Driving in India vs Thailand: A Safety Comparison
Discover the fascinating contrasts in roadway practices between India and Thailand, two vibrant nations with unique driving environments. Key distinctions emerge in speed limits, lane etiquette, and the use of signaling. Whether you're navigating city streets or rural highways, understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| India | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Prohibited |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
thailand:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
thailand:
Prohibited
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
thailand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
thailand:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| India | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities and highways | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
india:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
thailand:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| India | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not used in Thailand |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common due to varied vehicle conditions | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and local languages; 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
india:
Not used in India
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
thailand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
thailand:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| India | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Not allowed |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
thailand:
Not allowed
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
thailand:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| India | 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 required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Road Etiquette
| India | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to other countries | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
thailand:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
thailand:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
india:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
india:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Roundabouts
| India | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| 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
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
thailand:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Lane Usage: Left
india:
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
| India | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
Contact: General Emergency
india:
112
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Penalties And Fines
| India | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, 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 | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
india:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days