Thailand Driving License: Tough new tests from 1st June 2014

[Mosha]

So from June 1st the teamoney required to pass the driving test will rise.

I remember my test. 500 meter lap. Only 2 of us passed the car test. I asked my wife what about the people who failed. She said they take test again. So I asked what if they fail that? Her answer, they pay "extra" for license.

[Loles]

And if everyone will be failed ?

[darren84310]

" Bt. 500 ? "

" yes and you have just passed the new tougher driving test . "

Wrong!.... baht 1000 actually, and you don't need to even sit the test.... just pop along to Ubon and buy one.... They will be very happy there at the prospect of all the new business.

[darren84310]

" Bt. 500 ? "

" yes and you have just passed the new tougher driving test . "

Wrong!.... baht 1000 actually, and you don't need to even sit the test.... just pop along to Ubon and buy one.... They will be very happy there at the prospect of all the new business.

[BSJ]

My hope is the police will crack down on junky 3 wheelers you see the low peasant class riding. If they can afford cigarettes and whisky they can afford blink light globes, tail light globes & rear view mirrors....plus do the riding test.

[uptheos]

Can they please include in the new teaching scheme 'how to use a roundabout'.

Indeed, I've seen loads of foreigners who haven't a clue.

[Pralaad]

Blessuck me.. I never knew 4 hours was the initial requirement.

Jesus Christo...... now it's 12. That's of great benefit. 4 hours teaching what a pedal is... jam dai dee na krap... . Lessons 4-8 hours: please remember the middle one... Oh! sorry... old instruction booklet... forget the middle one.... the one on the right is MOST important...

Lessons 8-12... leo sai. kwaa.... mai chai... drong bai as fast as you can.... in the fast lane too.... you have a huge one....1

Any lessons about slowing down approaching a yaba induced lorry driver on a frontage road? Put ur foot down quick to get past, before he swerves right to put the **its up you! Any lessons about 'greng-jai' to your fellow drivers..... like not carrying a metal pole or bamboo stick in your car, in case you get angry.

Mind you, sarcasm ignored, 12 hours of learning to drive is much better than 4. ... (unless your name is Na Ayudhya, or similar.)

You might be in a bigger shock to find out those 4 hours are at a stadium, driving in circle

Ever seen a car on the road that looked like it was teaching??? Or had signs of being a driving school ??? I have not.

What's worse , if you go to driving school , they guarantee your license.

So basically , you drive around in circle while instructor drinking beer in the middle of the field and then you are taken for your tests, which you naturally pass.

Week later you on the road in the new car yet do not when indicating right you not suppose to turn left

[Arkady]

Will this increase the under the counter cost of passing the test and for being caught driving without a licence (and never having applied for one)?

Will foreigners have to do the course and the written test in Thai?

Will I still get to keep my all of life Thai driving licence?

[Thaiisnotrequired]

Can they please include in the new teaching scheme 'how to use a roundabout'.

Are you American?

[Jack Mountain]

June 1st is a sunday anyway so .... don't worry.

[Dogmatix]

I think it will be hard to pass this test without study as it will not be intuitive for farangs, e.g.:

Q What is the standard safe distance to leave between you and the car in front of you on the expressway at any given speed?

A One metre. That's good for any speed.

[Kripe]

It's not going to make people better drivers or reduce their levels of road rage. The Roads in Thailand are full of unlicensed drivers and idiots. Get the police out onto the roads and actually book people breaking the laws.

You assuming police actually know the traffic laws, which they hardly ever do.

Having police do their job hardly helps, when you caught driving without a license , you pay the fine of 500 baht and keep on driving

For you 500 THB is not a lot, but for the majory of Thais it is more than one days salary

[Thaiisnotrequired]

Will this increase the under the counter cost of passing the test and for being caught driving without a licence (and never having applied for one)?

Will foreigners have to do the course and the written test in Thai?

Will I still get to keep my all of life Thai driving licence?

Depends how much you pay. c.f. post #21.

[evadgib]

Can they please include in the new teaching scheme 'how to use a roundabout'.

And Traffic Lights,

And Give Way,

And....

[maddermax]

The words 'bolted', 'horse' and 'gate' come to mind here!

[maddermax]

Some decent road markings showing who has priority would also be progress!

[The byaMemo]

how does a caretaker govt come out with all these news must do regs? that need to be implemented asap? guess its a case of get your slice of the pie quick before the constitutional court bans you and the next guy gets to take his slice..

[Tiffer]

I've always thought the BIB could make a lot of money by enforcing the law....

Examples...

Employ mobile road side mechanics to replace blown bulbs at an extortionate rate ^-^

Raise "spot fines" to match the value of the vehicle ^-^

[LeeCraker]

Since when do Thais have drivers licenses? This must be for Farang's

[badmedicine]

Get the police out onto the roads and actually book people breaking the laws.

Couldn't agree more, but 'getting the police out onto the roads' needs to mean actual patrol cars that stop people who are observed driving like idiots, rather than a bunch of overweight desk sergeants standing in a tent, restricting traffic down to one lane and watching the new recruits pull over pick ups with out of date tax discs.

Of course, this will never happen. They're too scared of getting shot or getting sacked depending on whether the idiot driver is i. drug addict/dealer/mafia or ii. hi-so spoilt brat.

Edited May 17, 2014 by badmedicine

[The byaMemo]

Since when do Thais have drivers licenses? This must be for Farang's

yeah dont think it going to affect the primary school kids where i am. they all seem quite happy screaming up and down the street 2 and three up on their motos.

[maddermax]

The legislative process to prevent antisocial behaviour, including bad driving, is like a loop. The public sees antisocial behaviour and cajoles the politicians into making laws, ie, legislating, to bring in penalties for such behaviour. Then next part of the loop are the police who are supposed to enforce the laws and bring the offenders to court. The judges then try the cases and, if found guilty, the perpetrators are penalised for their actions. The press then have a responsibility to report such offences and penalties applied so that the public knows that action has been taken. The loop is thus closed and the more the press report actions taken by the courts, the more the deterrent effect.

If any one of the organisations in the loop fails in their duties, the whole system breaks down. In Thailand's case, the legislation is not there, the police do not do their job and I am yet to be convinced of the courts' objectivity. The press, on the other hand, will report any gutter news!

[captspectre]

It's not going to make people better drivers or reduce their levels of road rage. The Roads in Thailand are full of unlicensed drivers and idiots. Get the police out onto the roads and actually book people breaking the laws.

THE key word missing is DRIVING1 DRIVING1 DRIVING1 they should have to get behind a wheel with an instructor or evlauator and drive!

[ignis]

A test means absolutely NOTHING to those who don't/won't/take the test. When there are little/no consequences for operating a motor vehicle - ANY motor vehicle then what's the point?

I/we live in Isaan. I'll bet 99 percent of individuals operating motorized vehicles have no idea a/b road etiquette/rules of the road/nor any semblance of passing a test. Hell in our village and surrounding ones there are children as young as ???? 8 yrs old ridding motorbikes - with passengers. I even saw one whose feet could not reach the ground while seated.

Here they typically drive/ride however they choose including going the "wrong way" or making a right turn from the wrong lane into the wrong land.

Is there any wonder why Thailand has so many accidents?

Will "police" lol lol lol ever enforce anything here in Thailand???? lol ahhhhhhhhhh I crack myself up sometimes. lol

Cheers to all and hope for your continued safety on these dangerous/deadly roads.

Think Police would need the training 1st, see many driving pickups and motorbikes the wrong way.. must say some of these kids that ride motor scooters are very good as to short even to reach the seat, yet appear to manage well standing.

[crazykopite]

It always amazes me how quick they are to announce changes at least this time we have got two weeks notice it is normally " As of Today "

In Europe it would take at least one year to implement if not longer no doubt someone will be making big buck by selling the questions and answers to obtaining your driving licence.

After 8 years of living in Thailand I have yet to be asked for my driving license I will be renewing it on Wednesday as it has just expired when I went to renew it last month at the transport office I was told it still had a week to go before the expired date so come back as they cannot renew a license that has not expired can only happen in Thailand

[Thaddeus]

Some decent road markings showing who has priority would also be progress!

They exist already, but as no one is instructed on their meaning, are just decorative.

The Department of Land Transport believes that the new test will bring driving in Thailand to that of international driving standards,

Yeah, Ok.

[upena]

Hope the translated into English version is better than the current test.

[NangrongJ]

Puttng a bandaid over a gaping wound. This is just cosmetic, a show. As has been stated, ''who will train the trainers''. Also, who will train the examiners? Driver training only lays a limited role in road safety; testing, enforcement and engineering are also vital, and they are presently week. There has to be accredited, on-road training and testing, and any training, be it theory or practical must include hazard perception. It's easy to criticise Thai drivers but they are a product of incompetence. There is a very poor understand of hazards and hazard perception, anticipation doesn't exist, everything is up to chance.

Quite simply, Thailand needs help from outside but that won't be allowed to happen.

[gb33]

I just looked at my Thai liscense and of course, it expired on the 28th of March 2014. Does anyone know the regulations / requirements / problems or pitfals to avoid in obtaining a renewal? Does it matter that my liscense is 2 months expired?

Input will be appreciated.. I will post my experience.

[SOTIRIOS]

..and as for the millions already loose on the roads.......???