Are Thai police still strict about having international drivers licenses for foreigners and do they actually honor them if you do have one?

Will insurance companies cover drivers with an International Drivers License (not IDP)? If not is there insurance I can get until I obtain an actual Thai driver’s license?

Also must a Thai license be obtained in your home residential province? Example obtain license in PhangNga but residence in Phuket

[edit a bit to clear my question..]

If not appropriate or asked often, I apologize...

In case he is staying in Thailand with Non-O retirement, and his driver's license is from different country from his passport with visa, Is it possible to get Thai driver's license transfer from valid international driver's license from another country? Maybe with just a bit of additional step?

One of my friend wants to get Thai driver's license, and he has dual passports. Staying here with his Non-O visa on one of his passports. He has valid international driver's license of the country of another passport. Is there any possible way to "convert" to Thai one other than following the all proper process?

I tried to find the previous post, but could not find the info well enough..

Thank you in advance..