Driving in Monaco vs Thailand: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the diverse landscapes of Monaco and Thailand, understanding their unique driving regulations is essential for a safe journey. From the contrasting sides of the road—right in Monaco and left in Thailand—to distinct traffic signals and speed limits, each nation offers its own set of rules that drivers must navigate. Stay informed to ensure your travels remain secure and enjoyable.
Lanes
| Monaco | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. | Prohibited |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited, mostly on main roads | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Predominantly for buses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled ‘BUS’. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with small vehicles or buses. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | N/A |
Driving Side
monaco:
Right
thailand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
thailand:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
thailand:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
monaco:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
thailand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited
thailand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
thailand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Monaco | 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 | N/A | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | N/A | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | N/A | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | N/A | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common for traffic violations | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
monaco:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
monaco:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Monaco | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Rare in Monaco, usually not used | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
monaco:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
thailand:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
monaco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Monaco | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted where indicated; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
monaco:
Prohibited
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Monaco | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually; proof may be required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
monaco:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Monaco | 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
monaco:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
monaco:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Monaco | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by severity | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
monaco:
0.02%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
monaco:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
monaco:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
monaco:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Monaco | 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
monaco:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
monaco:
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
| Monaco | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 18 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Local police also available on 911 using GSM | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through service providers or insurance | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
monaco:
112 or 18
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Monaco | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine applies if not used | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Substantial fines issued | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | High fines, points on license | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; varies | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be settled soon | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
monaco:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
monaco:
High fines, points on license
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
monaco:
Possible; varies
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days