Driving Differences: Guatemala vs. Thailand
When traversing the roads of Guatemala and Thailand, it's crucial to understand the distinct driving regulations that govern each country. From lane usage to speed limits, drivers must recognize that Guatemala favors right-side driving, while Thailand adheres to the left. Grasping these contrasts is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Guatemala | 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 | 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 | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicles in some areas. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Varies by location. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
guatemala:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
guatemala:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
guatemala:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
No
thailand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
N/A
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
N/A
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
Limited
thailand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
thailand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
Varies by location.
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Guatemala | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 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: 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 | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
guatemala:
40-60 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
guatemala:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
guatemala:
80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
70 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
guatemala:
70 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
guatemala:
100 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
guatemala:
80 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
guatemala:
Limited use
thailand:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
guatemala:
Yes, common practice
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Guatemala | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Guatemala | Not used in Thailand |
| 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
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
guatemala:
Spanish; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
guatemala:
Triangle-shaped with red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Guatemala | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Varies, check local signs for permission | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
guatemala:
Varies by location; check for signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Guatemala | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | 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 | Mandatory; proof may be required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | 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
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
guatemala:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Guatemala | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More 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
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
guatemala:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Guatemala | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by locality; 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
guatemala:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
guatemala:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
guatemala:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Guatemala | 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
guatemala:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
guatemala:
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
| Guatemala | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 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 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
guatemala:
122
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
guatemala:
110
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
guatemala:
Check with your insurance provider
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
guatemala:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Guatemala | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 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 | Fines imposed | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often required | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; check with local authorities | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
guatemala:
Fines imposed
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
guatemala:
Fines imposed
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
guatemala:
Substantial fines
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
guatemala:
Yes, often required
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days