The Department of Land Transport originated in 1933 when the Department of Transport was established. At that time, the Department of Transport was part of the
Ministry of Economy. Aside from the Department of Transport, there were three other transport-related department, namely: • Department of Marine Transport; • Department of Post and Telegraph Affairs (now
National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission); • Department of Railway (now ). The Department of Transport also oversaw and administered
air transport and
marine transport. In 1941, all transport-related departments were reorganised into the Ministry of Transport. Still, there was no specialised land transport department. All vehicles and drivers must register with the Department of Police. In 1971,
Thanom Kittikachorn, the then
Prime Minister usurped power. He decided that the Department of Transport was too bulky and must be split into smaller departments. The Department of Transport was then split into three organisations, including • Department of Land Transport; • Department of Commercial Aviation (now the
Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand and
Department of Airports). Today the Department of Land Transport maintains the driving licensing and driving education in Thailand, excluding military licences. Other transportation-related documents, such as transport operator licences and safety certificates, are issued by the department or private companies authorised and overseen by the department. The Department of Land Transport also promotes the road safety, both by providing driver education and enforcing the relevant laws. ==References==