Driving in Chile vs Thailand: Key Safety Differences
When venturing into the distinctive roadways of Chile and Thailand, understanding their unique traffic regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. From differing driving sides—right in Chile and left in Thailand—to varying speed limits and lane usage, this comparison reveals essential insights to navigate each country safely and confidently.
Lanes
| Chile | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads or separates oncoming traffic on two-way streets. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Indicates passing or changing lanes is permitted when safe on two-way roads. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited unless 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; can be used by private vehicles outside peak hours depending on local regulations. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSES EXCLUSIVO'; marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
chile:
Right
thailand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
chile:
Marks the left edge on divided roads or separates oncoming traffic on two-way streets.
thailand:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
chile:
Indicates passing or changing lanes is permitted when safe on two-way roads.
thailand:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
chile:
Prohibited unless on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
chile:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
chile:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; can be used by private vehicles outside peak hours depending on local regulations.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
chile:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSES EXCLUSIVO'; marked with road signs.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
chile:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
chile:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
chile:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Chile | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be paid directly to police or in designated locations | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
chile:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
chile:
40 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
chile:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
chile:
100 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
chile:
100 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
chile:
120 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
chile:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
chile:
90 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
chile:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
chile:
Common; fines may be paid directly to police or in designated locations
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Chile | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Chile | Not used in Thailand |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged, especially near hospitals and schools | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle shaped with red border; some variations in colors | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
chile:
Not used in Chile
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
chile:
Excessive use discouraged, especially near hospitals and schools
thailand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
chile:
Spanish; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
chile:
Triangle shaped with red border; some variations in colors
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Chile | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited 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
chile:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
chile:
Varies by locality; check for signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Chile | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | 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 |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
chile:
Required annually
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
chile:
Displayed on windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
chile:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
chile:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Chile | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | 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
chile:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
chile:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Chile | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties, including suspension of license | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
chile:
0.03%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
chile:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
chile:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
chile:
Substantial penalties, including suspension of license
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
chile:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Chile | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| 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: Entering
chile:
Signal if turning upon entry
thailand:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
chile:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
chile:
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
| Chile | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 133 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 133 or 139 on mobile phones | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local assistance services | 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
chile:
133
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
chile:
133 or 139 on mobile phones
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
chile:
Check with your insurance provider or local assistance services
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
chile:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
chile:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Chile | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; high fines, includes license suspension possibilities | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-use | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free technology | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines, includes license suspension | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes possible; otherwise must be paid at designated locations | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically short timeframe to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
chile:
Varies; high fines, includes license suspension possibilities
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
chile:
Severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
chile:
Fines apply for non-use
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
chile:
Fines for use without hands-free technology
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
chile:
Significant fines, includes license suspension
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
chile:
Sometimes possible; otherwise must be paid at designated locations
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
chile:
Varies; typically short timeframe to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days