Driving in Greece vs. Thailand: Key Safety Differences
Discover the distinct driving norms between Greece and Thailand, where road safety and regulations vary significantly. Key highlights include Greece's adherence to right-side driving and stricter speed limits, contrasting with Thailand's left-side navigation and flexible urban speed boundaries. Understanding these contrasts is essential for a secure travel experience in each country.
Lanes
| Greece | 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
greece:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
greece:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
greece:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
greece:
Not applicable
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Greece | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 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 | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
greece:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
greece:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
130 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
greece:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Greece | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Greece | Not used in Thailand |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Greek and English; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
greece:
Not used in Greece
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
thailand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Greece | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
greece:
Varies by locality; check for signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Greece | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
greece:
International Driving Permit required
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
greece:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Greece | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less 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
greece:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
greece:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Greece | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police may set up roadblocks | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
greece:
0.02%
thailand:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
greece:
Varies; can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Greece | 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
greece:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
greece:
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
| Greece | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 10400 for ELPA assistance | 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
greece:
112
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
greece:
100
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Greece | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €40 to €700, 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 | €350, points on license | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €350, points on license | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 10 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
greece:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
greece:
€350, points on license
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
greece:
€100, points on license
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
greece:
€350, points on license
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days