Thai Department of Land Transport brings better tech into the classroom

The Department of Land Transport is going to use fingerprint scanners, e-classrooms and CCTV as it aims to improve standards in the country’s driving schools.

There are 275 DLT certified driving schools in 66 provinces across Thailand. Privately operated, they are given DLT quality guidelines which they must follow to maintain the level of their training and testing procedures.

DLT director-general Peerapol Thawornsupcharoen says they need to to better use modern technologies to upgrade the quality of Thai schools.

“We have installed fingerprint scanners at selected driving schools to verify the identity of both teachers and students before each classroom and testing session.”

The fingerprint scanners will be used in conjunction with the e-classroom system, in which the department can monitor and verify the date, time, subject, teachers and students to make sure that the training schedule and quality standard are adhered to. Furthermore, each written exam room will be equipped with CCTV cameras to monitor the test takers to prevent cheating.

From October 2018 to June 2019, 454,691 people have enrolled at DLT certified driving schools; 277,329 of them took car driving lessons, 170,459 took motorcycling lessons, while 6,903 applied for land transport vehicle lessons.

You can check out the full list of DLT-certified driving schools plus details of how to apply HERE (get a Thai friend to help, it’s all in Thai language) or some general information about the DLT in English HERE or phone 02-271-8623.

About driving in Thailand…

You may drive with an international driver’s license for up to 6 months in Thailand. After that you will have to apply for a Thai license to continue driving legally. Many foreigners do not even need to take a driving test as a foreign or international license is usually enough. You must apply for a license at the local Department of Land Transport (list above). If you are unable to read and write Thai, bring an interpreter to the appointment as you have to fill out forms which are in Thai only. You must bring the following with you:

• passport with valid non-immigrant visa
• residence address in Thailand (certified by your embassy or by your local Thai Immigration Office)
• two recent passport size photos
• your driving license from your home country
• proof of good health (a medical certificate from a GP in Thailand)
• the application fee (as the fee changes, it is best to call ahead and ask)

In addition to applying in person, you have to take a short class about driving laws (about two hours), a colour blindness test, and a written test (which is in Thai).

If you hold a valid non-immigrant visa, which you should if you live or work in Thailand, you will be issued a one-year temporary license which you can renew each year.

SOURCE: The Nation