New driver’s licenses to be launched on Sept 4

BANGKOK, Aug 16 (TNA) -- The Land Transport Department will launch new driver’s licenses instead of paper ones on Sept 4 to prevent forgery. Sanit Promwong, director-general of the department, said new driver’s licenses would be plastic and smart cards to meet international standard. Forgery will be blocked with magnetic stripes and QR code technology. Such cards contain data and support application development and innovations. Information from the cards could be applied to promote road safety, he said. According to him, paper driver’s licenses issued before Aug 15 and plastic cards issued before Sept 4 will be valid until their expiry, but if holders need new cards, they will only receive new smart cards. New cards will contain the Thai and English data of holders and can be used in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia under an ASEAN agreement, Mr Sanit said. (TNA)