Thai Driving Licence...a Joke!

[mezcal]

Just for your information...

Last week I went to do both car and bike driving licence. I already have italian DL for bike, car and truck but at the office they told me that I either bring an expensive translation I had to get at the embassy or redo the test, theory and practical (all for a mere 160B). I choose to try my luck with the test...

My experience: went in in the morning 8:30, read the english translation of the road signs (20min),did a very quick test checking reflexes by pressing a pedal at the blinking of a red light, a test to check if I was colour blind and another one checking that I could see from the corner of my eyes; did the theoretical test (first bike, then car), 30 questions each, basically the same questions again; you can make 7 mistakes. Piece of cake, although some translations are quite confusing (such as a 'blinking RED light') and pictures out of focus. The test is done on a computer and the instructor let me talk to my mate.

Lunch break

In the afternoon practical test.

First bike: on a rented, decrepit Honda without lights, or anything else working than the motor, you have to do a slalom, put on your turning lights (which I didnt have) and off you go.

Then car: Drive through a narrow lane of metal bars and reverse through the same again. Stop at a white line. Park with the wheels close to the curb. Finished.

Thai driving test:

Time: 1 day

Cost: 160 Baht

Documents needed: doctor certificate (which I got for 40B, without even having a doc seeing me)

signed copies of WP, driving licence, and passport with Visa

Intellectual skills needed: 2 out of 10 (just because you have to interpret the translations)

Practical skills needed: 3 out of 10 (cos I had a shit bike and my mates automatic car, which I've driven for the first time)

Level of amazement: immense

As far as I could judge, all the thais passed the tests (the practical at least), and I hope I will never meet them on the open road!!

Since then I stopped wondering why Thais cant drive...now I just wonder why there arent more accidents!

Now I'm the proud owner of 2 thai driving licences and if anyone dares judging or commenting on the way I drive...I just take them out of my wallet and wave them in their faces. Nice one.

Hope this could be of help to someone or at least give you a smile.

See you on the road!

[Maestro]

...Stop at a white line...

That’s the only part I still remember of the practical test with my car many years ago. As one would do in Europe, I stopped with the front bumper at the white line but this was wrong. In Thailand, it had to be the front wheels on the white line.

I wonder if it was still the same when you took your test.

--

Maestro

[mezcal]

yep....still the same!

[JimsKnight]

It's only in Europe and the US that they put drivers through the mill.

To be honest the real lessons in driving and riding come from on the streets and roads through experience. All the bullsht and regulation is just to keep people employed and have a basic set of checks and balances.

In Egypt I think has the status of being the easiest place to pass your test. Just drived between two cones and there you go.

Thailands is a happy medium.

The thing is, the mentality in the 'wild wild east' and other places is quite straightforward; if you don't ride or drive responsibly then your life is in your hands. The driving tests are to make sure you have and grasp the *basic* principles of driving a car/bike.

Edited October 29, 2007 by JimsKnight

[jingjingna]

A joke it is indeed! However, you would not believe the amount of Thais who fail the practical test!