Driving Safety: Norway vs. Thailand Uncovered
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of roadway regulations is crucial for safe navigation. This comparison between Norway and Thailand reveals significant contrasts, such as driving sides—right in Norway and left in Thailand—as well as varying speed limits and traffic protocols. Equip yourself with this knowledge to ensure a secure driving experience in both countries.
Lanes
| Norway | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not standard in Norway. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. | Prohibited |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
norway:
Right
thailand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
thailand:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
thailand:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
norway:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
norway:
Yes
thailand:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
norway:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Norway | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 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 | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
norway:
30-50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
norway:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
norway:
80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
90-110 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
norway:
90-100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
norway:
80 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
norway:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
thailand:
N/A
Signals
| Norway | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Norway | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
norway:
Not used in Norway
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Norway | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Norway | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with a national driving license | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | None | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
norway:
None
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
norway:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Norway | 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
norway:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
norway:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Norway | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | High fines and possible license revocation | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
norway:
0.02%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
norway:
0.02%
thailand:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
norway:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Norway | 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
norway:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
norway:
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
| Norway | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 02800 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NAF | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
norway:
112
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
norway:
02800
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
norway:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Norway | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 1500 NOK | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 1700 NOK | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, typically required | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Seat Belts
norway:
1500 NOK
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
norway:
1700 NOK
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
norway:
Yes, typically required
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days