Driving Differences: Ghana vs Thailand Explained
As you prepare to navigate the roads of Ghana and Thailand, understanding their varied regulations is crucial for a safe journey. From contrasting driving sides to differing speed limits and road etiquette, this comparison unveils essential insights that can significantly impact your experience abroad. Discover what sets these two driving cultures apart.
Lanes
| Ghana | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not advised. | Prohibited |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | 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 | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
ghana:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
ghana:
Generally not advised.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ghana:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
thailand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
thailand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
thailand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ghana:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ghana | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 50-60 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 | 100 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
ghana:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ghana:
80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ghana:
100 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ghana:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
100 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Signals
| Ghana | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ghana | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ghana:
Not used in Ghana
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
ghana:
English
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
ghana:
Triangular with red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Ghana | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
ghana:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
ghana:
Prohibited unless indicated
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Ghana | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ghana:
Mandatory
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ghana:
Displayed on vehicle
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ghana | 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
ghana:
Frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ghana:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ghana | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Yes, used occasionally | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
ghana:
0.08%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ghana:
0.05%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ghana:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
ghana:
Yes, used occasionally
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
ghana:
Substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
ghana:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Ghana | 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
ghana:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
ghana:
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
| Ghana | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 18555 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
ghana:
18555
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ghana:
Check with your insurance provider
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Ghana | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Moderate fines | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for holding and using a phone | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
ghana:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ghana:
Moderate fines
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
ghana:
Fines apply for holding and using a phone
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
ghana:
Common
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
ghana:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days