20% Student Vehicles Unroadworthy; Elderly Lifetime Licenses Under Review
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Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit revealed that more than 20% of student transport vehicles failed inspection, and disclosed that the ministry is exploring a review of lifetime driving licenses for elderly drivers, emphasizing discussions are still underway with no conclusion reached.
On October 29, 2026, at the Department of Land Transport, Minister Suriya Angkaskulkiat announced at the 17th Thailand Road Safety Seminar press conference, themed "Unlocking Safe Cities: Unlocking Safe Roads for Safe Cities," that Thailand still loses approximately 50 lives per day — roughly 15,000 per year — to road accidents. While the trend over the past decade has improved, continuous urgent action is needed, with a long-term goal of zero fatalities, not merely a 5% or 10% reduction.
Suriya said the seminar will take place November 19-20 at the IMPACT Forum, Muang Thong Thani, organized with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, Department of Land Transport, Department of Local Administration, Department of Disease Control, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Road Safety Center, Safe Roads Policy Foundation, and network partners, opening participation to interested parties.
Regarding measures to enhance road user safety, the Ministry of Transport plans to introduce new discussion topics such as assessing the competency of elderly car and motorcycle drivers, and creating incentives for seniors to voluntarily surrender lifetime licenses. Japan's model may be studied, where those returning licenses receive benefits like free lifetime public transport coupons.
Society now faces added safety challenges, particularly elderly drivers operating cars, electric motorcycles, and electric tricycles on roads, with some exhibiting risky behavior like wrong-way driving. Appropriate competency assessments matching age and physical condition are necessary for the safety of both drivers and other road users.
"Today we see 80-year-olds driving sedans stuck behind motorcycles, or what they call 'heritage motorcycles' — three-wheeled electric bikes — letting grandparents ride on main roads and go the wrong way. This is something society must discuss," Suriya said.
However, these ideas remain under discussion and are not immediate enforcement measures. Details including age thresholds, assessment methods, and suitable implementation approaches still require consideration.
The Department of Land Transport already has competency testing guidelines for those aged 55 and above applying for new licenses, but the concept of reassessing elderly drivers who already hold licenses, plus incentives for voluntary lifetime license surrender, remains under study with no decision on format or timeline.
Suriya added that regarding student transport safety, the ministry is upgrading standards, preparing an additional announcement requiring vehicles to display identifying stickers, compliant lighting, and new-format license plates so road users can clearly recognize student transport vehicles.
Suriya noted that from inspections of approximately 16,000 student transport vehicles, about 20% failed, reflecting the need for serious supervision and standard upgrades by the Department of Land Transport.
