The New Year starts off with the usual revelry and the exodus of holidaymakers to their home provinces, then back to the cities at the end of the long weekend. But the season's festivities come with daily reports of road casualties during the heavy traffic period.
In a special report, the Bangkok Post sheds light on the low bar imposed for applicants seeking driver's licences. With millions of private vehicles on the kingdom's roads, more stringent testing about drivers' knowledge of street safety could save lives.
The report explains the process in which the Department of Land Transport grants licences. The department has attempted to streamline the process by computerising areas previously supervised by staff. A Bangkok Post staff member offers an in-person account of the testing.
But many say the tests do not cover crucial elements of street safety, including a real-life test drive.
A central question remains: Are the changes made to driving tests enough to determine whether an applicant will make sound decisions behind the wheel?
How can you test someone's conscience?