Driving in Paraguay vs. Thailand: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique driving landscapes of Paraguay and Thailand, where road rules and regulations significantly vary. From the side of the road you navigate to speed limits and vehicle protocols, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure travel experience. Explore how these two countries prioritize road safety differently and prepare for your journey abroad.
Lanes
| Paraguay | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Rarely, usually prohibited. | Prohibited |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, mainly in urban areas. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited, mainly in urban areas. | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
paraguay:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
paraguay:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
thailand:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
thailand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Markings
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
paraguay:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
paraguay:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Paraguay | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 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 |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities. | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
paraguay:
40 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
paraguay:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
paraguay:
80 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
paraguay:
110 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
paraguay:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
thailand:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
paraguay:
Common
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Paraguay | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Paraguay | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; standard symbols used as well | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Paraguay | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed where not prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Paraguay | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
paraguay:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Paraguay | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent than in some countries | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to allow passage | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
thailand:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Paraguay | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police checkpoints | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; 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
paraguay:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
paraguay:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
paraguay:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Paraguay | 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
paraguay:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
paraguay:
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
| Paraguay | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 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 | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
paraguay:
911
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
paraguay:
911
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
paraguay:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
paraguay:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Paraguay | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply; amount varies | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply; amount varies | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines and penalties | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually within 30 days | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
paraguay:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days