Stricter driving license approvals enforced against people with 10 medical conditions

[balo]

So Thai drivers with drug habits can ask for a medical certificate and all is good , go back into the traffic and kill someone.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Would be easier to invent cars that can drive by themselves than trying to learn Thais to drive.

[bkkjames]

Now if only they could do something about the 50% (rough estimate) of people who actually don't have a licence to begin with.

[laurentbkk]

what about just a driving license for Thais ? seeing the way they drive I guess they just paid for it .

[ezzra]

A lip service headlines for some bureaucrats who will later say " I told you so"

another law/restriction to be added to the already over flowing books of do's

and don't in Thailand that no one gives a hoot about anyway...

[misterphil]

All the times I've applied for a medical certificate for a driving licence, they just ask me for my name. Never checked blood pressure or anything else.

[Keesters]

For instance: it's likely that people with minor problems, like diabetes, will have a difficult time getting a drivers license.

I can tell you first hand that diabetes is not a "minor problem" I have been a type 1 for 35 years. I that time I have been pulled over 3 times as the cops thought I was drunk. I have wrecked 2 vehicles. Thank GOD I never killed anyone but each time, after the cops found out that I was having a diabetic "incident" and not drunk......the cops let me go. This was in America no less. Yes type 1 diabetes can be a real big danger if the blood sugar suddenly drops.

And I trust you've learned your lesson and don't drive anymore.

[Keesters]

Is being short sighted considered a visual impairment? I wear glasses all the time and my license shows that in the photo. What sort of medical certificate can I show. There was a lot of eye related tests last time I renewed they must count for something.

[halloween]

All the times I've applied for a medical certificate for a driving licence, they just ask me for my name. Never checked blood pressure or anything else.

Your name, and money.

[HUAHIN62]

If they want to test for all those deceases the medical will cost thousands, but as we know its just for show. Last time the officials recommended a local practioner to get the certificate. He looked at me and signed the certicicate for B 150.

[Rykbanlor]

Stricter driving license approvals enforced against people.

That would have been sufficient as a headline, and it would still be absolutely applicable

[Sparkles]

No change for us foreigners , need to bring a med cert. Anyway

Not true. In Chiang Mai its not a requirement, just renewed my 5 years licence without one.

[jossthaifarang]

What about people with no legs or arms, that would be pretty serious I would say, but we should not discriminate against people who are physically challenged in some way or another. For instance blind people could have a guide dog and a white stick on the bonnet so other road users would know to get out of the way.

Well, i drive on a daily basis with only 1 arm. Lets be honest how many of us hold the wheel with both hands 100% of the time anyway? 3 years down the line I have not had an accident yet (apart from the one that left me with only 1 arm), touch wood!

Im not joking either, but when i saw the headline i seriously thought getting my next 5 year license was not going to happen.

[jossthaifarang]

I have a Thai DL for life. I got it a long time ago. Nothing to stop me or others who have one.driving when they are too old or sick to do so. They should something about this sitution. I personally don't drive myself any more because I consider myself too old and so I have a driver. I use my DL only as proof of identity.

How exactly did you get a lifetime license?

[PaulHamon]

Last time I had to get the medical check for my DL, the doctor was amazing....

He could tell all about ME from just looking at my passport.

I was waiting for some sort of exam, then the reception lady just walked up with a piece of paper and gave it to me.

I never saw the doctor :/

[retell]

Last time I had to get the medical check for my DL, the doctor was amazing....

He could tell all about ME from just looking at my passport.

I was waiting for some sort of exam, then the reception lady just walked up with a piece of paper and gave it to me.

I never saw the doctor :/

Next time just gonna call , transfer 150 thb. And get it in the mail

[simondan]

Visual impairment. The old colour blindness bullsh#t. Why is Thailand one of the very few countries in the world who are hung up on this? Some of the top fighter pilots in WW2 were colour blind (dogfighting is not dissimilar to driving in Bkk traffic i imagine), and nowadays commercial pilots can be colourblind under certain restrictions in many countries.

Where is the evidence that red green colourblind drivers are more likely to have accidents than others? I have never heard of it - please enlighten me if anybody knows of real scientific research in this area.

Most non colour blind people have this idea that being colour blind means you literally cant see colours. This is where the discrimination comes from in my opinion. If there was something to it then I think more countries in the world would be doing something about it.

[Jimbolai]

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Interesting headline that had me worried for a moment, for me it's ok as I'm only suffering from 7 of the listed conditions.

Pity the people suffering from all 10 and therefore will not be able to get a license.

The cost will sky rocket to 200B + 10 for each positive condition. Protesters will be exempt.

[tracker1]

Well with all or any of those medical conditions should ease the traffic congestion on the roads ! as for a licence why do you think many Thais do a runner when involved in an accident NO licence ! Traffic lights well i'm not colour blind but some are that faded you can't tell if there amber or green or red.

[Keesters]

No change for us foreigners , need to bring a med cert. Anyway

Not true. In Chiang Mai its not a requirement, just renewed my 5 years licence without one.

Same in Pattaya when i last renewed Aug 2011

[cup-O-coffee]

Hey, give them their dues. At least they are doing their job and making up laws, no matter how effective or how much people will comply.

The word I noticed, however, was the word "enforced". The day Thai authorities begin enforcing anything is the day Thai government meets its maker... namely, the people.

People gotta eat. If they have no transportation, they lose their livelihood. If they lose their livelihood and can't eat, then no one needs to ask what a Thai does when they get backed into a corner. They'll find a way, no matter what the cost, and to who.

As long as the government keeps making its laws and not enforcing them, then this will remain the Land of Smiles.

So there is nothing wrong with this article as far as "making laws" is concerned, and the worthless government employees get to continue the operations of their paper empires of thousands upon millions of duplicate, falsified documents... and they are happy with that.

And besides, this law is only for the very small percentage of those Thais who do get a license. Squeeze those people out of the equation and everyone will be purchasing from the classifieds, and to hell with restrictions, because "enforcing" takes place in only two places: 1) The places where good people go to get approval from, and to be subjected to rude, incompetent, lazy, apathetic jack-asses, as well as the most inane, stupid and ludicrous approval processes which could ever be imagined or created by any aging NASA chimp, and 2) out on the road, by the BIB if one is unfortunate enough to get pinned down by one. They don't check your license plates, your insurance or your license. They simply take the "paper" and you are on your way. It's actually cheaper to go this route if one gets fed-up enough and doesn't mind driving around in a reasonably cheap second-hand vehicle that doesn't look so bad.

SO that leaves a HUGE gap in between for desperate people to fit in and quite possibly never feel this idiotic "enforcement", which in this country is about as stupid as asking people to voluntarily report for extermination.

But that is the far extreme.

It will never get to that simply because falsified documents are easy to obtain, and running checks and balances on those documents are impossible, as no one has the time to make visits (too over-worked and lazy or name anything), and databases do not exist in this land except in the form of thousands upon millions of dusty, paper-stuffed zerox boxes, crammed under desks, along the walls of offices and in once vacant rooms and warehouses.

No! Do not be afraid of the wizard anymore once you realize it's simply a fat, balding old man behind a curtain.

Dorothy was ignorant enough when in OZ to behave like a good girl, and soon discovered that being good will require you to travel all over OZ on several wild goose chases to procure things that you already have with you from the start: a heart, a brain, and courage.

So, screw the wizard charade, and giving wais to the wizard, and either go it on your own (with a level head), or simply pay a Thai to yank away the curtain and ask the wizard, "How much" and dispense with all the goody-two-shoes crap.

...Bwahaahaa!

[Keesters]

I have a Thai DL for life. I got it a long time ago. Nothing to stop me or others who have one.driving when they are too old or sick to do so. They should something about this sitution. I personally don't drive myself any more because I consider myself too old and so I have a driver. I use my DL only as proof of identity.

How exactly did you get a lifetime license?

A long time ago they were available. No longer. Now it's 5 years max.

[Eneukman]

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dr cert is pointless. if you walk into a dr surgery and pay your 100Baht ..you passed!

Exactly what happened to, It was even signed by the receptionist.

Alan

[ResandePohm]

For instance: it's likely that people with minor problems, like diabetes, will have a difficult time getting a drivers license.

I can tell you first hand that diabetes is not a "minor problem" I have been a type 1 for 35 years. I that time I have been pulled over 3 times as the cops thought I was drunk. I have wrecked 2 vehicles. Thank GOD I never killed anyone but each time, after the cops found out that I was having a diabetic "incident" and not drunk......the cops let me go. This was in America no less. Yes type 1 diabetes can be a real big danger if the blood sugar suddenly drops.

You should get proper control over your diabetes. Measure your sugar levels regularly and adjust your insulin intake accordingly. I have had diabetes for over 40 years and never once had a diabetic "incident" as you call it. I assume you mean "hypo". I take care of it before it becomes an "incident". I always carry a sugar drink like coca cola and several chocolate bars. Should I feel a hypo coming on then I stop driving , take my sugar drink and eat my chocolate bars.Ten minutes later I am fine and can continue my journey. It is crazy and irresponsible to continue driving in such a condition. In the UK you would lose your driving licence if you were stopped by the police.

Edited September 9, 2014 by ResandePohm

[retell]

Well with all or any of those medical conditions should ease the traffic congestion on the roads ! as for a licence why do you think many Thais do a runner when involved in an accident NO licence ! Traffic lights well i'm not colour blind but some are that faded you can't tell if there amber or green or red.

Red in the top green in the bottom amber in between

[meatboy]

why is STUPIDITY not on the list? or is it not a medical problem.

[Loles]

And what about if some-one can't drive at all, but has driving license. May they mark also ?

[pizzachang]

Visual impairment, will that include Red - green colour blindness so Thais actually know they've gone through a Stop light. ?

Oh wait, that's not important.

I have red-green colourblindness, as are one in ten men. However, I can tell red from green. Thankfully the test only requires us to differentiate between red, green, yellow and blue.

Never been involved in an accident in the UK or here. Nearly drove into the back of a songtaew once, but that was entirely the fault of the lady walking down the street in a skirt shorter than her knickers.

You mean a greyhound skirt? Running close to the hare.....Do I need another medical certificate to renew a temp. Thai license?

[DrTuner]

Last time I got the med cert the exam was 0.5 seconds long. The docs here are real wizards.

[sandyf]

All the times I've applied for a medical certificate for a driving licence, they just ask me for my name. Never checked blood pressure or anything else.

May be the norm for farang type clinics but certainly not for me.

On entry they took height,weight and blood pressure. Then about 10 min exam by doctor, pulse, chest, eyes and ears, but no cough test.

Advised that although not cause for concern I should see a heart specialist and an optician. Also to keep an eye on blood pressure.

Not bad for 100 baht.