New drivers must take longer theory training

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buksida
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New drivers must take longer theory training

Post by buksida »

Those considering earning a license to drive may want to do so quickly.

It was bad news for future motorists and those who want to renew their licenses when the Transport Ministry announced on Tuesday that, starting sometime next year, they will have to sit through 15 hours of training before they can get their licenses.

The ministry said it would amend the regulations to require more hours of training for the sake of road safety.

The 15 hours will include five hours of classroom theory, three hours of maintenance instruction, and six hours behind-the-wheel to be split between an open course and the street.


The new regs will be considered by the Council of State and are expected to go into force at an unspecified date next year, Sanit Promwong of the Land Transport Department said.

A 6,000 baht fee that had been proposed for license-seekers is being reconsidered.

Under a law that went into effect this year, driving license applicants must sit through a five-hour lecture on driving theory. Candidates are then required to pass a written and practical skills test to obtain their license.

According to the World Health Organization, Thailand ranked second in the world in terms of traffic fatalities in 2015.

Source: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/tran ... -training/
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Re: New drivers must soon take 15 hours of training

Post by Bristolian »

Bangkok Post Editorial
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... ft-bargain

Driving a soft bargain

The cabinet's approval of transport authorities' proposal to enhance the compulsory driving training course, by tripling the learning hours from five to 15 for would-be drivers, is a positive step forward.

But it will have little impact on road safety in Thailand if improved lessons are not part of the longer course and if traffic law enforcement remains lax.

Under current regulations, applicants for a driving licence have to pass a physical driving test, and then attend and pass a five-hour training course on traffic laws and general awareness of safe driving. But the proposal, approved Wednesday, will require all applicants to learn how to drive and then attend such training sessions -- all of this will take 15 hours and will be carried out by 90 certified driving schools. After passing the entire course, applicants can apply for a driving licence at any of the schools. The new rule will be applicable next year.

For many, this decision should have been made many years, if not decades, ago. But transport authorities must ensure the longer course will be complemented with better training. Novice drivers must be well-equipped with driving skills and get practical experience to drive safely on the roads. The current driving test only focuses on driving and parking in a small training compound.

Then, classroom training, with more hours, must be improved to enhance applicants' awareness of traffic regulations.

Authorities must recognise that road accidents in the country are not caused by a lack of knowledge about traffic laws, but a lack of respect for them along with lax law enforcement on the part of authorities.

Thailand's annual record of road fatalities is appalling and worrying. For example, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that in 2015 the country was the world's second deadliest place to drive, with traffic fatalities standing at 44 for every 100,000 people or, to make it sound simpler, 5.1% of total deaths in Thailand are from traffic accidents. Other reports point out that about 80 people are killed each day on the roads, with nearly three quarters of the fatalities coming from motorcycle-related accidents.

The increase in training hours will not make roads safer as long as drivers remain reckless behind the steering wheel. Breaking traffic laws has become the norm. Car drivers rarely put the brakes on when they approach zebra crossings for pedestrians to cross the road, for example. Motorcycle riders tend to be careless and break the speed limit, driving on pavements whenever they want.

Ignorance of using seat belts and helmets is also common for both drivers and riders and their passengers. WHO research shows that fewer than 50% of motorcycle riders and passengers wear helmets. This is despite the fact that nearly 75% of all road fatalities come from two-wheeled vehicles. In addition to those violations of law, drink driving and other offences on the road such as the much-hyped use of mobile phones or smartphones while driving are also key contributors to road accidents.

The government needs to realise that this enhanced compulsory training course will not reduce road accidents as long as law enforcement remains weak. There is a need for authorities to thoroughly and regularly enforce existing traffic rules and regulations. Law enforcement agents should be equipped with electronic gadgets to track traffic law breakers and then suspend their driving licences for a certain period of time once they exceed the limit of traffic law offences.

Imposition of higher fines and more patrols on the roads with greater coordination among officers can help curb road accidents and prevent the loss of lives. Tripling the hours of testing without doubling law enforcement efforts will not be helpful.
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Re: New drivers must soon take 15 hours of training

Post by HHTel »

Firstly, police need education on traffic laws. They daily flout the traffic laws. A few years ago the following headline appeared in the Bangkok Post and other media:
600 Thai traffic police officers lose the right to give tickets after failing test on Thai Traffic Laws
This, at the time, amounted to 12% of the traffic police in Bangkok. They couldn't issue tickets for traffic violations until they'd got up to speed and passed a basic test.

So, let the police be trained so they can knowledgeably enforce the laws.
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Re: New drivers must soon take 15 hours of training

Post by laphanphon »

Can't see it being instituted. Renewed my 5 yr, after new requirements for longer vids, testing, and more testing.

I didn't need to do any of it. Just sit through a 1 hr vid in Thai, no subtitles. 5 yr renewed.
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Re: New drivers must soon take 15 hours of training

Post by HHTel »

Yeh, did mine a couple of weeks ago. In 15 years I've never done even the simplest of tests. Not so this time. The Perception, reaction and colour test was quite fun but after sitting for 15 mins of the video with 'google translated' subtitles, I left and waited outside. Good for another 6 years!
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Re: New drivers must soon take 15 hours of training

Post by hhinner »

Maybe it's time they introduced something like L-plates.
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Re: New drivers must soon take 15 hours of training

Post by PeteC »

BANGKOK — "Plans to require 15 hours of training for new drivers to get their licenses were withdrawn Wednesday by the government, which said the new regulations needed careful review......"

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/tran ... s-shelved/
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Re: How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

Post by johnjar »

"Beginning today, candidates applying for driving license will need to attend longer driver theory test to make sure qualified drivers know how to drive safely"

Well at least its a start isn't it a long journey always starts with the first step.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/strict ... -licenses/
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Re: How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?

Post by RCer »

johnjar wrote: Mon Nov 20, 2017 10:26 am "Beginning today, candidates applying for driving license will need to attend longer driver theory test to make sure qualified drivers know how to drive safely"

Well at least its a start isn't it a long journey always starts with the first step.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/strict ... -licenses/
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Re: New drivers must take longer theory training

Post by MLS »

I renewed my initial (two-year) driving licence today at Pranburi. Arrived upstairs at 08.20 this morning with:
* Residency letter from Immigration Dept - got that last week @B500
* Medical certificate from a walk-in Pranburi doc - got that on Saturday morning @B100
* Current driving licence (expiry date 24/12/17)
* Passport
* Two copies of photo and visa pages of my passport and one photocopy of the front and back of current driving licence (got the copies done at Transport Dept today @B3 per copy)

I did the colour-blindness and reaction tests but was not asked to watch a video and I left at 09.30 clutching my shiny new 5 years+ licence, which cost B505.
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Re: New drivers must take longer theory training

Post by VincentD »

Pet peeve, partly related to topic, but mainly a rant provoked by another near miss in Bangkok.
I get particularly annoyed with motorcyclists who tend to ride at speed between lanes, it makes it particularly difficult to move across lanes when the move is needed, say to get into a u-turn lane. They have a total disregard to signal requests, many speeding up to close the gap. Notice more big bike riders in Bangkok with this attitude. They also have a sense of entitlement that they are in the right. Well, 1) bikes are not allowed on highways and certain middle lanes in some parts of Bangkok, but I am beginning to see more and more motorcyclists using them, at speed, without crash helmets. 2) bikes are supposed to be limited to only the innermost (left) lane, but most are in the outer lanes at speed and not giving way. 3) On the drive to Nakhon Sawan last Saturday, gangs of big bikers going much faster than four-wheeled traffic, weaving in and out, cutting across three lanes..

I tend to drive a little over the speed limit and use a radar detector just in case, these blokes are just annoying...

I know there are many bikers on the forum, I don't mean to ruffle feathers, but just because some can go fast doesn't mean it's okay to be weaving in and out traffic that is going with the flow..

Also, I thought big bikes were grey market imports that are sort of under the radar in Thailand?

Right. Rant over.
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Re: New drivers must take longer theory training

Post by handdrummer »

Theory is good, now, how about some behind the wheel training and parking instruction and, maybe, how to make a 3 point turn as opposed to backing down the street to the corner, reversing into the road then going forward.
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Re: New drivers must take longer theory training

Post by HHTel »

Current driving licence (expiry date 24/12/17)
That highlights one sensible change. It used to be the case that you couldn't renew until your 'current' licence had actually expired and you had 1 year to renew without having to start from scratch.

It is sometimes worth while to allow your licence to expire if it means that you can apply for a renewal the day after your birthday. The licence is valid for 5 years from your next birthday. Hence you can get 6 years less one day!
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Re: New drivers must take longer theory training

Post by MLS »

Yes, the woman at Pranburi Transport Dept told me last week that I could apply for a new licence 60 days before my current one expires, so I got it done as I'll be away in December and had a free day yesterday. A pretty painless process - pleasant, helpful staff and a bonus that my new licence's valid for five years and nine months.
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Re: New drivers must take longer theory training

Post by VincentD »

Don't have to worry about this any more, got a 'for life' licence..
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