The Department of Land Transport has said that its new “Smart Card” licenses are of an international standard and hard to fake.
And they have come up with a list of “E-measures” for applicants.
The licenses – introduced from September 4th – are better and more long lasting than the old ones and feature both a magnetic strip and a QR code.
DLT chief Sanit Phromwong said you would need to go in person to get the “Smart Card”.
The DLT has also announced a swathe of new measures designed to bring Thailand up to scratch.
After applicants have passed the first identification stage known as the “Kiosk” they then have to satisfy the following driving tests and requirements all done electronically: E-Performance, E-Learning, E-Exam and even E-Driving.
These innovations are now available at all DLT centres.
They just don’t get it ! Of course the measures can’t do any harm but the authorities just can’t get it into their heads that the majority of Thais are extremely bad drivers. And I’m being polite !
It’s not the actual physical act of driving that is the problem, it’s the thought processes involved. Thais have a problem with the “what if” concept, not only in driving but in their daily lives.
In other words they don’t think about the POSSIBLE consequences of their actions. This is particularly critical when driving.
Until schools start to instill this concept into pupils, nothing will change. It’s not rocket science. An action has a consequence , it’s as simple as that.
EVERY day I experience a potential accident when driving. Take yesterday as an example. I had to brake hard to avoid a motorcycle which came out of a side road onto the main road I was traveling on.
There were three young girls on the bike and the driver, who looked about ten, didn’t slow down or look. She just came straight out in front of me.
Fortunately, I managed to stop in time but if I hadn’t it would not have been my fault. However, I’m under no illusion that I would have been blamed had I hit them.
The sad thing is, as I said earlier, nothing will change !
(Source:-Daily News)