Driving in Ivory Coast vs. Thailand: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road regulations and practices in Ivory Coast and Thailand, distinct variations emerge that significantly impact motorist safety. Key distinctions include driving sides—right in Ivory Coast and left in Thailand—as well as diverse speed limits and alcohol restrictions. Understanding these contrasts is crucial for a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Ivory coast | 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: Usage | Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Driving Side
ivory coast:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
ivory coast:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ivory coast:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
thailand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ivory coast:
Not applicable
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ivory coast | 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 | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, for some infractions. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
ivory coast:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ivory coast:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
110 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
110 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Ivory coast | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ivory Coast | Not used in Thailand |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; 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
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Headlight Flash: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
thailand:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Traffic Signs: Language
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Ivory coast | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited 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
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Ivory coast | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ivory coast | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
Flashing Lights: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
thailand:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Alcohol
| Ivory coast | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
ivory coast:
0.08%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ivory coast:
0.04%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
ivory coast:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Ivory coast | 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
ivory coast:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
ivory coast:
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
| Ivory coast | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 170 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 171 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
Contact: General Emergency
ivory coast:
170
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
ivory coast:
171
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Penalties And Fines
| Ivory coast | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines may apply, 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 | Varies, points may apply | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, points may apply | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines may apply, points on license | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for some infractions | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically stipulated | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
ivory coast:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days