Thailand’s new traffic laws took effect on September 5. However, police have decided to be lenient for the first three months to give motorists time to adjust their road behavior. (Photo by Robert Eklund)
By Thai PBS World’s General Desk
The transition to new traffic laws, which list more types of offenses and harsher penalties for offenders, has already begun.
Here is what you need to know:
Three-month grace period
Although the new traffic laws took effect on September 5, police have decided to be lenient for the first three months to give Thais time to adjust themselves or improve their road behavior.
“We will fine traffic offenders based on the rates used since 2020 for the first three months,” said Pol General Preecha Charoensahayanont, deputy director of the Royal Thai Police Traffic Management Center. “We will also promote public awareness of the new laws during this period,” he added.
For example, instead of slapping a speeding driver with the new 4,000-baht maximum fine, traffic police will issue fines of 500 baht during the grace period.
Harsher penalties
Jumping a red light or failing to stop for pedestrians at a zebra crossing carries a maximum fine of 4,000 baht under the new laws – up from 1,000 baht. Driving against traffic and not wearing a crash helmet or safety belt, meanwhile, come with a maximum fine of 2,000 baht – a fourfold increase from 500 baht.
Those found guilty of driving without care for the safety or lives of others face a fine of between 5,000 baht and 20,000 baht and/or a maximum of one year in jail. The penalties are raised from a maximum three-month sentence and a fine of 2,000 to 10,000 baht.
Drunk driving is punished especially harshly under the new laws. Convicted drunk drivers face a fine of up to 20,000 baht and/or a jail term of up to one year. If they repeat the same offense in the two years after their first offense, the resulting fine will come with a mandatory jail term. The fine can be as high as 100,000 baht and the jail term as long as two years.
Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/a-guide-to-thailands-new-rules-of-the-road/