Kuwait vs Thailand: Driving Differences You Should Know
When planning a trip to Kuwait or Thailand, understanding the unique nuances of their road rules is essential for a safe journey. Key distinctions include driving on the right in Kuwait versus the left in Thailand, varying speed limits, and different regulations around alcohol consumption. Equip yourself with this knowledge to navigate confidently abroad.
Lanes
| Kuwait | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced. | Prohibited |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
kuwait:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
kuwait:
Not commonly practiced.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kuwait:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
kuwait:
Reserved for buses.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kuwait:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kuwait:
No
thailand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kuwait:
N/A
thailand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kuwait:
N/A
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Kuwait | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 45-60 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 45 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
kuwait:
45-60 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kuwait:
45 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kuwait:
80-120 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kuwait:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kuwait:
70-90 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kuwait:
120 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kuwait:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Signals
| Kuwait | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kuwait:
Not used
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
kuwait:
Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
kuwait:
Triangular-shaped with red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Kuwait | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless signs allow | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
kuwait:
Prohibited unless signs allow
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
kuwait:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Kuwait | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kuwait:
Annual inspection required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kuwait:
Displayed on the vehicle
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Road Etiquette
| Kuwait | 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
kuwait:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kuwait:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kuwait | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Significant fines and legal consequences | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
kuwait:
0.00%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kuwait:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kuwait:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
kuwait:
Less common
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
kuwait:
Significant fines and legal consequences
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
kuwait:
Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving
thailand:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
kuwait:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Kuwait | 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
kuwait:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
kuwait:
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
| Kuwait | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
Contact: General Emergency
kuwait:
112
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
kuwait:
112
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kuwait:
Check with your insurance provider
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Penalties And Fines
| Kuwait | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may include points on license | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Very severe penalties for any alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, possible | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
kuwait:
Varies; may include points on license
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
kuwait:
Very severe penalties for any alcohol
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kuwait:
Fines applicable
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
kuwait:
Fines applicable
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kuwait:
Fines and points on license
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
kuwait:
Yes, possible
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
kuwait:
Varies; typically within 30 days
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days