(kajeab_pongsiri / Shutterstock.com)
The cabinet yesterday (Aug 18) approved ministerial regulations for the issuance and renewal of driver's licenses, as proposed by the Ministry of Transport. It was agreed that riders of 'big motorcycles' would need a separate driving license from those of smaller, less powerful motorcycles.
Applicants for this driver's license must pass special training and a test before being licensed, said deputy government spokesman Traisulee Traisoranakul.
“The details of the training and testing will be announced by the Director General of the Department of Land Transport,” Traisulee said. “The objectives of these regulations are to reduce road accidents and promote safety among vehicle users and pedestrians, and to adapt training and testing to the current situation.”
A news source for the department said the regulations are part of its efforts to reduce the increasing number of accidents caused by large motorcycles in particular, as they are more powerful than regular motorcycles and require a higher level of skill and experience.
“One of the criteria for applying for a “big bike license” is that applicants must have a certain number of years of experience riding a normal motorcycle, in order to reduce the number of inexperienced big bike riders on the road” source added.
Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30393170
It is just a personal impression of everyday driving, but I myself have the impression that it is precisely the “ordinary motorcycles” that are a bigger problem than the “big motorcycles”.
2 years ago they wanted to introduce this and then they spoke from 400cc
https://www.thailandnews.co/2018/08/big-bike-drivers-licence-to-be-introduced-next-year/
: It is a pity that it is not mentioned anywhere what they mean by: “BIG BIKE”. As I could already read it would be about motorbikes of 400cc and more, but there is nothing official about that. What about people who already have a motorbike driver's license and have been driving a 'Big Bike' for years, like me? This Thai driver's license was obtained years ago on the basis of an international driver's license with a motorbike driver's license. Will see what happens when more details are known.
Indeed Eddie.
Let's wait and see what the official texts will say.
In the article from 2 years ago it was already said that it will not have retroactive effect, so I think it will be better than expected
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1527046/big-bike-drivers-licence-to-be-introduced-next-year
@lung addie
Will not be a problem for you, having mastered those big "beasts" for years and with long trips, a measure is good to keep out the occasional adventurous daredevils who do not have the capabilities to deal with them. to go
@,
And how should tourists, for example, who stay here a little longer, be able to prove that they have been riding a moped for a number of years?
Do you have to pay extra for that?
As far as I know, there are many more mopeds for rent that should be called motorcycles than there are real mopeds.
Another “negative” for the farangs who come here.
But this again shows that if one wants, a law can be added and that within a very short time.
LOUISE
Yes Louise
I suppose you know that a 'tourist' with an international driver's license can drive in Thailand for 3 months, even with a motorcycle if his international driver's license is valid. So this does not apply to 'tourists'. And, the 'tourists' who stay here for a longer period of time with a tourist visa, they still have to make a border run every 2 months and then the counter is reset to zero because the three months start running from the date of entry into Thailand. You're going to look for the 'negative' again where it isn't. To legally drive a 'moped' in Thailand, which is actually already a motorcycle, you need a motorcycle license. If you don't even have that now, you will be screwed in the event of an accident because of no appropriate driver's license.
are “big motorcycles” also allowed on toll road 7?
I think with this big-bike license they are running after the actual problem a bit.
To make Thai traffic safer, one should actually start at the beginning, and approach the training of all driving licenses more strictly and extensively.
In itself, of course, a sensible choice to set stricter requirements for riding such motorcycles. The article states that one of the criteria for obtaining this 'big-bike-license' is that the applicant must have a certain number of years of experience riding a 'normal' motorcycle. Well, since almost all Thai youths from the age of about 8 believe they are able to ride a motorcycle and do so, while their parents apparently allow it, that is automatically the case. In the Netherlands and Belgium there are many mopeds/scooters with a maximum engine capacity of 50 cc. This is not the case in Thailand, most scooters there have a capacity of 100/125 cc and are therefore actually motorcycles, for which the tourist also needs a motorcycle license. I have always wondered why hardly any scooters with 50 cc capacity are sold and rented in Thailand.
It is no longer correct that they are going to introduce a separate driving license for the heavier motorcycles, but then they must also be allowed on the fast and toll roads ...
First of all, what is meant by a heavy engine.
I have a few motorbikes including a Honda Phantom 200 cc and with accessories weighing around 160 kilos.
A Harley Davidson Roadking 1690 cc with accessories weighing over 400 kilos.
And believe me, just make a U turn left or right with both, then you will notice the difference.
And what about a stop with fine sand or pebbles on a hard surface where when you put your left foot on the ground, your foot sometimes shifts more than 15 cm and the weight of the bike comes to you.
I think they would have been wise to first try to teach all those school kids racing around, not to mention the Panda and Grab boys, about road safety and how to control their vehicle properly.
Because even to be able to drive the normal 105 to 125 cc mopeds and scooters properly, often with an automatic transmission, many still have to learn a lot here.
I see young people driving around on race bike-like models from the well-known moped manufacturers who think they can do anything, but don't know what to do in a dangerous situation, rather they create dangerous situations.
And then there are tough big bikers, including farangs who think that they are free from the risk of an accident in flip-flops and a T-shirt.
When I go biking, long pants, gloves, appropriate footwear, of course, a helmet and the heavy bikes come with a jacket with elbow and shoulder padding, even at 30 plus degrees.
But as it is with the current Thai driving licenses, it is not much as most of them do not or hardly comply with the rules after obtaining the certificate.
Experience this daily in traffic, signs and stripes along the road are for decoration only.
So it will be the same again with this re-inflated bubble.
Jan Beute.
The police should better check the youths under the age of 16 around the schools, that will significantly reduce the average number of fatalities.
Symbol politics, what is really needed is an education system and a police that enforces the rules. So complying with compulsory helmets, learning traffic rules at school and also having them checked by the police, mountains of information on the internet/tv and awareness of the dangers. Especially the latter is not at all in the culture.