Tougher driving tests down the road

Phuket Gazette 

 

          

A crashed vehicle is suspended against the jungle by an electrical pole. Thailand's 30 million motorists drive on the second most deadly roads in the world. Photo: Gazette file

 

PHUKET: -- Thailand has the second worst death toll from road accidents in the world, according to the World Health Organization.

With more than 20,000 people killed annually throughout the country, Phuket officials have announced their support for more stringent guidelines before issuing would-be motorists with a driver’s license. 

Earlier this month, the Department of Land Transport (DLT) announced an initiative titled “Difficult to Get, Easy to Lose,” at a meeting of the national road safety committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan.

The program is meant to amend laws related to traffic rules in order to improve road safety throughout the Kingdom.

The initiative comes after Thailand joined the United Nations’ ‘Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020’ campaign, which aims to halve road accidents and fatalities within 10 years. 

Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) chief Sommai Sudkhao told the Phuket Gazette last week that he has yet to receive any official orders regarding the initiative. Despite that, Mr Sommai said he’s already in complete agreement with the plan.

 

Full story: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Tougher-driving-tests-down-road/65532?desktopversion

 

-- © Copyright Phuket Gazette 2016-09-12

Is being able to park a vehicle halfway up an electric pole to be part of the new test ?

7 minutes ago, NongKhaiKid said:

Is being able to park a vehicle halfway up an electric pole to be part of the new test ?

Yes, but must be a reverse park too 

32 minutes ago, webfact said:

The initiative comes after Thailand joined the United Nations’ ‘Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020’ campaign, which aims to halve road accidents and fatalities within 10 years. 

 

Oh dear, Half way through the decade, and ... someone's fallen asleep at the wheel.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Thailand has the second worst death toll from road accidents in the world, according to the World Health Organization.

 

What is wrong with you people!!! A little more self sacrifice needed to gain the number 1 place so Thailand can be the Hub of Road Acccidents.

 

Before anyone gets too offended, these road toll initiatives seemed to get dragged out every few months for years now, so it deserves all the ridicule until they actually do something.

just how will they divorce traffic laws from police income?

3 hours ago, NongKhaiKid said:

Is being able to park a vehicle halfway up an electric pole to be part of the new test ?

 

Yes, it's part of the "Smarter Police Initiative" aimed at removing congestion from parked vehicles and easing traffic flow in BKK.

 

Double and triple deck parking will be mandatory.

20,000 killed annually, and yet a few of our less enlightened members keep insisting that it's no better or worse than driving anywhere else.

Great they are making the test harder....but how about enforcing the traffic laws, otherwise it all means nothing. Be great when driverless cars arrive. I think they were invented for Thailand.

9 hours ago, giddyup said:

20,000 killed annually, and yet a few of our less enlightened members keep insisting that it's no better or worse than driving anywhere else.

IMO, because Thai drivers are such dreadful drivers, it makes us better drivers....we know the perils...we have to drive defensively and we soon learn to predict what's happening further along the road.

 

12 hours ago, Mansell said:

Great they are making the test harder....but how about enforcing the traffic laws, otherwise it all means nothing. Be great when driverless cars arrive. I think they were invented for Thailand.

 

Yeah great, driverless cars.  many don't have licenses now.  So with a driverless car they will argue that as they are not driving, they don't need a license. 

 

Five hours of lectures = five extra sleeping hours for most.

 

It's like Thai schooling, attend and you pass.

 

Until the emphasis is almost totally on-the-road training based then nothing will change.