Thailand drivers’ licences now display organ donor status

Driver’s licences in Thailand will now prominently display whether the holder is an organ donor, the Department of Land Transport (DLT) announced. This update, effective from August 7, aims to make the organ donation status of drivers more visible.

The new licence design includes a larger Red Cross emblem with the words “organ donor” at the top right if the holder is a registered donor. This is a significant change from the previous version, introduced on January 29, 2021, which featured a smaller emblem without any accompanying text.

All driver’s licences issued before August 7 remain valid until their expiration date, confirmed the DLT.

Jirut Wisanjit, the department’s director-general, stated that the update follows a memorandum of understanding signed with the Red Cross Organisation on August 9. This collaboration aims to streamline the process for drivers wishing to register as organ donors and ensure their status is indicated on their licences.

Drivers interested in becoming organ donors can submit donation forms to local DLT offices to have the Red Cross sign added to their licences, reported Bangkok Post.

In related news, DLT dismissed media reports suggesting Chinese companies are increasingly taking over struggling Thai transport businesses, emphasising that licences issued to one business cannot be transferred in the event of a takeover. The Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Finance addressed concerns that Thai citizens are being paid to hold shares to circumvent this rule.

In other news, DLT, through its Road Safety Fund, held an auction of special vehicle registration numbers for private cars with a seating capacity of no more than seven. The auction, the eighth of its kind, was held on August 31 at the DLT’s Building 6, Floor 7.

The event featured the theme Special Numbers for Special People and a total of 100 unique registration numbers were auctioned. These numbers were divided into four categories: super-premium, premium, and gold, each with distinct starting bid prices and number patterns.