Driving in Israel vs. Thailand: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Israel and Thailand, understanding the distinct regulations and cultural norms is essential for ensuring a secure journey. Notable contrasts include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and different traffic signal usage. Familiarizing yourself with these nuances can significantly enhance your travel experience and promote road safety in unfamiliar territories.
Lanes
| Israel | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. | Prohibited |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
israel:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Israel | 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 | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
israel:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
israel:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
100-120 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
israel:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
thailand:
N/A
Signals
| Israel | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green light. | Not used in Thailand |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
israel:
Used before green light.
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
thailand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Israel | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
israel:
Varies; check for signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Israel | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
israel:
Displayed on windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Israel | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate 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
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Israel | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
israel:
0.01%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
israel:
0.01%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
israel:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Israel | 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
israel:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
israel:
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
| Israel | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
israel:
100
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
israel:
Check local numbers
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Israel | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines issued, points possible | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines issued, usually high, points on license | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines issued, points on license | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days