Year after year, statistics show that Thailand’s roads are some of the world’s most hazardous. Compared to around 2,000 traffic deaths per year in the UK, which has roughly the same population, Thailand endures around 10,000. Some claim that this is a result of easy driver’s tests and a weak police force. Others blame it on cultural beliefs related to fate, karma and reincarnation. In any case, be extra careful when getting behind the wheel in Thailand, especially when driving in Bangkok.
As a foreigner getting behind the wheel in Thailand, you’ll need to adapt to a far different style of driving than is common in the West. If you can stay cool, go with the flow and expect the unexpected, you’ll be just fine. But do read our top ten tips to stay safe on the road:
1. How to get a divers license in Thailand
Obtaining a driver’s license is easy in Thailand. Without setting foot in a vehicle, your vision and motor skills will be assessed through basic tests. Beyond that, all you need is a copy of your national driver’s license (if you have one), passport, visa, proof of address and medical certificate. And don’t despair if this doesn’t work for you – In case you should repeatedly fail the basic tests, you might be offered the chance to simply ‘purchase’ the Thai drivers license for a small fee.
2. Drive on the correct side of the road; not the right!
If coming from France, Germany or America (to name a few), remember that traffic flows on the left side of the road in Thailand, although not all Thai motorbike riders seem to be aware of this! Other official traffic laws are obvious: stop at red lights, use your turn signal and don’t drive drunk. But also keep in mind that, in Thailand, these laws are only loosely followed and rarely enforced.
3. Watch the road! Literally
Most Thai roads are reasonably well-maintained, but that’s more than can be said for the traffic. You’ll find yourself sharing the roads with brightly painted and heavily laden trucks, fume-belching buses, meandering motorbikes, vendors pushing street carts, dashing pedestrians, oblivious stray dogs and even the occasional cow, snake, monkey or elephant. Always keep an eye out to keep safe.
4. U-Turn with Caution
Even on fast stretches of road, turning around in Thailand often requires a U-turn in the central reservation. This not only involves moving into the fast lane and then slowing right down to make the turn but also nerves of steel to choose the right moment to make the turn, especially when oncoming trucks, buses and cars are barrelling along from the other direction at 140 kilometres-per-hour. U-turns are not allowed in some places, so keep your eyes peeled for “No U-turn” signs.
5. Your fellow drivers will think differently.
Road lanes have less meaning in Thailand than they do in the West. You will often find old pick-ups ambling along in the middle or right lane with faster drivers overtaking / undertaking them on the inside. Drivers of bigger vehicles like buses or trucks seem to be under the impression that they own the road and automatically have priority due to the size of their vehicle. So do watch out when you are driving near them or see one coming at an intersection. If you’re riding a motorbike, be especially aware of the big boys as they are not always able to see you in their back mirrors due to the driver’s elevated seating position.
6. It has never been more important to look both ways!
Always expect the unexpected and be sure to check what might be coming from the wrong direction. This is especially important to remember when crossing a road as a pedestrian, as it’s very common for motorbikes and the occasional rickety pick-up truck or hothead BMW owners to drive on the wrong side of the road, meaning against traffic.
7. Know these Pedestrians Rules
Even at marked pedestrian crossings, the pedestrians yield to vehicles, not the other way around. You might think that you’re being polite by stopping to let pedestrians cross, but this disrupts the expected flow of traffic and is actually dangerous. In the exact opposite of what is understood in Western countries, when a vehicle flashes its headlights in Thailand, it means, “I’m not stopping so stay the hell out of my way!”
8. What to do when police pulls you over in Thailand
Encounters with police most often occur at checkpoints that are set up to catch drunk drivers and drug smugglers. If you’re stopped for a minor offense, chances are that you’ll be instructed to pay a nominal fine on the spot, or perhaps at the local police station. It’s usually okay to negotiate, but anger or aggression will land you in far hotter water.
9. It’s not road rage, it’s just the way they drive
Thais drive aggressively by Western standards, but this does not mean that they’re angry. It’s expected that drivers will assert themselves by nudging their way into traffic; behaviour that might induce road rage in the West doesn’t usually affect the cool and calm disposition of the average Thai. Do your best to go with the flow, and try to avoid confrontations.
10. Honking the horn in Thailand is actually a sign of respect
Rather than a sign of imminent danger, beeping the horn is most often a quasi-polite way of saying, “Get out of the way.” A quirky aspect of Thai driving is that when every driver toots the horn at the same point on a given road, they’re probably paying respects to a local spirit shrine.
