Beginning this week candidates applying for a driving license will need to attend a longer driver theory test to make sure they know how to drive safely.
Thailand as a country comes second for the highest road fatalities in the world. This new initative is aimed at increasing road safety and reduce traffic accidence.
International licensing organizations normally require more practical and actual driving tuition with a qualified driving instructor. In Thailand this does not appear to be the case as 15 minutes after in the car park is usually sufficient.
Under the new regulation, candidates for a new driving license will now be required to attend additional driver theory class for five hours which is an increase from the previous four.
Director General Sanit Promwong of the Department of Land Transport said this was to increase the skills on safe driving, and to cut the numbers of accidents, injury and death.
The additional class will cover instructions for any emergency incident along with assistances and first aid, (obviously due to the number of accidents and road deaths in Thailand) also how to drive safely, traffic rule and law, driving awareness and manner.
However he said as a choice for the public, the applicant could attend a class provided by private driving schools or government agencies which were recognized and had signed an agreement with the Department.
The candidate could use the certificate issued by such driving schools or government agencies to apply for the driving license test.
Drive safely:
Source: Thai PBS