Driving Safety: North Macedonia vs Thailand Explained
When venturing from North Macedonia to Thailand, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides, different speed limits, and unique traffic signaling practices. Familiarizing yourself with these variations will enhance your driving experience and ensure your safety abroad.
Lanes
| North macedonia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. | Prohibited |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
north macedonia:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
north macedonia:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
north macedonia:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
north macedonia:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| North macedonia | 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 | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 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 | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
north macedonia:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
north macedonia:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
north macedonia:
80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
north macedonia:
70 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
north macedonia:
120 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
north macedonia:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
north macedonia:
80 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
north macedonia:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Signals
| North macedonia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepare to go | Not used in Thailand |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Prohibited in urban areas at night | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to signal other messages | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Macedonian; standard symbols | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
thailand:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
thailand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Headlight Flash: Usage
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
thailand:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
thailand:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| North macedonia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless specified by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed when not prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| North macedonia | 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
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
north macedonia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
north macedonia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| North macedonia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| 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 |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
north macedonia:
Common practice
thailand:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
north macedonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| North macedonia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted at checkpoints | 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: Professional Drivers
north macedonia:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
north macedonia:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
north macedonia:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| North macedonia | 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
north macedonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
north macedonia:
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
| North macedonia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 192 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local service providers | 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
north macedonia:
112
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
north macedonia:
192
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
north macedonia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
north macedonia:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| North macedonia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, 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 | 50 EUR | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 40 EUR | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | 250 EUR, points on license | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often required | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
north macedonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
north macedonia:
50 EUR
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
north macedonia:
40 EUR
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days