, i'm a tiny % of the people that abuse the traffic rules, what about all the others.....When in Rome and all that...

What about all those 'speeders' that one day may kill me as i'm popping out for a pint of milk?

17 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

Are you another saint that's never broken any traffic regulations?

You won't survive here long if that's the case.....survival of the fitest - lol.

I believe he's also a virgin.

1 minute ago, PJ71 said:

Cool the jets buttercup, i'm a tiny % of the people that abuse the traffic rules, what about all the others.....When in Rome and all that...

What about all those 'speeders' that one day may kill me as i'm popping out for a pint of milk?

Be responsible for yourself. What about what about. Yawn. A pint of milk. Not bad i smirked at that. 3 stars.

Just now, blaze master said:

Be responsible for yourself. What about what about. Yawn. A pint of milk. Not bad i smirked at that. 3 stars.

I'm touched that you're so concerned about my welfare, maybe we should get a loom?

It won't work. Over decades RTP have negotiated a 14 day working year during the two 7 Dangerous Days of Overtime. To expect them to take to the streets for 3 months will drive them to exhaustion.

7 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

I'm touched that you're so concerned about my welfare, maybe we should get a loom?

Sure. You pay. Me no money. Buffalo sick need medicine.

You want st or lt. Up to you 😆