Driving in Myanmar vs Thailand: Key Differences Explained
As you navigate the roads of Myanmar and Thailand, understanding the nuances of their driving regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Notable distinctions emerge, such as Myanmar's right-side driving versus Thailand's left, and varied speed limits across urban and rural areas. Equip yourself with this essential knowledge to enhance your travel experience.
Lanes
| Myanmar | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtaking is on the right. | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. | Prohibited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
myanmar:
Right
thailand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
thailand:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
thailand:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
thailand:
Prohibited
Bus Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
myanmar:
No
thailand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
thailand:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
N/A
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
myanmar:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Myanmar | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 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: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
myanmar:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
60 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
50 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
100 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
70 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Signals
| Myanmar | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Myanmar | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Burmese; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Myanmar | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless permitted by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Myanmar | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
myanmar:
Displayed on the windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Myanmar | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use, more common in cities | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Myanmar | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.07% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; often during festivals | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity; can be substantial | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can lead to arrest and fines | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
myanmar:
0.07%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
myanmar:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Myanmar | 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
myanmar:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
myanmar:
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
| Myanmar | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 199 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through some insurance providers | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
myanmar:
199
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
myanmar:
Contact local police
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Myanmar | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine enforced; mandatory use | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for usage while driving | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied for violations | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; else must be paid at office | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
myanmar:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
myanmar:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days