Important rules and behaviours for driving in Thailand

[JamesR]

5 minutes ago, Khunwilko said:

please explain....

How many times and how many different ways do you want us to explain?

It has already been explained by numerous comments on this article. 

[cowslip]

The Thai Driving Test

 

Every foreigner staying in Thailand for more 3 months is obliged to apply for a  Thai driving license for each type of vehicle they intend to drive.

 

In theory, if you have a valid driving license from your home country in English or an International Driving Permit, you won’t have to pass the driving test and written exam if your licence is still valid and covers the vehicle you want to drive in Thailand. 

 

From 2019 the Thai test has become more complicated.

 

The exam has 5 sections

·      Vehicle Law

·      Road Traffic Law 

·      Traffic and Warning Signs 

·      Safe Driving 

·      Vehicle Maintenance

 

Thai driving license exam  is divided into 2 sets of questions, each set consists of 25 questions (totally 50 questions). The test-taker must answer 45 or more questions (90%) correctly to pass the written test.

 https://move2thailand.com/driving-license-exam-in-thailand-2020/

 

After passing the theory test, a candidate must pass the driving test off-road. There are 7 different manoeuvres but the test centre selects only 3 of them. These include

Car and Large Vehicles[edit]

1.    Stopping at the kerbside safely and legally. The distance between the left wheels and the kerb must not exceed 25 cm.

2.    Progressing and reversing in a narrow course.

3.    Reverse parking into the bay on the left.

4.    Stopping and starting on the hill. (Not used for Automatic Car).

5.    Making a u-turn within a specified course.

6.    Making a left or right turn within a specified course.

7.    Driving in accordance with signage.

Motorcycle[edit]

1.    Driving in accordance with signage.

2.    Driving on a small pathway.

3.    Driving on a Z-shaped path.

4.    Driving on an S-shaped path.

5.    Driving on a training course.

-       Wiki.

There is also a physical test – all applicants arerquired to do rthis even on renewal.

Physical Test[edit]

At the test centre, the candidate must pass a physical test comprising:

1.    Reaction test. Wide angle perception. The candidate must place their face against the testing machine, looking forward, then tell the colour as seen from either left or right eye.

2.    Depth perception. 

3.    Colour blindness test. 

 

[cowslip]

7 minutes ago, JamesR said:

How many times and how many different ways do you want us to explain?

It has already been explained by numerous comments on this article. 

Sadly it hasn't - the perceptions expressed on this thread are largely personal anecdote. They show no understanding of the causes of road safety problems in Thailand. The OP was incredibly uninformed and this seems the case for most other contributors.

[gummy]

Just now, Khunwilko said:

The Thai Driving Test

Every foreigner staying in Thailand for more 3 months is obliged to apply for a  Thai driving license for each type of vehicle they intend to drive.

In theory, if you have a valid driving license from your home country in English or an International Driving Permit, you won’t have to pass the driving test and written exam if your licence is still valid and covers the vehicle you want to drive in Thailand. 

From 2019 the Thai test has become more complicated.

The exam has 5 sections

·      Vehicle Law

·      Road Traffic Law 

·      Traffic and Warning Signs 

·      Safe Driving 

·      Vehicle Maintenance

Thai driving license exam  is divided into 2 sets of questions, each set consists of 25 questions (totally 50 questions). The test-taker must answer 45 or more questions (90%) correctly to pass the written test.

 https://move2thailand.com/driving-license-exam-in-thailand-2020/

After passing the theory test, a candidate must pass the driving test off-road. There are 7 different manoeuvres but the test centre selects only 3 of them. These include

Car and Large Vehicles[edit]

1.    Stopping at the kerbside safely and legally. The distance between the left wheels and the kerb must not exceed 25 cm.

2.    Progressing and reversing in a narrow course.

3.    Reverse parking into the bay on the left.

4.    Stopping and starting on the hill. (Not used for Automatic Car).

5.    Making a u-turn within a specified course.

6.    Making a left or right turn within a specified course.

7.    Driving in accordance with signage.

Motorcycle[edit]

1.    Driving in accordance with signage.

2.    Driving on a small pathway.

3.    Driving on a Z-shaped path.

4.    Driving on an S-shaped path.

5.    Driving on a training course.

-       Wiki.

There is also a physical test – all applicants arerquired to do rthis even on renewal.

Physical Test[edit]

At the test centre, the candidate must pass a physical test comprising:

1.    Reaction test. Wide angle perception. The candidate must place their face against the testing machine, looking forward, then tell the colour as seen from either left or right eye.

2.    Depth perception. 

3.    Colour blindness test. 

Too much for one day, come on many of us have seen exactly what goes on at the testing stage. When you have numbnuts testing you get numbnuts passing. Now pack up these jokes for one day, enough is enough. Reality is calling you

[cowslip]

 

Most of what is published in the media about road safety is just stuff and nonsense. A few myths need exploding.

One thing everyone can agree on is that the death rate on Thai roads is too high.

 However – the common interpretation is that you are far more likely to have a crash on the roads – but the truth is you are more likely to die once you’ve had a crash

 It’s not about “driving” – it is about “road safety” and how  people, including foreigners, perceive the roads  in Thailand.

…and it isn’t just “deaths” people erroneously concentrate on just one statistic - “Road traffic injuries are a major public health problem in Thailand. The number of mortalities, morbidities and disabilities are huge, greatly affecting the individual victims, the families, society and the nation as a whole.” - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23130465/

It costs the Thai economy trillions of baht every year.

…and it isn’t that the advice and a solution isn’t available. There are many organisations – national and international that have offered successive governments advice on road safety; the advice is usually the same but they are largely ignored….

 

 

[cowslip]

16 minutes ago, Khunwilko said:

Most of what is published in the media about road safety is just stuff and nonsense. A few myths need exploding.

One thing everyone can agree on is that the death rate on Thai roads is too high.

 However – the common interpretation is that you are far more likely to have a crash on the roads – but the truth is you are more likely to die once you’ve had a crash

 It’s not about “driving” – it is about “road safety” and how  people, including foreigners, perceive the roads  in Thailand.

…and it isn’t just “deaths” people erroneously concentrate on just one statistic - “Road traffic injuries are a major public health problem in Thailand. The number of mortalities, morbidities and disabilities are huge, greatly affecting the individual victims, the families, society and the nation as a whole.” - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23130465/

It costs the Thai economy trillions of baht every year.

…and it isn’t that the advice and a solution isn’t available. There are many organisations – national and international that have offered successive governments advice on road safety; the advice is usually the same but they are largely ignored….

 

 

17 minutes ago, gummy said:

Too much for one day, come on many of us have seen exactly what goes on at the testing stage. When you have numbnuts testing you get numbnuts passing. Now pack up these jokes for one day, enough is enough. Reality is calling you

So are you suggesting that the road death toll in Thailand is down to the efficacy of the driving test?

[Fester]

11 minutes ago, Khunwilko said:

Most of what is published in the media about road safety is just stuff and nonsense. A few myths need exploding.

One thing everyone can agree on is that the death rate on Thai roads is too high.

 However – the common interpretation is that you are far more likely to have a crash on the roads – but the truth is you are more likely to die once you’ve had a crash

 It’s not about “driving” – it is about “road safety” and how  people, including foreigners, perceive the roads  in Thailand.

…and it isn’t just “deaths” people erroneously concentrate on just one statistic - “Road traffic injuries are a major public health problem in Thailand. The number of mortalities, morbidities and disabilities are huge, greatly affecting the individual victims, the families, society and the nation as a whole.” - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23130465/

It costs the Thai economy trillions of baht every year.

…and it isn’t that the advice and a solution isn’t available. There are many organisations – national and international that have offered successive governments advice on road safety; the advice is usually the same but they are largely ignored….

 

Of course it's about driving. The real ignorance is owned by the large group of guilty numpties who make no attempt to learn and follow the existing rules of the road in Thailand. If these were observed everyone would be a lot better off and road fatalities would drop significantly. 

[gummy]

Just now, Khunwilko said:

So are you suggesting that the road death toll in Thailand is down to the efficacy of the driving test?

The Thai driving test is a sham. The examiners would never be allowed in car in other countries let alone have the authority to let incompetent people loose to endanger the lives of others. If you or anybody else think otherwise then your own driving skillsets must be open to question and leave cause for concern.

[cowslip]

7 minutes ago, Fester said:

Of course it's about driving. The real ignorance is owned by the large group of guilty numpties who make no attempt to learn and follow the existing rules of the road in Thailand. If these were observed everyone would be a lot better off and road fatalities would drop significantly. 

This is an archaic and disproved theory. The problem is a health and safety problem - as long as you consider it just driving you will never understand or solve the problem.

There are solutions – both personal and national. Personal ones are not that hard – the national solution is a different matter. The overall solution is the adoption of the “safe System” – until this happens there will be no significant improvement in road safety in Thailand.

Before road safety can be effectively addressed one needs to understand road safety is about and what the problems in Thailand really are. Only then can we do anything about it.

 

It helps to begin by acknowledging that road safety as a health and safety matter as put forward by WHO and others.  As road users, we are part of the problem – this is how all successful road safety campaigns have started. 

It is also necessary to understand that this is not just a “driving” issue, it is a matrix of ROAD SAFETY related issues that need to be addressed holistically. A major part of road safety, not all of it, in any country comes from YOU the driver not just “other drivers” - can you adapt YOUR driving to ensure a reasonable level of safety for you and your passengers? It’s not a matter of blaming others - ask yourself if you can handle it. 

 

Over 90% of crashes are the result of “human error” – this is NOT stupidity on behalf of the driver – it is small every occurrences that any driver can make including yourself.

 

it might help if you read ythis...

https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241565684

 

Edited October 18, 2021 by Khunwilko

[cowslip]

Just now, gummy said:

The Thai driving test is a sham. The examiners would never be allowed in car in other countries let alone have the authority to let incompetent people loose to endanger the lives of others. If you or anybody else think otherwise then your own driving skillsets must be open to question and leave cause for concern.

so you think the test is responsible for the deaths on Thai roads???

[JamesR]

18 minutes ago, Khunwilko said:

The Thai Driving Test

Every foreigner staying in Thailand for more 3 months is obliged to apply for a  Thai driving license for each type of vehicle they intend to drive.

In theory, if you have a valid driving license from your home country in English or an International Driving Permit, you won’t have to pass the driving test and written exam if your licence is still valid and covers the vehicle you want to drive in Thailand. 

From 2019 the Thai test has become more complicated.

The exam has 5 sections

·      Vehicle Law

·      Road Traffic Law 

·      Traffic and Warning Signs 

·      Safe Driving 

·      Vehicle Maintenance

Thai driving license exam  is divided into 2 sets of questions, each set consists of 25 questions (totally 50 questions). The test-taker must answer 45 or more questions (90%) correctly to pass the written test.

 https://move2thailand.com/driving-license-exam-in-thailand-2020/

After passing the theory test, a candidate must pass the driving test off-road. There are 7 different manoeuvres but the test centre selects only 3 of them. These include

Car and Large Vehicles[edit]

1.    Stopping at the kerbside safely and legally. The distance between the left wheels and the kerb must not exceed 25 cm.

2.    Progressing and reversing in a narrow course.

3.    Reverse parking into the bay on the left.

4.    Stopping and starting on the hill. (Not used for Automatic Car).

5.    Making a u-turn within a specified course.

6.    Making a left or right turn within a specified course.

7.    Driving in accordance with signage.

Motorcycle[edit]

1.    Driving in accordance with signage.

2.    Driving on a small pathway.

3.    Driving on a Z-shaped path.

4.    Driving on an S-shaped path.

5.    Driving on a training course.

-       Wiki.

There is also a physical test – all applicants arerquired to do rthis even on renewal.

Physical Test[edit]

At the test centre, the candidate must pass a physical test comprising:

1.    Reaction test. Wide angle perception. The candidate must place their face against the testing machine, looking forward, then tell the colour as seen from either left or right eye.

2.    Depth perception. 

3.    Colour blindness test. 

So as we can see from what you have written above the driving test is very simple compared to the 45 minute test we have in the UK

For instance we have the test on real roads with other cars, we do not know where we are going, the tester sitting next to you tells you when and where to turns while watching in detail your every move and how safely you do it.

Using you mirrors and gears correctly for instance.

Correct traffic lights procedures

Revers parking

Three point turn

Emergency stop where he bangs on the dashboard at any time during the test and you have to react correctly and safely, etc.

And other information regarding getting a Thai licence:

"The process of getting a Thai driving license will be much easier if you have a valid driving license from your home country in English or an International Driving Permit. In this case you won’t have to pass the driving test and written exam. BUT this is applicable only if you apply for a driving license of the same type as you have in your home country’s driving license."

In other words the Thai driving tests are so simple to pass, the farangs don't need to bother taking a test as the test is so simple and inferior.

You can not swap a Thai licence for a British one in the UK for very good reasons.

Read More at: https://move2thailand.com/driving-license-exam-in-thailand-2020/

[gummy]

Just now, Khunwilko said:

so you think the test is responsible for the deaths on Thai roads???

The person causing the fatal accident is responsible, how could it be anyone else ? or do you think it is the man on the moon that kills people on Thai roads rather than the incompetent drivers ?

[cowslip]

2 minutes ago, JamesR said:

So as we can see from what you have written above the driving test is very simple compared to the 45 minute test we have in the UK

For instance we have the test on real roads with other cars, we do not know where we are going, the tester sitting next to you tells you when and where to turns while watching in detail your every move and how safely you do it.

Using you mirrors and gears correctly for instance.

Correct traffic lights procedures

Revers parking

Three point turn

Emergency stop where he bangs on the dashboard at any time during the test and you have to react correctly and safely, etc.

And other information regarding getting a Thai licence:

"The process of getting a Thai driving license will be much easier if you have a valid driving license from your home country in English or an International Driving Permit. In this case you won’t have to pass the driving test and written exam. BUT this is applicable only if you apply for a driving license of the same type as you have in your home country’s driving license."

In other words the Thai driving tests are so simple to pass, the farangs don't need to bother taking a test as the test is so simple and inferior.

You can not swap a Thai licence for a British one in the UK for very good reasons.

Read More at: https://move2thailand.com/driving-license-exam-in-thailand-2020/

So you think that the driving test is the reason for the high death rates in Thailand?

[dj230]

curious whats the typical rule with pulling over after an accident?

Was in a grab today, driver had a small collision (by collision i mean tap) of another vehicle, nothing more than a small bang, maybe a scratch, doubt a dent, and no one stopped and was on their way, no honkingor road rage. 

[JamesR]

4 minutes ago, Khunwilko said:

so you think the test is responsible for the deaths on Thai roads???

The situation will improve in Thailand though in say thirty years time when all cars drive themselves, the only test a Thai will have to take is how to set up the GPS satnav and how to press the 'go button', that test is only slightly less difficult than the current driving test. 

[cowslip]

the answer is not anecdotal stares , or vitriol against Thai people - it is "Safe Syate"

 

"Around 90% of road crashes involve some element of human error. Although educating road users can reduce the number of road crashes that occur, human error cannot be eradicated. Therefore, road users will still sometimes make mistakes that can lead to collisions. One way in which the number of road users killed or seriously injured can be reduced is by adopting a Safe System approach, so that crashes are less likely and when they do occur, it is less likely that the road users involved will be killed or seriously injured". = ROSPA

 

[Benroon]

If you're from the UK you don't need to do any test at all - they will just give you a license providing you are in possession of an international license. Most brits don't realise that but if you go with an international license it has a code on it which tells them it was issued in the UK - job done. Get your license do not pass go, do not....(sorry they did hold up half a dozen colour blind test cards)

[JamesR]

5 minutes ago, Khunwilko said:

So you think that the driving test is the reason for the high death rates in Thailand?

Plus, do you think a person who has been properly trained in medicine and then had to pass very difficult exams would do a better job on his patients than a person who has had very poor training and took exams that a ten year old could pass?

[JamesR]

6 minutes ago, Benroon said:

If you're from the UK you don't need to do any test at all - they will just give you a license providing you are in possession of an international license. Most brits don't realise that but if you go with an international license it has a code on it which tells them it was issued in the UK - job done. Get your license do not pass go, do not....(sorry they did hold up half a dozen colour blind test cards)

Cheers, you have just confirmed what I read ten minutes ago on the internet which said the same. 

What sort of visa do you have to have? Does it include a long tourist visa?

[JamesR]

11 minutes ago, dj230 said:

curious whats the typical rule with pulling over after an accident?

Was in a grab today, driver had a small collision (by collision i mean tap) of another vehicle, nothing more than a small bang, maybe a scratch, doubt a dent, and no one stopped and was on their way, no honkingor road rage. 

To let the police determine who was at fault in the accident as if not both parties will claim it was the other person fault and lie about the details of who was doing what at the time.

Nobody honks as it is the law to wait for the police. 

[Benroon]

10 minutes ago, JamesR said:

Cheers, you have just confirmed what I read ten minutes ago on the internet which said the same. 

What sort of visa do you have to have? Does it include a long tourist visa?

I don't know if the two are connected - no-one checked mine. It it helps I have  non-o based on marriage.

I just presented my international license and that was it, they effectively swapped it for a thai license (and gave me a bike license same time even though I've never sat on one in my life) -

I think its based on the fact in the UK we drive on the same side of the road, so if you drive on the right you might still have to do the test.

[cowslip]

18 minutes ago, JamesR said:

The situation will improve in Thailand though in say thirty years time when all cars drive themselves, the only test a Thai will have to take is how to set up the GPS satnav and how to press the 'go button', that test is only slightly less difficult than the current driving test. 

this shows a lack of understanding of the problem that is prevalent amongst foreign drivers in Thailand

 

[cowslip]

17 minutes ago, Benroon said:

If you're from the UK you don't need to do any test at all - they will just give you a license providing you are in possession of an international license. Most brits don't realise that but if you go with an international license it has a code on it which tells them it was issued in the UK - job done. Get your license do not pass go, do not....(sorry they did hold up half a dozen colour blind test cards)

they now insist on eye tests and reaction tests for new and renewing licences.

[Fester]

36 minutes ago, Khunwilko said:

This is an archaic and disproved theory. The problem is a health and safety problem - as long as you consider it just driving you will never understand or solve the problem.

There are solutions – both personal and national. Personal ones are not that hard – the national solution is a different matter. The overall solution is the adoption of the “safe System” – until this happens there will be no significant improvement in road safety in Thailand.

Before road safety can be effectively addressed one needs to understand road safety is about and what the problems in Thailand really are. Only then can we do anything about it.

It helps to begin by acknowledging that road safety as a health and safety matter as put forward by WHO and others.  As road users, we are part of the problem – this is how all successful road safety campaigns have started. 

It is also necessary to understand that this is not just a “driving” issue, it is a matrix of ROAD SAFETY related issues that need to be addressed holistically. A major part of road safety, not all of it, in any country comes from YOU the driver not just “other drivers” - can you adapt YOUR driving to ensure a reasonable level of safety for you and your passengers? It’s not a matter of blaming others - ask yourself if you can handle it. 

 

Over 90% of crashes are the result of “human error” – this is NOT stupidity on behalf of the driver – it is small every occurrences that any driver can make including yourself.

it might help if you read ythis...

https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241565684

I might have expected such diversion. The WHO summary does not talk about the actual topic much either, which I remind you concerns "important rules and behaviours for driving in Thailand"! Now if people could start off by following these rules and behaving considerately on the roads, then that would be a fine start. 

[Fester]

14 minutes ago, Khunwilko said:

they now insist on eye tests and reaction tests for new and renewing licences.

Have for years.