Driving in Argentina vs Thailand: Key Safety Differences
Discover the essential distinctions in road regulations between Argentina and Thailand to enhance your travel experience and ensure safety on foreign roads. From lane usage to speed limits and emergency protocols, this comparison highlights crucial differences that every driver should know before hitting the road in either country.
Lanes
| Argentina | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
argentina:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
argentina:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
argentina:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
argentina:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
argentina:
40-60 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Signals
| Argentina | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
argentina:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Argentina | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Argentina | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
argentina:
Displayed on windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
argentina:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Argentina | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
argentina:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Argentina | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
argentina:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
argentina:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
thailand:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Argentina | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
argentina:
911
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
argentina:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days