Driving in Colombia vs Thailand: Key Safety Differences
Driving in Colombia and Thailand presents unique challenges and practices that are crucial for travelers to understand. From lane usage to speed limits and road etiquette, these nations exhibit distinct regulations. Notably, Colombia drives on the right while Thailand adheres to the left, highlighting fundamental variations that can impact your journey abroad.
Lanes
| Colombia | 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
colombia:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
colombia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
colombia:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
colombia:
Not applicable
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Colombia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; police may issue fines at the moment. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
colombia:
30-60 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
colombia:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
70-90 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
colombia:
70-80 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
colombia:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Colombia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Colombia | 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
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
colombia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Colombia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
colombia:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Colombia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle | 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
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
colombia:
Displayed on windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
colombia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Colombia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | 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
colombia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
colombia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Colombia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
Limits: General Drivers
colombia:
0.04%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
colombia:
0.02%
thailand:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
colombia:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
colombia:
Varies; can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Roundabouts
| Colombia | 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
colombia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
colombia:
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
| Colombia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 123 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 123 or local numbers | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside 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
colombia:
123
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
colombia:
123 or local numbers
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
colombia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Colombia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $300, points on license | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $300, points on license | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
colombia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
colombia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days