Driving in France vs. Thailand: Key Safety Differences
Explore the distinct driving practices between France and Thailand to enhance your road safety abroad. Key variations include driving side, speed limits, and signaling protocols, which can significantly impact your experience. Understanding these nuances ensures a smoother journey and promotes safer navigation in both countries.
Lanes
| France | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. | Prohibited |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
france:
Right
thailand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
thailand:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
thailand:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
france:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
france:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| France | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
france:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
france:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
france:
80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
france:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| France | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Thailand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
thailand:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
thailand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| France | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| France | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
france:
Displayed on windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| France | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | 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
france:
0.02%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
france:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| France | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | 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
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
thailand:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
france:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
france:
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
| France | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | 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
france:
112
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| France | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days