Foreign residents in Thailand to get driving licenses

BANGKOK, February 23 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Transport has given the greenlight for foreign residents in the country to get their driving licenses based on the Thai laws. Kamol Buranapong, Deputy Director-General of the ministry's Department of Land Transport, told journalists of the new policy, noting that, initially, his department has, thus, jointly launched a safe driving program for foreign residents with the United Kingdom Embassy to Thailand, under which foreign residents in the country are provided with knowledge and understanding on proper procedures in applying for and extending their driving licenses based on the Thai laws and their legal rights. Besides, video clips and other materials in the English language on Thai traffic rules and laws, as well as safe driving techniques and theoretical driving tests are now provided for foreign residents in Thailand, together with those on how to properly apply for and extend their driving licenses. According to the senior official, the English video clips and materials will be, apart from Bangkok, provided at all land transport offices nationwide soon, especially provinces where there are a number of foreign residents, namely Phuket, Surat Thani, Songkhla and Chiang Mai, to ensure identical practices and standards. The senior official revealed that the video clips and materials will later be produced in other foreign languages, including the Mandarin, in line with the demand side. (TNA)