Driving in Italy vs. Thailand: Key Differences Explained
Exploring the contrasting road regulations between Italy and Thailand unveils intriguing insights for travelers. From driving sides to speed limits, significant distinctions in lane usage and signaling practices highlight the unique driving cultures. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in each captivating destination.
Lanes
| Italy | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
italy:
Right
thailand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
thailand:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
thailand:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
italy:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Italy | 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 | 70 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
italy:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
italy:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
70 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
130 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
italy:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
80 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Italy | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used; prepare to go when green appears | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Italian; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Italy | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Italy | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
italy:
Displayed on license plate
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Italy | 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
italy:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Italy | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
italy:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
italy:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
italy:
Substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
italy:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Italy | 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
italy:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
italy:
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
| Italy | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 (State Police) | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 116 (ACI) | 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
italy:
112
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
italy:
113 (State Police)
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
italy:
116 (ACI)
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Italy | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; fines apply | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, strict enforcement | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, may include points on license | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible, especially for foreign drivers | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
italy:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
italy:
Varies; fines apply
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days