SONGKHLA, Thailand – Deputy Minister of Transport Sanphet Bunyamanee launched a driver development program in Songkhla province to improve road safety standards and produce professional transport drivers supporting Thailand’s growing logistics and transportation sectors.
The opening ceremony was held on May 18, at the Smart Driving Learning Center for Road Safety at the Songkhla Provincial Land Transport Office. Participants included Songkhla Governor Ratthasart Chidchoo, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Land Transport Cheep Nomsian, provincial officials, agency representatives, and related personnel.
The program is organized by the Department of Land Transport and the Department of Skill Development, supported by the Road Safety Fund. The initiative seeks to strengthen drivers’ knowledge, technical skills, professional responsibility, and road safety awareness through theoretical and practical training.
For fiscal year 2026, authorities assigned the Lam Luk Ka Driving Center and transport offices in 14 provinces to conduct truck driving courses for Type 2 and Type 3 licenses, targeting 1,000 trainees nationwide. The Songkhla Provincial Land Transport Office is conducting a five-day Type 2 truck driving course from May 18–22.
The Deputy Minister stated the ministry continues to prioritize road safety despite a gradual decline in accident rates, emphasizing the need to improve professional driving standards, regulatory understanding, and operational discipline among transport drivers.
The ministry is monitoring participants after training by reviewing driving records, accident history, and health conditions. Authorities coordinate with medical personnel to screen for non-communicable diseases like obesity, high cholesterol, and hypertension, while developing online systems to support drivers’ long-term health readiness.
The Deputy Minister added that operational discipline remains critical to preventing road and railway crossing accidents, stressing that drivers who are not physically prepared should immediately stop working to avoid risking passengers’ safety. (NNT)
