Driving in the Dominican Republic vs. Thailand: Key Differences
When considering travel to the Dominican Republic or Thailand, understanding their unique road regulations is crucial for a secure journey. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides, varied speed limits, and the use of bus and cycle lanes. Equip yourself with this knowledge to navigate each country’s roadways confidently.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | 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 | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often not marked. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
dominican republic:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
dominican republic:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
thailand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Limited
thailand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
thailand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No; speed checks are done by police radar | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible for traffic infractions | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
dominican republic:
40 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
70 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
70 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
100 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
80 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
thailand:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Dominican republic | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Dominican Republic | Not used in Thailand |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used in many situations | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| 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
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
thailand:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
dominican republic:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Dominican republic | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Dominican republic | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspection required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | 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: Limited
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
thailand:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Results in arrest and license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Dominican republic | 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
dominican republic:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
dominican republic:
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
| Dominican republic | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required and recommended as a safety measure | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
dominican republic:
911
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
dominican republic:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days