Driving in Peru vs. Thailand: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Peru and Thailand, drivers encounter notable variations that impact their travel experience. From contrasting lane usage and speed limits to distinct traffic regulations and alcohol policies, understanding these nuances is essential for safe navigation. This comparison sheds light on the key distinctions that every international traveler should consider.
Lanes
| Peru | 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
peru:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
peru:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
peru:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
peru:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
peru:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Peru | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 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 | 100-120 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; often collected by traffic police | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
peru:
40-60 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
peru:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
peru:
90 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
peru:
80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
peru:
100-120 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
peru:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
peru:
90 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
peru:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
peru:
Common; often collected by traffic police
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Peru | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Peru | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
peru:
Yellow
thailand:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
peru:
Not used in Peru
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
peru:
Spanish; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
peru:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Peru | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Only at intersections without signs prohibiting | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
peru:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
peru:
Only at intersections without signs prohibiting
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Peru | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory, proof is required during checks | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Typically displayed on vehicle | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
peru:
Mandatory, proof is required during checks
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
peru:
Typically displayed on vehicle
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
peru:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
peru:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Peru | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Often used more 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
peru:
Often used more compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
peru:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Peru | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used widely | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
peru:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
peru:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
peru:
Common; checkpoints used widely
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
peru:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
peru:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Peru | 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
peru:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
peru:
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
| Peru | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 105 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local service | 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
peru:
105
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
peru:
Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
peru:
Check with your insurance provider or local service
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
peru:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
peru:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Peru | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | 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, enforcement can be strict | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, often substantial | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
peru:
Varies; fines can be significant
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
peru:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
peru:
Fines apply, often substantial
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
peru:
Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
peru:
Varies; typically a few days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days