Driving in Morocco vs. Thailand: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Morocco and Thailand, drivers will encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their travel experience. From lane usage and speed limits to traffic signals and alcohol restrictions, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey. Explore the essential contrasts that can influence your driving adventure in these two vibrant countries.
Lanes
| Morocco | 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: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Departure depends on specific roads. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
morocco:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
morocco:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
morocco:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
morocco:
Limited
thailand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Presence
morocco:
Limited
thailand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
thailand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
morocco:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
morocco:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Morocco | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 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 |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
morocco:
40-60 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
morocco:
40 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
morocco:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
morocco:
90 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
morocco:
120 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
morocco:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
morocco:
100 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
morocco:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Signals
| Morocco | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Orange | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Morocco | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and French; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
morocco:
Orange
thailand:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Morocco | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Morocco | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 windshield. | 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
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
morocco:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
morocco:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Morocco | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Horn usage is more common compared to some countries | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Alcohol
| Morocco | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | 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: General Drivers
morocco:
0.02%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
morocco:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
morocco:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
morocco:
Common, especially at night
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
morocco:
Substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
morocco:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Morocco | 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
morocco:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
morocco:
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
| Morocco | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 19 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 19 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 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
morocco:
19
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
morocco:
19
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
morocco:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
morocco:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Morocco | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and possible license suspension | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; can be substantial | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible but fines usually paid later | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
morocco:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days