Driving in Iceland vs. Thailand: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Iceland and Thailand, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can significantly impact their journey. From lane usage to speed limits, the contrast between driving on the right versus the left side, and varying penalties for infractions, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience while abroad.
Lanes
| Iceland | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. | 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
iceland:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
thailand:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
iceland:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
iceland:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | 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 on gravel roads | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h on paved roads | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h on paved roads | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
iceland:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
iceland:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Signals
| Iceland | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Thailand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | N/A | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | N/A | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Icelandic; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
thailand:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
thailand:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
thailand:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Iceland | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | 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
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Iceland | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal 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
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
thailand:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
iceland:
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
| Iceland | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
iceland:
112
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
iceland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days