Licence points deductions to curb dangerous driving

The Royal Thailänder Police plan to early next year launch the driving licence points system, a form of electronic traffic ticketing targeted at improving driving self-discipline and curbing road accidents, after having already raised punishments for traffic infractions.

From Jan 9, each driving licence owner will be given twelve points, which will be reduced if they are caught violating traffic rules, said Pol Maj Gen Ekkarat Limsangkat, chief of the Highway Police Division.

Breaking the speed restrict, failing to stop just for pedestrians at zebra crossings, eschewing a safety helmet, not fastening a nice and clean, and speaking within the phone while driving are examples of wrong doings that can lead to an one-point deduction, he or she said.

Running red lighting or intentionally traveling in the wrong path — for example on one-way streets — will cause two points to be deducted, whilst illegal racing on a public street will certainly lead to three points being cut, he or she said.

The maximum penalty of four points is certainly tied to serious infractions such as drink generating, he added.

A loss of all 12 points will result in the driver getting their licence suspended for 90 days, this individual said, adding the deducted points is going to be restored 12 months from the time they are eliminated.

Additional information can be found at https://ptm.police.go.th/eTicket or via the authorities e-wallet application known as Pao Tang, Pol Maj Gen Ekkarat said.

Prior to the launch from the new electronic ticketing system, a new legislation resulting in an automatic 90-day suspension of driving licence took impact on July 13.

Such suspension systems will apply for infractions that pose a serious risk of danger to the public, or when violators attempt to flee after causing damage to others or public property throughout a road accident, he or she said.

Driving without a license, meanwhile, could lead to the three-month jail expression and a maximum good of 10, 000 baht, he stated.

The prison term regarding repeat offenders caught driving under the influence, for example , continues to be increased to two years, with the fine elevated from 50, 500 baht to hundred, 000 baht, he said.