Land Traffic Act

Defines the vehicle classes (car, motorcycle, bicycle, emergency vehicle, bus, taxi, trailer and others) and the road terms (carriageway, footpath, pedestrian crossing, safety zone, intersection) used throughout the Act.

Prohibits using on a road any vehicle that is not in a secure, sound and safe condition or that may cause danger.

Added in 2019: a driver must carry a valid driving licence while driving and produce it to a traffic officer on request; display in electronic form is accepted. Failure is punishable by a fine of up to THB 1,000 (s.152).

Prohibits driving while unfit or impaired; while intoxicated by alcohol or another intoxicant (s.43(2)); so as to obstruct traffic; recklessly or in a manner likely to be dangerous; abnormally or without an adequate forward or rear view; straddling lane lines; on footpaths without good cause; without regard for the safety of others; and while using a hand-held mobile phone (s.43(9)).

Section 43 ทวิ prohibits driving after taking narcotics or psychotropic substances and empowers officers to test drivers of prescribed vehicle types; a driver who refuses a test may be detained for testing.

A driver must keep to the speed set by ministerial regulation or by posted signs, which may set a maximum or a minimum but not above the regulated rate. The numeric limits live in ministerial regulations, not in the Act, and exceeding them is punishable by a fine of up to THB 1,000 (s.152).

A driver involved in an accident causing injury or property damage — whether at fault or not — must stop, give reasonable assistance, identify themselves and report to the nearest police immediately, and give their name, address and vehicle registration to the injured party. Fleeing raises a presumption of guilt and allows seizure of the vehicle, which may be forfeited to the State if the owner does not come forward within six months.

Both the rider and the passenger of a motorcycle must wear a protective helmet, and a rider may not carry an un-helmeted passenger; limited exemptions apply (e.g., monks and certain traditional religious head-coverings).

A car driver and passengers must wear seat belts while the vehicle is in motion, and the driver must not allow more than two other people to sit in the front-seat row (three including the driver); the vehicle types and belt rules are set by National Police Chief notification.

Added in 2019: the Royal Thai Police maintain a driving-behaviour point record; points are deducted for offences and restored under joint police and transport-department rules (including after approved road-safety training under s.142/4), and a driver who loses all of their points has their licence suspended for 90 days at a time.

Offences such as improper lane use (s.35), several s.43 offences including hand-held mobile-phone use (s.43(9)), and unlawful overtaking (s.45–48) are punishable by a fine of THB 400 to 1,000.

Failing to comply with the s.78 accident duty is punishable by up to 3 months' imprisonment or a fine of THB 2,000 to 10,000 or both, rising to up to 6 months or THB 5,000 to 20,000 where serious injury or death results. The same base penalty (up to 3 months or THB 2,000 to 10,000) also applies to unfit, abnormal or inconsiderate driving under s.43(1), (5) and (8).

Section 160 ตรี punishes drink-driving (s.43(2)) with up to 1 year's imprisonment or a fine of THB 5,000 to 20,000 or both, plus licence suspension of at least 6 months or revocation. Penalties escalate where harm results: 1–5 years and THB 20,000–100,000 for bodily or mental harm, 2–6 years and THB 40,000–120,000 for serious injury, and 3–10 years and THB 60,000–200,000 with licence revocation where a death is caused.