Driving in Mexico vs. Thailand: Essential Safety Tips
When exploring the roads of Mexico and Thailand, drivers must be aware of distinct regulations and practices that impact their travel experiences. From lane usage and speed limits to traffic signals and alcohol laws, these nations present unique driving landscapes. Understanding these crucial variances ensures a safer and more enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Mexico | 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 | Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Mainly in urban areas for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
mexico:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
mexico:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
mexico:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
mexico:
Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
mexico:
Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
mexico:
Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.
thailand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
mexico:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
mexico:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mexico:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Mexico | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 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 | 70-80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, particularly in high traffic areas | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
mexico:
40-60 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
mexico:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
mexico:
80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
mexico:
70-80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
mexico:
100-120 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
mexico:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
mexico:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
mexico:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
mexico:
Yes, particularly in high traffic areas
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Mexico | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Mexico | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular signs with red border | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
mexico:
Not used in Mexico
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
mexico:
Spanish; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
mexico:
Triangular signs with red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Mexico | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
mexico:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
mexico:
Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Mexico | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
mexico:
Varies by state; proof may be required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
mexico:
Displayed on the windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Road Etiquette
| Mexico | 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
mexico:
Moderate use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
mexico:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Mexico | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in urban areas, especially during holidays | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | 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
mexico:
0.08%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
mexico:
0.04%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
mexico:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
mexico:
Common in urban areas, especially during holidays
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
mexico:
Can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
mexico:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Mexico | 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
mexico:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
mexico:
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
| Mexico | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 066 or 911 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes' | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
Contact: General Emergency
mexico:
911
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
mexico:
066 or 911
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
mexico:
Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Penalties And Fines
| Mexico | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $40 to $200, 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, up to $50, points in some states | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; can lead to significant fines | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; system improvements for online payments | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
mexico:
Varies; $40 to $200, points on license
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
mexico:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
mexico:
Varies, up to $50, points in some states
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
mexico:
Varies; can lead to significant fines
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
mexico:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
mexico:
Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
mexico:
Varies; system improvements for online payments
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days