Dear readers,
Readers' questions about Thai driving licenses such as: how to obtain a Thai driving license, documents that must be submitted, any exams and the like appear on Thailandblog. Yesterday there was a question from someone who wanted to know how you can get a Thai driver's license as a holder of a Belgian driving license. There were quite a few reactions, including comments about the tests. According to one commenter, they were not much and according to someone else, it was better to stay off the road if you could not meet those tests. I agree. But I would like to comment on this.
I have been living in Thailand for almost 5 years and have had a Thai driving license for the car for 4 years. The tests for colours, reaction and depth perception are indeed not difficult. But both before obtaining my first Thai driver's license and before renewing it, I had a problem with the depth perception test. I have been driving the car for 49 years (45 years in Belgium and 4 years in Thailand). I am nearsighted and have been wearing glasses since I was 17. But in Thailand you have to take off those glasses during those tests and I experienced that as a handicap during the depth perception test.
Does anyone have an explanation why you have to take off your glasses for those tests in Thailand? I don't drive a car without glasses. The photo for the driver's license must also be without glasses, just like all photos for immigration.
Regards,
JosNT
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I didn't have to take off my glasses during the tests.
For the photo yes, but I think this is more for recognisability
Strange yes wouldn't know, but for the eye test I had to cover 1 eye and then the other eye, also something like that...
I am visually impaired in 1 eye due to a lazy eye and then put my left hand in front of my lazy eye and then switch the right hand for my lazy eye haha they never noticed!
I've also never had to take off my glasses in the five times I've been there. This is essential for depth perception. I always go to the Banglamung office. I have observed in some others that there was difficulty looking into the depths. After two rejections, people became very nervous and when the pressure was put on that if something went wrong again, they would have to come back another time, the atmosphere in the group of candidates was terrible. Once with a Russian who did not speak Thai or English. He was then told to try without glasses, but this was not an obligation.
I got my two driving licenses in Pranburi and I too am nearsighted. Didn't have to take my glasses off. I don't think it's right what people want from you.
Actually correct, because by borrowing or purchasing glasses, one would be able to see the test better. And for those who drive with glasses, taking off the glasses causes a disadvantage. So actually both options are not good.
I live 40 km from Korat. To obtain my driver's license I went to the exam center in Cho Ho for the first time. There I had to redo the depth perception test (without glasses). Because I already had problems that first time, I went to the center of Dan Khun Thot for the extension.
The tests were taken by an older lady who resolutely told me that the glasses had to be taken off. After the second time she let me understand that it had to succeed on the third attempt. Judging by her expression, I was almost certain it wasn't OK then either. Fortunately, my wife was sitting in a seat behind me and she told her that I have been driving a car with glasses for forty years and have never had an accident. That was the deciding factor.
It seems that Korat is an exception here. Apparently people are more lenient in the other exam centers in Thailand.
Sorry, but that reasoning is stupid. You just have to be able to see well. With or without glasses. If you see poorly without glasses, you must have glasses on your nose.
This applies to a test as well as in real traffic.
Why should you be disadvantaged? Why do you have to call up a handicap that is not necessary?
You just have to be able to see clearly during the test, so taking off the glasses is pure nonsense.
There seems to be a very strange twist of thought here that is completely illogical.
Strange, I am also nearsighted and will not pass these tests without glasses. Have been driving in Thailand for over 20 years but have never had to take off my glasses during tests in Pattaya and Chiang Rai
I also did those tests three times in Thailand so far and never found that anything nonsensical was asked like to take off your glasses when checking the eyesight of the candidates. Why does a doctor at the medical examination (required in Belgium for professional drivers) always mention in the case of people who are farsighted that “driving of category x vehicles is only allowed through the use of corrective reading or corneal refraction”?
Think logically please.
Color
Never had to take off my glasses when getting or renewing a Thai driver's license for both car and motorcycle, as well as being at immigration for the annual renewal.
Even the photo that you have to stick on the T47 for extension, I have mounted a photo for years with glasses.
Now I no longer wear glasses because of the renewal of both my lenses.
Must be another local official invented rule to make people's lives even harder than it already is for many.
Jan Beute