Driving Differences: Costa Rica vs. Thailand
Costa Rica and Thailand offer unique driving experiences, each with distinct rules and regulations. From lane usage to speed limits and traffic signals, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Key differences include driving sides, overtaking rules, and enforcement of speed limits, making it essential for travelers to be well-informed before hitting the road.
Lanes
| Costa rica | 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
Driving Side
costa rica:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
costa rica:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
costa rica:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
thailand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
thailand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
thailand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
costa rica:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
80 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
thailand:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Costa rica | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used in Thailand |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | 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 | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
thailand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Costa rica | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Costa rica | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | 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
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
costa rica:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Costa rica | 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
costa rica:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
costa rica:
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
| Costa rica | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days