Getting and renewing Thai Driving Licenses - New Rules

Anything and everything about Thailand
Post Reply
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21461
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Getting and renewing Thai Driving Licenses - New Rules

Post by Gaybutton »

I see pros and cons to this. I've always believed that one of the main problems regarding the way many Thais drive is a result of no requirement for any serious driving instruction. I'm glad to see this kind of requirement coming. I think Thailand is in desperate need of it.

A problem I see is the proposed 6000 baht fee for new drivers. I would think a great many Thais simply cannot afford that fee. I foresee protests about the fee on the horizon.

What the clarification does not clarify to me is the part about current drivers having to undergo a 1 hour course. Where? Will it be yet another video at the licensing office that nobody pays any attention to? Will it be at a "qualified" Thai driving school? What will be the fee? Will a list of such driving schools be readily available? How many such driving schools exist in the first place and where are they?

How will all this be done with farang who neither speak nor read Thai?
____________________________________________________________

Transport clarifies imposing higher standards to obtain new driving license

March 16, 2017

The Ministry of Transport yesterday said the proposed new ministerial regulation that will impose higher standards in obtaining new driving license won’t be enforced soon but at least a year later.

The assurance came as the ministry is introducing new driving permit qualification standards requiring all new applicants to pass a certain number of hours of instruction.

The proposed introduction has caused a stir among the public, prompting the ministry to come out to clarify.

The ministry’s spokesman Jirut Visarljit said the public should not be overly concerned as many formalities will have to be passed before the proposed ministerial regulation is put into practice.

According to the spokesman, the new regulation stipulates that new applicants for driver license will now be required to pass a minimum of 15 hours of instruction at qualified private driving schools before receiving their permits.

Furthermore, current drivers who wish to renew their driving license will also now be required to undergo at least 1 hour instruction as well.

However he said the problem is that at present, there are only 95 driving schools in 60 provinces in Thailand that have been approved by the Land Transport Department.

As for the fees that will be charged for driving instruction, he said the Land Transport Department has stated that no specific amount has been approved but a maximum ceiling of 6,000 baht per course has already been agreed upon.

Commenting on the complaints Transport Minister Arkom Termpitthayapaisith stated that the ministerial regulation was a necessary and vital step towards raising driving standards in the country in order to lower traffic accidents.

http://pattayaone.news/en/imposing-higher-standard/
User avatar
Undaunted
Posts: 2567
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2016 8:47 am
Has thanked: 23 times
Been thanked: 368 times

Re: Getting and renewing Thai Driving Licenses - New Rules

Post by Undaunted »

As this is only a proposal it most likely will go the same way as the baht bus ban on soi Buakhao.
"In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king"
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21461
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: Getting and renewing Thai Driving Licenses - New Rules

Post by Gaybutton »

Undaunted wrote:As this is only a proposal it most likely will go the same way as the baht bus ban on soi Buakhao.
I can't imagine the Thai people accepting the idea of a 6000 baht fee, let alone a 15 hour required course. We'll see, but I'll bet the driving schools are already lobbying.
Post Reply